Today, please welcome Stephanie from The Recipe Renovator!
[Stephanie and her girl Daisy May.]
Today’s guest poster is my friend Stephanie Weaver, writer of the wonderful Recipe Renovator blog. I met Stephanie for the first time when we bonded over tofu scramble at the Dole Summit a year and a half ago, and our online friendship has grown ever since. (Back in September, Stephanie was kind enough to review Naturally Sweet & Gluten-Free on her blog). I so admire Stephanie’s eloquence as a writer, creativity as a recipe developer, and incredibly broad knowledge of all things communications-focused. She’s one awesome lady!
Stephanie’s approach to food and cooking is very similar to mine, and I always find many delectable, “must try” recipes on her blog (just peek at these Pumpkin Spice Waffles, Provencal Chickpea Salad, Thai Lettuce Wraps with Basil, or Vinegret, which I first found on her blog and just loved). In addition, we are also both avid dog lovers. Stephanie is currently raising her second Golden Retriever, Daisy May, after the loss of her first fur baby, Buddy Girl, almost two years ago (you can learn more about Stephanie’s moving and beautifully written pet loss memoir, Golden Angels, at the bottom of the post).
I hope you’ll give this easy, flavorful Chunky Tomato Sauce from Stephanie a try!
Chunky Tomato Sauce
Once you have really good home-made tomato sauce, you’ll never want to buy it again. You can make this from good quality canned tomatoes, or from fresh garden tomatoes when you have access to them.
2 tsp (10 ml) extra virgin olive oil, preferably organic
2 shallots
2 cloves garlic
28 oz (800 g) tomatoes
1 tsp (5 ml) dried oregano
1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) black pepper
1/4 cup (60 ml) fresh basil (two large handfuls)
Peel the papery skin off the shallots and garlic and mince finely.
Wash and spin dry the basil, then roll up in a kitchen towel while you are working.
Heat oil in a medium pan and sauté shallots and garlic for 2 minutes. Add tomatoes, oregano, and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
Cut the basil into ribbons or finely chop. Remove sauce from heat and stir in basil. Serves 4. May be frozen.
Notes: This freezes beautifully. If using fresh tomatoes, score an X in the bottom of each and boil for one minute to slip off the skins. If using canned tomatoes, choose organic with BPA-free cans, or buy in tetrapaks.
Suitable for: ACD All Stages, sugar-free, gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, egg free, soy-free, nut free, vegan, low glycemic.
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Stephanie Weaver is the author of Golden Angels: A Pet Loss Memoir and the Twelve Terrific series of recipe collections. She blogs as her alter-ego, The Recipe Renovator; all her recipes are free of gluten, refined sugar, and made from plants.
Hi! I'm Ricki, cookbook author, professional recipe developer, holistic nutritionist and anti-candida crusader. Let me show you how easy it is to eat plant-based, sugar-free, gluten free food that tastes great! 
Mmmmm…I can just taste this with summer-fresh tomatoes from the veg garden!
Me, too! I love the color. I can see putting it on lots of other stuff besides pasta! 🙂
Great to see Stephanie here! I very recently found the Recipe Renovator through Google + and love it.
I bet with the oregano and fresh basil this sauce is just wonderful.
Nothing like fresh basil, eh? And what a standout with tomato! 🙂
I’m loving the simplicity of this recipe, but the complexity of the flavors. Perfect for when my tomatoes are full force this summer!!! Excellent recipe.
I agree–I can already imagine the intensity of the flavors here. So delicious!
Can’t wait until we have tomatoes again! love thinking about summer.
Me, too, Cheryl! But the recipe is also good with canned tomatoes–I may need to try it that way first! 😉
Thanks everyone! This recipe is awesome with canned tomatoes, so no need to wait until late summer!
Glad to know that, Stephanie! I can’t wait to try it–now AND in the summer! Thanks so much for sharing it with all of us! 😀
This looks fantastic! I can’t wait to try it. Thank you.
Thanks so much! I think it looks amazing, too. 🙂