First, get a medium-sized pot or pan. Pour your olive oil into the pot and put it on the stove over medium heat. Let the oil get warm for a minute. Then, add your chopped onion. Cook the onion until it becomes soft and clear. This usually takes about 5 minutes. After the onion is soft, add your chopped garlic. Cook for just one more minute. Be careful not to let the garlic burn! You will know it's ready when you can smell it. It smells so good!

Now it's time for the main event. Pour the whole can of tomatoes into the pot with the onion and garlic. If you are using whole tomatoes, use your spoon to break them up into smaller pieces. Stir everything together. Now, add your dried herbs, salt, pepper, and the optional little bit of sugar. Give it all another good stir.

This is the most important step for great flavor. Turn the heat down to low. You want the sauce to bubble just a tiny bit. This is called simmering. Put a lid on the pot, but leave a small crack for steam to get out. Let the sauce simmer for at least 30 minutes. If you have more time, let it simmer for an hour. The longer it cooks, the better it will taste. The flavors all mix together and the sauce gets a little thicker.