Babchi's Spaghetti Sauce

[KristenKP]

Not sure where to put this one -- I use it over pasta for dinner (natch), but it's also my secret weapon in all recipes that ask for tomato sauce, like the fabulous old-fashioned meatloaf.

For those of you who don't know Polish, "Babchi" means grandmother. I used to make this with her when I was a child, and it's still amazingly good. MUCH better than anything from a jar, and it freezes and defrosts well, so you can cook it ahead and have it ready in a jiffy.

1 small onion, chopped
2 tsp olive oil
2 cans crushed tomatoes
1 can tomato puree
1 can tomato paste
salt and pepper
2 minced garlic cloves
basil
oregano
bay leaf
2 Tbsp sugar (optional, or count 1 WPA)

1. In large saucepan, saute chopped onion in olive oil until translucent.
2. Puree crushed tomatoes in blender (Optional -- I don't like my sauce chunky.)
3. Add the crushed tomatoes and the can of puree, salt and pepper and 1 clove minced garlic to pot. Cook for 1 hour uncovered, stirring regularly.
4. Add paste, 2nd clove garlic, basil, oregano, bay leaf, salt and pepper and sugar. Cover and cook for another 1-2 hours. (You can omit the sugar if you cook it on low for 12 hours, according to my sister. I still like the sugar.) Stir regularly.

Enjoy!

[pookie]

I had a Babchi! She made great golumpki and capusta

[KristenKP]

Hee! Mine did too -- and pierogis, and one-pot kielbasa with carrots, cabbage and potatoes...ohhhh. Yeah, I miss that.

Do you think kielbasa's Core? ;-)

(I know it's not. But it would be worth the WPAs!)

[patty0802]

I have one too! She makes homemade kielbasa, pierogies, paczki, and the best pies in the world. She cook non-stop, puts things in the freezer then when we go to her house we get to go "shopping" in her freezer for what we like. Homemade kielbasa is the best!