Ciao! Amico!

Have you ever seen this movie? It's my favorite. Well actually part 2 is my favorite but this movie rocks. It became a necessity in my life after I first watched it. It became a fixation. It became my desire. My desire for all that is Italian. I wanted to be a mobster's wife. I wanted people to call my husband the Don and I wanted my sons to carry on the family. The family. They keep it real trill in the family. Anyway, I became obsessed with Michael which grew into an obsession with Al Pacino. And Marlon Brando became my mentor. Not exactly what you would expect from a middle class, all American, zero Italian blooded, pure white, girl from the mid-west. It just spoke to me. I can't really explain it. So I went out and bought a book, actually I ordered it online but either way I obtained a copy of Rick Steve's Italian Phrase Book.

This is the book I bought and since then it has become my life's mission to return to the motherland. To go back to the old days. To visit my family's vineyard. If of course I had a family that lived in the old days and owned a vineyard. Anyway! I said all that to say this. Since I couldn't become Italian, or jump a flight to Rome I did the next best thing and started cooking like an Italian. As best a girl can in Oklahoma anyway. So last night my roots got the best of me and I made one of the best and basic Italian dishes around. Spaghetti and tomato sauce. It was delicioso!


I'll post my recipe but I want you to remember that cooking isn't about measurements, it's about taste. Don't be afraid to double dip your spoon and try, try, and try again.


Start with a skillet or pan, whichever is handiest and pour in about 2-4 Tbsp. of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO). Heat the oil. Mince up some fresh garlic. 1 large or 2 regular cloves.

Add the garlic to the EVOO and let simmer but not too long. The garlic will become bitter and that's just not the Italian way. I also like to cut up about half of a yellow onion. This of course is optional. Because in the old days they couldn't always afford onions.

Open up one large can of crushed peeled tomotoes and add to the garlic, EVOO, and (opt.) onion. Add salt and pepper to taste. Let this simmer for a few minutes and then add about 1 Tbsp of tomato paste. Stir and let simmer. Now take as much basil as you can stand to eat and chop it up. I'm not picky about my cutting but you do need to chop this.

Add approx. 2 tsp of basil, give or take a few. I loooove basil. Now this is my secret ingredient. Add about 3 tablespoons of butter and about 1 Tbsp of sugar. Sounds odd, but just do it. DOOO IIIIT!

Let this simmer as long as you like. It won't hurt. Just so you know this is great reheated! In fact I think it's better the second day. If the sauce is a little too thin add little flour and if it's a little too thick that's just impossible.

Don't forget to add salt and pepper to taste. I wish I had pictures of this but I don't. You'll just have to trust me. I make this for the boys ALL the time. They love it!