Basic Tomato Sauce for Pasta and Salad Vinaigrette
Basic Tomato Sauce
1/4-cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, peeled & sliced thin
2-inch sprig of fresh basil- stem and leaves
2 (28-ounce) cans peeled whole tomatoes
Salt & fresh ground pepper
Splash of balsamic vinegar
1 pat (1/2 tablespoon) butter
Directions:
In a 3-quart saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until soft then add the basil. Next add the tomatoes and juice leaving the tomatoes whole for now season with salt and pepper. Let simmer for about 30 minutes. Now break up the tomatoes with a wood spoon add the balsamic vinegar and cook for 5 more minutes. Remove from the heat correct the seasonings and add torn fresh basil leaves and the pat of butter. Serve over fresh pasta with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Yield: 4 cups
Green Salad
Choose a mixture of lettuce of your choice or one of the mixtures available in most good grocery stores. Avoid lettuce sold in plastic bags, they are often not fresh and have picked up the smell of the plastic.
Vinaigrette
2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar
1/2-teaspoon honey
1/2-teaspoon grainy mustard
Salt & freshly ground pepper
5-6 tablespoons good quality olive oil
Wash and dry the salad leaves. Gently tear the lettuce into bite size pieces.
In a salad bowl, mix the vinegar, honey, salt & pepper together with a whisk. Next slowly whisk in the olive oil. Taste and correct the seasoning.
Place the lettuce gently on top of the dressing and toss just before serving. Serves 4.