Basic Marinara Sauce

By cheshire255

6 slices of bacon
1/4 cup of olive oil
3 onions
2 cloves of garlic
3 lbs of fresh tomatoes or 2 No. 2 1/2 cans (2 x 29 oz)
12 anchovies (1 can, flats)
3 cloves
fresh or dried basil to taste
2 tablespoons of dried parsley
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

Cut the bacon into small pieces and fry until almost crisp. Drain and add to a dutch oven with the olive oil, peeled and chopped onions and garlic. Saute until they are nicely colored and soft. Add the fresh tomatoes, unseeded and unpeeled, or the canned tomatoes, chopped, the chopped anchovies, cloves, basil, salt, and pepper. Cook covered slowly until the tomatoes are cooked down and thickened (about 2-4 hours). Put the Sauce through a blender on low speed and return to a covered pot. Add the parsley and simmer for another 1-2 hours. Variants include adding 1 1/2 pounds of Italian sausages in 1/2 cup of red wine. Serve over pasta or as a dip.

Yield: 10-12 servings