San Francisco Style Cioppino(Recipe Adapted From Recipe In "Simply Seafood") - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/4 to 1/2 c. olive oil
2 medium onions, diced
2 or 3 medium carrots, sliced thin
1 red and 1 green pepper, chopped
1 large leek, chopped
4 pieces celery, chopped
1 Tbsp. chopped fennel
2 (28 oz.) cans crushed tomatoes
1 to 2 Tbsp. chopped garlic
1 (10 to 12 oz.) jar clam juice
1 small can tomato paste
1 tsp. salt (optional)
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 tsp. minced fresh basil
1 tsp. minced fresh oregano
1/2 tsp. minced fresh thyme
4 to 6 bay leaves
cayenne pepper to taste
1 c. strong red wine

Preparation

In a very large pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil.
Saute all the vegetables for 4 or 5 minutes.
Add spices and rest of ingredients.
Also, add in white wine sauce from cooking seafood after veggies have been sauteed.
Cover and simmer over very low heat for 3 hours.
Do not boil.
During simmering, taste and add more spices to taste.
The more, the better.
The sauce should be very thick.