Spaghetti or Marinara Sauce

Ingredients:
*1 - 1 1/2 lbs. ground meat (I used ground turkey.)
*2 cups water
*1/2 small onion, chopped
*2 cloves garlic, chopped
*1 stalk celery, chopped
*1 1/2 cups carrots, chopped
*1/2 tsp salt
*1/8 tsp. pepper
*3 pints tomatoes (or3-15oz cans)
*1 tsp. oregano
*2 bay leaves
*1/2 Tbps basil

Directions:
1. In sauce pan, combine water, onion, garlic, celery, carrots, salt, and pepper.

2. Bring to boil and simmer until water boils away. Veggies should be really tender at this point, if not, add more water and boil longer.

3.  With an immersion blender, blend until smooth.

4. Brown ground meat and add to sauce.

5. Add tomatoes, oregano, and bay leaves. Simmer on low for about one hour. Stir occasionally.

6. Remove bay leaves.

7. Add basil.

8. If sauce is too thin, simmer until desired consistency is reached.

Serving Suggestions: Serve over tender spaghetti squash, steamed veggies or use as a dipping sauce.

Notes:
*Omit meat for marinara.
*I don't add the basil until right before serving. Prolonged heat tends to diminish the flavor and scent.