My Prize Winning Sauce

They say we will all have our "15 minutes of fame". I experienced mine when I entered my tomato sauce recipe in a contest sponsored by a local hotel. The prize was an overnight stay at the hotel so I decided to enter.

We had to bring a sample of our sauce and the recipe to the hotel for the judging.  The night of the judging, I wasn't able to attend because I didn't have a sitter for my kids. I didn't hear anything that night so I assumed I didn't win. The next morning I woke up to a call from the food editor of our local newspaper asking me for an interview and to set up an appointment for the photo shoot! When I told her I didn't know what she was talking about, she informed me that I had won 1st place in the contest over 15 other entries. The newspaper editor came to my home for a photo and to get the "story" behind my recipe. The article and picture ran in our local paper. My phone began to ring from friends and strangers who saw the article and wanted to try making my sauce.  My 15 minutes of fame... it was exciting.

The original recipe was my mother's. Growing up in an Italian household, I woke up every Sunday morning to the smell of my mother's "gravy" simmering on the stove. My mother fried everything in lard (yes, lard!) and after she fried her meats, she added the drippings to the gravy. (no wonder I was an overweight child!) . Her gravy was delicious, but when I started to make it myself, I made a healthier version without the lard and extra fat. Yes, you can make gravy without all the fat and it will be delicious! I won the contest, didn't I?

My Prize Winning Tomato Sauce (or as my mother called it,  "Gravy")
2 tbsp. olive oil                                                                                      Printable Recipe
2 cloves minced garlic
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 tbsp chopped parsley
1 -6 oz can tomato paste
3- 29 oz cans whole peeled San Marzano tomatoes ( I recently started using these tomatoes that come from San Marzano Italy-they are sweeter and less acidic than other tomatoes)
3 fresh basil leaves or 1/2 tsp dried
2 tbsp dry red wine
Salt/pepper to taste
1 lb sweet Italian sausage
Meatballs (recipe follows)

Prepare meatballs. While they are cooking, microwave sausage until no longer pink, about 10 minutes, pour off fat (look at all this fat, no need for it in the sauce and on your hips!) Cut into 2 inch pieces. Set aside.

Gluten Free Meatballs
(Approx 20 meatballs)
2 lbs ground beef
2 tbsp gluten free Italian flavored bread crumbs
 2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
2 tbsp chopped parsley
2 tbsp grated Romano cheese
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Combine all ingredients, mix well. Shape into 2 inch balls. Place on cookie tray (spray with gluten free cooking spray). Bake in 375 degree oven for 20 minutes, turning over at 10 minutes to brown evenly.


Saute garlic, onion, and parsley in olive oil until softened. Add tomato paste and cook about 5 minutes, stirring well.

Add tomatoes and mash with a wooden spoon to break up the whole tomatoes. Add basil, wine, sugar, salt, pepper. Add meatballs and sausage. Simmer on low for 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Freezes well.


Enjoy over gluten free pasta!