Tomato Sauce

1      tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1      pound onions, peeled, finely chopped

12    ounces carrots, peeled, chopped

4      celery stalks, peeled, finely chopped

3      garlic cloves, peeled, finely chopped

1      tablespoon dried basil

½     tablespoon dried marjoram

½     tablespoon dried oregano

2      cans (35 ounces each) plum

(Italian) tomatoes

1      can (28 ounces) tomato purée, salt-free if available

3      tablespoons salt-free tomato paste

½     cup dry white wine or vermouth

1      teaspoon kosher salt

Nutritional information per serving (1 cup):

Calories 133 (11% from fat) • carb. 25g • pro. 5g • fat 2g • sat. fat 0g

• chol. 0mg • sod. 639mg • calc. 98mg • fiber 6g

Heat the olive oil in a Cuisinart® 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onions, carrots, celery, and garlic; cook until the vegetables are softened, but not browned, about 5 minutes. Add the basil, marjoram, and oregano; cook until the herbs are aromatic, 2 to 3 minutes longer.

Place the cooked vegetables in the ceramic pot of the Cuisinart® Slow Cooker. Add the tomatoes, tomato purée, tomato paste, wine and salt to the slow cooker and stir to blend. Cover and press the on/off button to turn the unit on. Set time to 8 hours and press Simmer; slow cooker will automatically switch to Warm when cooking time has elapsed. For a smoother sauce, use a Cuisinart® Hand Blender or regular blender to purée the sauce to desired consistency.