Too Good To Be True Tomato Sauce, Family Favorites

This tomato sauce recipe has been in my family for generations. It is simple to make and has a delicious flavor that your family will love. The best part is that your whole family, babies and toddlers included, can enjoy it together!

This sauce is not only delicious, but is loaded with nutrients and antioxidants as well.  Tomatoes and oregano, in particular, are packed with disease-fighting antioxidants.  For added nutrition, try different grain pastas like kamut, quinoa, and for babies over 12 months, whole wheat; these pastas have a higher nutrient content than traditional white flour pasta.  Tomato sauce and pasta is a universal "go-to" dish and this recipe yields a large amount of sauce so you can store the leftovers in the freezer for future meals.  A healthy and easy-to-prepare dinner for those busy weeknights!

This recipe is suitable for babies 7-9 months and up, toddlers, big kids and adults.  Every baby is different so always be sure the consistency is one your baby can handle and do not introduce pastina or other small shaped pastas if he or she is not ready. 

At 7-9 months, stick with small shaped pasta like pastina, it is the smallest shaped pasta on the market.  At 10-12 months, you can move on to slightly larger pasta shapes like orzo, ditallini, and alphabet pasta, if your baby is ready.  For extra flavor, add some grated parmesan cheese and fresh flat leaf parsley.

Serves 8-10
What you'll need:
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
2-4 cloves of minced garlic
2 28 ounce cans/jars of organic crushed tomatoes - look for BPA free cans or glass jars
1 bay leaf
1 tablesooon of dried oregano (2 if using fresh)
1 tablespoon of dried basil (2 if using fresh)
1 vegetable bouillon cube

*Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat.

*Add the onion and garlic, reduce heat to medium, and cook for 10 minutes, stirring frequently.  The onions and garlic should not brown-you just want them to "sweat" and become transluscent.
*Add the bouillon cube and combine into onion and garlic, 1 minute.
*Add crushed tomatoes, bay leaf, oregano and basil.  Raise heat to high and bring to a boil.
*Let boil for 1 minute, then reduce heat to low, partially cover and let simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.  During this time, the sauce will cook down and the flavors will combine.
*Serve or store.
*This tomato sauce can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator and up to 3 months in the freezer.

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