Simple Pleasures: Tomato Sauce

There are truly just a few things you really need in this world or in the kitchen.  I am learning to keep things simple -- it's so much easier when chaos is reigning supreme!

I'm always taken back to the scene in The Jerk when Steve Martin hits rock bottom and he's leaves saying "And that's it and that's the only thing I need, is this. I don't need this or this. Just this ashtray. And this paddle game, the ashtray and the paddle game and that's all I need. And this remote control......."  when I think about the things you really need in the kitchen. Here's my top ten:

 1.  good wine opener

 2.  radio

 3.  pepper grinder

 4.  kosher salt

 5.  long tongs

 6.  wooden spoon with a slanted top (think Gumby’s head)

 7. all-metal sauté pan

 8- inch chef’s knife

 9.  back up wine opener

10.  The Perfect Simple Tomato Sauce

Next time I run away from home, this is what I'm taking this is all I need and that's it.  And my laptop and some lipstick….

The Perfect Simple Tomato Sauce

1/4 cup olive oil

1 small onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 lbs. Tomatoes (best quality you can get), peeled, seeded and diced

Salt to taste

In a large fry pan warm oil over low heat stir in onion and sauté until translucent (no color!), add garlic and cook another couple of minutes, add tomatoes, turn up heat to medium and cook stirring and gently squashing tomatoes against the sides and bottom of the pan.  Salt to taste.

That’s it, stop cooking.  You now have about two cups of a great sauce.