Homemade Tomato Sauce

I had a lot of tomatoes leftover from our pre-wedding gathering so I decided to try some homemade tomato sauce.

Homemade Tomato Sauce

10 ripe tomatoes, skinned and seeded
2  Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons butter
1 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 teaspoon celery seeds
1/2 tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp. fennel, crushed
1/4 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/4 cup red wine (can be omitted)
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons tomato paste

Directions:

1. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Have a large bowl of iced water ready. Place whole tomatoes in boiling water until skin starts to peel. Remove with slotted spoon and place in ice water. Let rest until you can handle. Remove skin and squeeze out seeds. Chop 8 of the tomatoes and puree in blender or food processor. Chop remaining tomatoes and set aside.

2. In a large pot or Dutch oven cook onion, bell pepper and garlic in oil and butter until onion starts to soften, about 5 minutes. Pour in pureed tomatoes. Stir in chopped tomatoes, and seasonings.  Add wine if you choose and add bay leaf. Bring to boil, then reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 2 hours. Stir in tomato paste and simmer an additional 2 hours. Discard bay leaf.

3. For a hearty pasta sauce, fry 8oz. of mild Italian sausage until cooked through and add it to the tomato sauce. Serve over cooked pasta of your choice with fresh basil and shaved Parmesan cheese and garlic bread.