Homemade Tomato Pasta Sauce

Pasta sauces are very cheap to buy at the store, but to some of us, we would rather make our own pasta sauce, made from fresh tomatoes, garlic, onions, green peppers, and herbs....Here is my take on, homemade tomato pasta sauce: 

Ingredients:
3-4 lbs. fresh tomatoes
pinch of salt and pepper to taste
3 tbsp. olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 small green peppers, chopped
1 sprig of fresh rosemary
1 sprig of fresh thyme
1 sprig of  fresh Italian basil
2 - 3 sprigs of fresh oregano
2 tsp. splenda sugar

Preparation:
Wash and cut tomatoes, put it aside. Put 2 tbsp. olive oil in a dutch oven pan, place all the tomatoes.  Let it cook for 5 minutes.  Cool.  Puree tomatoes in a blender, strain then strain to rid seeds and skins.  I did not add tomato paste at this point,  this will be added once you cook your tomato sauce and pasta.

Fresh tomatoes, herbs and green peppers

Cooked tomatoes, pureed, and strained.

Chopped onions, minced garlic, chopped green peppers, and chopped herbs

Sautee garlic and onions in 1 tbsp. olive oil, add herbs and strain tomato sauce in the pan.  Let it cook for 5 minutes.  Add green peppers, turn off the stove.  Let it cool.  Place tomato sauce in jars, close it tightly, then place jars in a dutch oven with water, let it boil for 30 minutes.  Cool and you can place them in the fridge or cupboards.  Tomato sauce will last at least 3-4 weeks if stored properly.