Two 28oz cans of whole, peeled tomatoes, an onion, some garlic, fresh basil, oregano, and tarragon (about a tablespoon each), and salt and pepper.

Sweat the onions until they’re translucent, add the garlic, crush the tomatoes by hand, and then simmer with the rest of the ingredients until it smells like an Italian grandma’s house.

Also: You’ll probably buy a lot more fresh herbs than you’ll need, so portion and wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and freeze them. Then you have them ready when you want some pasta sauce

The simplest sauce you can make is still damn good:

• 1 can whole peeled tomatoes
• 1/2 yellow onion (literally just cut in half, no slicing needed)
• 1 stick salted butter

Cook slow and low, about 1.5 hours, stirring occasionally, until the onion has completely disintegrated.

It’s not especially healthy but it’s real tasty. Feel free to dress it up with some garlic, basil, meat, etc. in the last 15 minutes if you want.