Making your own tomato sauce for pasta and pizza is really quite easy. You can use staples that you have on hand (canned tomatoes, tomato paste, garlic, onion) and save money over costly commercial sauces. Here’s all you need to do:

1. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet. Add 2 minced cloves of garlic and cook until softened. Chop 1 (28-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes. Add the tomatoes (and their juice) and 2 tablespoons tomato paste to the oil. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes.

2. Use in any recipe that calls for tomato sauce or pasta sauce.

Onion Tomato Sauce: Saute 1 chopped onion with the garlic for a more substantial sauce.

Mushroom tomato sauce: First saute some sliced white or cremini mushrooms in the oil, then add the garlic.