Recipe: Marinara Sauce (with mushrooms, olives, and red bell pepper)

MARINARA SAUCE

1 medium to large onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 red bell pepper, diced
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 (4-ounce) can mushroom pieces, drained
1 (24-ounce) can whole tomatoes, chopped, juice reserved
1 pound fresh tomatoes, diced
1 (4-ounce) can ripe olives, diced
1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
2 bay leaves

Saute the onion, garlic and the red bell pepper in the oil in a large pot for 5 to 7 minutes.

Add the mushrooms, canned tomatoes with the juice, and the fresh tomatoes, stirring well to combine all ingredients.

Add the olives, the stir in the tomato paste. Sprinkle the sugar, salt, pepper, oregano and basil over the mixture, and place the bay leaves in the pot. Mix well.

Bring the mixture to a boil, lower to simmer, cover and cook about 2 hours. Remove the bay leaves before serving

Source: Curtis Aikens