Red Sauce

Is there anything more comforting than family food?  It is what we return to when want a taste of home or a acquaintance with our culture.  I am from New Orleans, so the palate is quite extensive but home cooked Italian food is always my favorite.  My great-grandmother made the BEST tomato sauce ever.  Yes, I was lucky enough to get to sample this sauce direct from the source. Some people call it "red sauce," some call it "red gravy."  It is just the best simple sauce, not the quickest sauce as I cooked this one for about 8 hours on the stove, but just really good sauce.  My mother spent quite some time working on this recipe trying to get it as close to "Old Grandmothers" as possible.  I usually make it in a large batch and store several quarts in the freezer so I can have homemade tomato sauce when ever i need it.  Meatballs are best and most authentic, but I have also made chicken spaghetti by cutting up 3 - 4 boneless skinless chicken breast into large chunks and searing them in olive oil salt and pepper.  When they are nicely golden brown add a quart of this homemade tomato sauce and simmer for about 30 - 40 minutes.  Serve over some fresh pasta with grated cheese. 

Sauce:

6 onions chopped fine
8 cloves garlic chopped fine
1 medium eggplant chopped
1 tsp dried basil
2 large cans crushed tomatos
1 large can tomato sauce
1 small can tomato paste
4 15oz cans tomato puree
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups water

Saute onions, garlic, eggplant and basil in olive oil until tender.  Push the onion mixture to the sides of the pot and add the tomato paste to the center and cook the paste on high stirring for about a minute.  Then mix together with the onions and add the tomatoes, water and sugar.  Simmer on medium heat stirring occasionally for at least 3 hours but the longer the better!  I usually simmer mine for about 6 - 8 hours.