Secret Ingredient Spaghetti Sauce

Photo By Foter.com

That day came sooner than I expected. Family members were coming over for a picnic summer. I planned to grill steak until I saw the meat prices, so it was back to burgers. To make the burgers special I made some barbecue sauce, prepared a bacon, lettuce, tomato and pasta salad, and made a layered casserole of zucchini, sliced onions, frozen corn, and shredded mozzarella cheese.

Thanks to my homemade tomato sauce, the casserole was a hit. Something was different about the sauce, yet the flavor difference was subtle and hard to detect. What was the secret ingredient? It was pepperoni, chopped so finely that the bits disappeared into the liquid. Serve the sauce with your favourite pasta or create a vegetable casserole like I did.

This recipe would make a thoughtful gift for a family member or friend. Ladle it into a tall glass jar or plastic storage dish. Tie a bow around the top. Add a card with the name of the sauce and the date you made it.

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons olive oil (I use extra light.)

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

1 28-ounce can tomato puree (I buy the brand with the least salt.)

5 ounces sliced pepperoni, chopped very finely

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon salt (may be omitted)

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried basil

1/3 cup flat leaf parsley, chopped

METHOD

1. Pour olive oil into soup pot and set over medium heat.

2. Add chopped onion and cook, stirring every now and then, until onion bits

are soft and starting to brown.

3. Add all remaining ingredients. Put the lid on the pot and turn heat to lowest setting.

4. Simmer sauce for 1 hour to blend flavors, or transfer to a slow cooker, set the heat on low, and simmer for 5-6 hours. Freeze leftover sauce.

By Harriet Hodgson