2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 cup diced onion (cut in 1/4-inch pieces
1 cup diced green bell pepper (cut in 1/4-inch pieces)
3 cups chopped tomatoes or 1 cup tomato sauce plus 2 cups water
1/4 teaspoon thyme
2 bay leaves
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
Salt, to taste
Dash ground black pepper
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons water

Melt butter in a saucepan. Add onion and green pepper; saute over
medium heat until onion is translucent. Add tomatoes, thyme, bay leaves, garlic, paprika, Tabasco, salt and pepper. Simmer over low heat for 30 minutes.

Dissolve cornstarch in 2 tablespoons water. Add to simmering sauce; cook until sauce is clear. Remove bay leaves.

Yield: 3 cups