A POT OF SAUCE

It's often the case to feel inspired at the start of a new year. Sometimes, however, creative projects are constantly brewing. The timing just needs to be right to set them into orbit - internet orbit, that is!

Let me introduce myself. My name is Debbie Melisi, and I have an undying love for good food. I have acquired my culinary tastes from my mother...affectionately known as Mama Melisi. And just for the record, it's pronounced "Ma LEE see"!

I never realized just how talented she was in the kitchen. As a kid, I guess I just took her delicious nightly meals for granted. But as an adult, I noticed how her ingredients were always fresh...from the garden or market. She was extremely health conscious - nothing fried, hardly any salt...and her meals were always wonderfully seasoned, flavorful, and pleasantly presented. I realize now, that people who do this, have a genuine love and passion for food.

Growing up in a small house in New Jersey, my family never had a lot of money. There was my dad, now deceased for many years, my mom, and the three kids. Although we didn't have a lot of "things", we did have a very large garden! And our home was the focal point for countless family gatherings...friends always invited...and lots of good food!

I guess the question is, why am I telling you all this? It's simply that at the kickoff of 2010, when so many world events and issues seem bleak, it would be nice to share something special with all of you.

The recipes will be posted once a week. Most are heart healthy...some will be chock full of cholesterol if it's a holiday dish! I will be infusing family stories around the meals, and offering the audience a chance to become fabulous chefs themselves! Afterall, Mama Melisi always said, "Cooking is easy"! Incidentally, my mom still lives in New Jersey, and I live in Florida, so this will be a long-distance collaboration! (She will be forwarding the recipes, I will be trying to cook them!)

I will offer you each recipe by category: appetizer, meat, poultry, pasta, seafood, vegetarian, sauce, soup...and those much loved desserts! Maybe we won't become famous, but we will surely be able to wow our husbands, wives, partners, friends, etc!

So what better way to start than with a good pot of sauce...or "gravy" if you're really Italian! Unless you're picking the tomatoes from the garden (and cooking and crushing them), it's actually easy to make a meatless tomato sauce. The true test is when you dip the hunk of fresh Italian Bread! I promise...after this...you will surely give up the jar!

Good luck...have fun...and remember...we offer it to you WITH LOVE FROM MAMA MELISI AND ME!

A Pot of Sauce:

Ingredients:

1 large onion - chopped
4 cloves fresh garlic - crushed
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 large cans crushed tomatoes (Red Pack brand or Tuttorosso in the blue can - the brand of crushed plum tomatoes makes a difference!)
6-8 basil leaves
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
The condiments can be increased according to your taste - you can always add, but you cannot take away once it is in the pot!

Cooking Directions:

Put about 1/4 cup of olive oil in a 4 quart pot and heat slowly over a medium heat. Add the chopped onions and saute until golden in color. Then add the garlic and again heat until the garlic is golden in color. Add the two large cans of crushed tomatoes. Swish each can with cold water - only about 1/4 can - and add water to the tomatoes. Add your condiments, parsley and fresh basil. Stir occasionally and simmer on a medium heat for 45 minutes to 1 hour. If too thick, add a little more water.