Directions
- In a skillet, heat vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the onion and bell pepper and cook for five minutes or until the onion is soft. Add mushrooms, water, garlic, oregano, basil, bay leaf, tomato puree, and tomato paste to the skillet and stir.
- Simmer uncovered on low heat for 30 minutes. Remove the bay leaf from the sauce. Add honey* to the sauce and cook another 10 minutes.
- While waiting for the sauce, place a pot of water on high heat for pasta. When water boils, add salt and pasta, then reduce the heat to medium.
- Boil pasta for about 10 minutes and drain.
- Serve Garden Sauce over pasta.
Cook's Note
Spaghetti is shown, but any pasta shape will do.
Your ingredients list calls for sugar, but the directions mention adding honey at the very end. Both work beautifully! Honey adds a lovely, subtle floral note, while granulated sugar keeps it classic. Whichever you choose, adding it during the final 10 minutes of simmering perfectly cuts the acidity of the tomatoes without making the sauce overly sweet.
