Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

This isn't what the name implies! It is not spicy and/or hot. The red peppers are red bell peppers or [ I prefer ] Italian sweet peppers. Roasting the peppers and other ingredients takes a little time, but is well worth the effort!  Besides the rest of the preparation is fast and easy! You can cheat and buy the peppers already roasted [sold in a jar], just make sure the label says "sweet peppers", otherwise you're getting hot peppers. This sauce is great on pasta, crusty bread w/ cheese [broiled], sandwiches, as a dip with garlic bread sticks, etc. Proceed with tomatoes, garlic, and onion which you will have to place on a cookie sheet ...tomatoes get too juicy and garlic .... Do each veggie separately or on same pan, doing onion first, then 5 minutes later add tomatoes, and then garlic 5 minutes later. you may have to turn veggies. DO NOT DO GARLIC  on broil setting! Cool and peel as with peppers.   


Roasting Peppers and Other Veggies


Have ready, a bag or bowl with cold water, large enough to hold peppers.

1. Place peppers whole on a cookie sheet  or directly on oven rack in a preheated 400 degree oven. If you are brave and can watch them constantly you can set temp to Broil. Remove from oven when they begin to char  and place in bag. 
2. Allow to steam and cool. When cool enough to handle remove from bag.
3. Before starting next step: CAUTION! Even though these are not hot peppers, where gloves when handling/ peeling peppers, until you are certain you are not sensitive.  If you detect any burning sensation, stop and wash hands immediately

 Cut off stem end of pepper. Make a slit down side of pepper, just long enough to remove seeds.Just with your hands or with a knife   pull tissue-paper-like "skin" from pepper...the roasted flavor will remain. Repeat with all veggies.

• 4 red bell or red sweet peppers
• 3 med. tomatoes
• 4 cloves garlic
• 1 medium onion
• 4 tblsp. olive oil
• 2 tsp. balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

1. In blender or processor combine garlic, oil, and vinegar till smooth. Add, one-at-a-time, the peppers, onion, tomatoes. Blend/ process till smooth, it gets somewhat thick, so you may have to pulse.  When smooth add parmesan, mix well.