Meat Sauce

** You could add any of the following: browned chopmeat, meat balls, boneless beef for gravy (top round), sausage, neck of lamb, brasciola, or spare ribs. You can also add sausage that has been boiled for 15 minutes to take fat out and then rinsed in cold water. When the meat is ready, remove from pot and set aside. Clean pot. Heat oil over medium heat. Reduce heat and add onions. Sauté until lightly browned. Add tomatoes and ½-¾ can water, sugar, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook 1-1½ hours. Add fresh basil during the last 10-15 minutes. Nonna’s family arrives in New York from Italy, 1955. Here are the names of those in the photo: Nonna, Tonino, Renuccio (the baby), Aunt Bianca, Nonni, (front) Lina, Angelo. Mimi was right there, too, but it looks like he was too short to get into the picture!