A Light Summer Tomato Sauce

This is a light red sauce loaded with fresh garden vegetables, perfect for the hotter days of summer. Lots of flavor, smells delicious when simmering and is one of my absolute favorites.

1 ½ c. chopped onion
1/2 to 3/4 c. chopped celery
1/4 to 1/3 c. chopped green sweet pepper
1/2 c. chopped carrot
1/2 c. snipped parsley
1 small garlic clove, thinly sliced
1 Tbl. olive oil
1 16-oz. can tomatoes, cut up *I use fresh garden tomatoes, peeled and chopped
1 15-oz. can tomato sauce
2 tea. sugar
1/8 tea. salt
1/8 tea. pepper
1/8 tea. red pepper flakes
1/8 tea. oregano
linguine or other pasta
grated Parmesan cheese

In a large saucepan, cook and stir the onion, celery, green pepper, carrot, parsley and garlic in the olive oil until the onion is tender. Add the undrained tomatoes, tomato sauce, sugar, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes and oregano. reduce heat and simmer for 30 to 60 minutes or until the sauce reaches the desired consistency. Spoon the sauce over cooked pasta and sprinkle with Parmesan. Mangia!