Comfort Foods Continued- Hearty Spaghetti Sauce

Comfort Foods Continued- Hearty Spaghetti Sauce


 

 I am a carb fanatic- I could eat pasta daily so when I find a good sauce, I am hooked.  This one is great.  I tweek it based on what I have on hand.  If I have a bunch of fresh basil or oregano from the garden, I use fresh and just kinda estimate how much I put into the sauce.  I like a really flavorful sauce, so I tend to be heavy handed.  If that is not you, add less. I also, love to add the wine, but if I don't have any around, I use chicken stock- still flavorful or water- no additional flavor.  The meats and mushrooms really take this over the top and satisfies everyone.  Again, if there is an ingredient you don't care for, omit it and add something you like if you care to.  It's all about having a basic recipe and making it fit your family's needs.  Enjoy!



Ingredients:
1.5 lbs ground beef (or turkey)
1 lb hot Italian sausage
20 oz sliced mushrooms
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 yellow onion, chopped
2 cloves of garlic chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1.5 tbsp olive oil
1 28-oz can tomato puree
1 12-oz can tomato paste
24 oz tomato sauce
!/2 cup to 1 cup red or white wine (optional)- Chicken stock or water would work as well
6 oz freshly grated Romano cheese
1 tbsp dried oregano- can use fresh- I just chop up a 1/4 cup and throw it in- I like a lot of flavor
1 tbsp dried basil- can use fresh as well- to taste
1 bay leaf
1-2 tbsp sugar

spaghetti noodles + additional grated cheese for serving

Directions:
Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Once hot, add the onion, garlic, bell peppers and sliced mushrooms. Saute for about six – eight minutes, until mushrooms are soft. Add ground beef and sausage meat. Cook until meat browns, stirring frequently.
Add tomato puree, tomato sauce and tomato paste to the pot. Stir well. Then, add the bay leaf, wine, spices, sugar and cheese. Stir well and bring sauce to a simmer.
Simmer sauce for an hour and a half over low heat, stirring occasionally. Taste it as you cook, adding more wine, spices or garlic salt to suite your taste buds. The longer the sauce cooks, the better it will taste!
Serve sauce over hot spaghetti noodles with extra cheese. Sauce can be refrigerated for up to five days or frozen for up to three months. Sauce will taste better the next day, after flavors have time to meld. Enjoy!