Simple Tomato Sauce

Another recipe from Giada De Laurentiis.  It was good.  I think I'll still search for other sauce recipes but I would make this again.  I used this with Chicken Parm.

Simple Tomato Sauce

Source:  Giada De Laurentiis

Ingredients

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1 small onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 stalk celery, chopped

1 carrot, chopped (I used 2)

Sea salt & freshly ground black pepper

2 (32 oz) cans crushed tomatoes

4-6 basil leaves

2 dried bay leaves

4 TBSPS unsalted butter, optional

Directions

~  In a large casserole pot, heat oil over medium-high heat.  Add onion and garlic and saute until soft and translucent, about 2 minutes.  Add celery and carrots and season with salt and pepper.  Saute until all vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes.

~  Add tomatoes, basil and bay leaves and simmer covered on low heat for 1 hour or until thick.  Remove bay leaves and check for seasoning.  If sauce still tastes acidic, add unsalted butter, 1 TBSP at a time to round out the flavors.

~  Add 1/2 the tomato sauce into the bowl of a food processor.  Process until smooth.  Continue with remaining tomato sauce.

~  If not using all the sauce, allow it to cool completely and pour 1 to 2 cup portions into freezer plastic bags.  This will freeze up to 6 months.