Italian Sauce with Hot Sausage

One of my favorite memories growing up was Sunday afternoon pasta dinners.  I remember waking up and smelling the basil, garlic, oregano, and meatballs... delicious!  Every few years we would jar tomatoes.  It was an all day affair with a million steps and it was exhausting.  But, totally worth it!  And, I loved spending time with my grandma learning all the steps and traditions.  Actually, I wrote my college essay on this.  Full disclosure... I am a big nerd!

Then we would use the tomatoes to make our homemade sauce.  The sauce making was another whole day event.  It included using a lamb shank bone, making homemade meatballs, and rolling the braciole. 

Even though I love my family’s sauce, I don’t have time for this whole process.  Instead, I use canned crushed and diced tomatoes to make this quick, but still authentic and delicious pasta sauce.

Quick Authentic Italian Pasta Sauce

Ingredients

• 1 can of 28 oz can of Tuttorosso Crushed Tomatoes with Basil 
• 2 cans of 14.5 oz of Hunt's Diced Tomatoes 
• 2 cloves of garlic minced
• 1 small white onion chopped
• 4 tbsp of fresh parsley chopped or 2 tbsp dried 
• 4 tbsp of fresh basil chopped or 2 tbsp dried
• 1 tbsp of dried oregano 
• 4 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tsp of red pepper flakes *optional 
• 6 Hot Italian Sausage *optional

Directions

1. Heat skillet to high.  When hot, place sausage in pan and cover (I cover it because the oil splatters and it makes a mess ha).  Every 4-5 minutes turn sausage to brown each side.  Continue until all sides are brown.  
2. Heat olive oil in sauce pot and saute garlic and onions.
3. Add parley, basil and oregano and let cook for another minute.
4. Add canned tomatoes.
5. Transfer sausage to sauce.
6. Lower flame, cover pot and let simmer for 30-45 minutes.
7. Make pasta and enjoy! 

Side note... I made this Sunday.  Last night, Thursday night, I had extra time and made fried pasta... that was supposed to be for Mike.  I already ate a healthy dinner.  But, has anyone ever tried fried pasta?  It makes a mess and I always burn myself a little with the splattering oil, but it is delicious!!!! Anyways, I ate half of it :( and my stomach is hurting this morning.  Back to eating healthy today!