Sunday Gravy

Photo: flickr user Gene Hunt

Ingredients

cup Plus 3 Tablespoon Olive Oil

7 clvs garlic Peeled And Sliced

1 pch Crushed Red Pepper

6 6 Ounce Cans Tomato Paste

2 sprgs Oregano

1 teaspoon Salt

9 whls Basil Leaves

teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper

12 cans Water From Tomato Paste Cans

3 35 Ounce Cans Of Whole Tomatoes

can Water From Whole Tomato Can

1 Recipe Meatballs

1 Recipe Braciole

pound Beef Stew

1 pound Italian Sausage

Preparation

Place the 1/4 cups of olive oil in a very large heavy bottomed saucepot over medium heat. Saute the garlic for about 1 minute or until slightly golden. Add the tomato paste and fry it with the garlic for 5 minutes or until the paste is bubbling, constantly stirring so as not to burn it.

Stir in the 12 tomato paste cans of water and allow to simmer for 20 minutes or until thick. Add the pureed tomatoes, the 1 1/2 tomato cans of water, the oregano, salt, basil and red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil then lower the heat so that the sauce barely simmers. Place a wooden spoon under the cover to keep the pot partially opened. While the sauce cooks, place the remaining olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat and begin to brown the meat components evenly on al