The Secret's in the Sauce!

Here it is... the quick tomato sauce recipe handed down from grandpa and mom. I've modified it slightly over the years. It has some sugar in it to balance out the tartness of the tomatoes, but I've reduced the amount from the original recipe.

Canned tomatoes are an excellent source of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants work to protect the cells in your body from damage, and may improve your immune system.

Making your own sauce is quick and easy. This way you know exactly what you're putting in your sauce – jarred sauces can be high in sodium, sugar, and other additives.

Tomato Sauce

1 28-oz can crushed tomatoes
2-3 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 Tbsp olive oil
2-3 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp Italian Seasoning
salt and pepper

1.Heat olive oil in a sauce pan over medium heat.
2.Add garlic and cook for a minute until softened and slightly brown. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
3.Add tomatoes, spices, sugar, and salt/pepper to taste. Stir and heat until sauce simmers.
4.Turn down the heat to medium-low and simmer sauce for 5-10 min.

Change up this basic sauce by adding:

• browned ground turkey, beef, or chicken
• vegetables like onions, peppers, mushrooms, peas, or spinach
• beans like white beans or chick peas
• olives

Today's tip: Make homemade sauce for your next pasta dinner.