Basic Nomato Sauce (Tomato Free Tomato Sauce)

Description: This recipe comes from the Interstitial Cystitis Network site at www.ic-network.com/bev/april00. We enjoy it just as much in spaghetti and enchiladas as tomato sauce. One batch makes the equivalent of 2 larges cans of tomato sauce (4 cups) so I use half the batch and freeze the other half in a freezer bag for next time. I find that I have to add about 25 percent more spice than I did when I used tomatoes.

Ingredients:

• 6 carrots, peeled and diced
• 1 small beet, peeled and diced
• 1 large onion, diced
• 3 celery ribs, diced
• 1 bay leaf, whole
• 1 1/2 cups water

Steps:

1. Put everything in a covered pot, bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer until veggies are soft.
2. Take out the bay leaf, blend well till smooth and use as you would tomato sauce, spicing appropriately for the dish you're using it in.