One Spaghetti Sauce Beats All

The store-bought spaghetti sauce is good, but homemade spaghetti sauce is by far better. Not only does it taste so much fresher (especially if you use fresh vegetables and herbs) it's really fun to make. I love the chopping, sauteing, and simmering, not to mention the heavenly aromas. Also, there's the freedom to add as much of any ingredient as you like and not have to worry about ruining the sauce. The recipe I use doesn't take long to make at all, but if you're in a real hurry, make it in big batches and freeze it in separate containers. That way, you can take one container out in the morning, leave it on the counter all day, and it will be just as convenient as if it were store bought.
Here is my basic recipe, but as I said earlier, feel free to experiment and adjust it to your tastes.

I'll post pictures when they are available.

Basic Spaghetti Sauce

• 3/4 cup olive oil (or enough to cover the bottom of the pot you're using)
• 3 cloves garlic
• 3 medium onion
• 1 medium zucchini (optional)
• 1 medium green bell pepper (any color bell pepper can be substituted)
• 3 tablespoons dried oregano*
• 3 tablespoons dried parsley*
• 3 tablespoons dried basil*
• 1 14 oz. can artichoke hearts, drained
• 2 28 oz. cans diced tomatoes (w/ liquid)
• 1 lb. ground beef, cooked and drained (optional)
• 1 6 oz. can tomato paste

1. Chop the onion and mince the garlic. Saute them in the olive oil for about two minutes.
2. While the onion and garlic are sauteing, chop the zucchini, bell pepper, and artichoke hearts and add them to the sauce along with the oregano, basil, and parsley.
3. Saute for two more minutes and add the beef and diced tomatoes.
4. Simmer for ten to fifteen minutes, longer if you like a stronger flavor. When the sauce has simmered long enough, add the tomato paste and stir well to remove any lumps.
5. Serve with your favorite pasta.

*if you like, you can use fresh oregano, parsley and basil. However, the flavor of fresh herbs is not as strong as that of dried herbs, so you'll have to add more fresh herbs than is specified in the above recipe.