Veggie Marinara (aka How Many Veggies Can I Hide in This Sauce?)

I make loads of this and keep in frozen at almost all times. My kids love it, even Miss Picky. They have no idea what's in it. It's just spaghetti sauce. (Award Mom Points here.)

We eat in on Pasta, Spaghetti Squash, Pizza, as a dip for a fresh loaf of crusty bread, dip for Calzones, etc. etc. etc......Love it!

This month, I'm providing while wheat rotini noodles. You can serve it simply with the sauce and pasta. If you'd like to try something different, line a baking dish with foil and spray heavily with cooking spray. Mix slightly undercooked pasta and sauce together and place in baking dish. Top with your choice of cheese and bake at 400 for 15-20 minutes.


Veggie Marinara
1/2 cup olive oil
2-3 onions -- chopped
4 garlic gloves -- chopped
3-4 celery stalks including leafy tops -- chopped
1/2 of large bag of frozen spinach -- drained, or large bunch of fresh spinach
--washed and roughly chopped

(optional -- Kale - roughly chopped, Broccoli Rabe -- roughly chopped, Eggplant - cooked and roughly chopped, Red Pepper -- chopped finely (can add a little spice - go easy)

1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
4 bay leaves
2 - 32 ounce canned crushed tomatoes
1 bunch fresh parsley
fresh basil - to taste (optional)

Heat oil in large pot. Add onions and garlic and saute' until soft, about 10 minutes. Add the celery, carrots, and 1/2 of the salt and pepper and cook until the veggies are soft. Add the tomatoes and bay leaves and simmer on low heat uncovered. for 60-90 minutes. It's done when the sauce has thickened. Remove bay leaves. Add spinach and simmer for 2-3 minutes more. Remove from heat and blend using an immersion blender. (This is optional -- it really hides the veggies. You can leave it chunky if you'd like.) Add fresh parsley and basil and simmer for 3-5 minute more. Serve any way you like red sauce.

Freezer directions: Cool to room temperature and freeze in large freezer bag. To prepare, defrost in fridge overnight. Boil pasta according to directions. Warm sauce in saucepan or microwave. Top pasta with sauce. Add cheese if desired. Serve warm.