ITALIAN MEAT SAUCE

We had dinner at my parent’s house last night. Mom made spaghetti. Oh was it tasty! This is a quick and easy meal that will feed crowds and it pleases children too.

My nephew Andy got married to sweet Brittney a few years back. I catered their wedding dinner. It was really delicious. I used this Italian meat sauce; we served it over spaghetti noodles and topped it off with whole Italian sausages. It was a crowd pleaser.

I can remember back when my daughters were small. I think this was the first food that ended up on Heather’s head. She wasn’t much of a meat eater as a baby. She would suck all the sauce until the meat was dry. I remember walking into the kitchen for something and coming back to find Heather’s bowl of noodles and dry meat on top of her head.

Now I enjoy watching Camille’s son Noah explore food. He is such a hearty eater and pasta is one of his favorites too!

This sauce is versatile. I serve it with spaghetti for family Italian night, But I’ve also used it in lasagna, as a base for pasta fagioli and even for an Italian style sloppy Joe.  Try it out and tell me how you used it.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb Ground Beef
• ½ lb Spicy Italian Sausage
• ½ lb Sweet Italian Sausage
• 1 Carrot (grated)
• 2 Celery Stalks (diced small)
• 1 Small Yellow Onion (diced small)
• 2 (28oz) Cans Crushed Roma Tomatoes
• 1 Tablespoon Italian Seasoning
• 1 Tablespoon Dried Basil
• ½ Teaspoon Fennel Seeds
• Salt to Taste
• Pepper to Taste
• ¼ Fresh Basil (chopped)
• ¼ Cup Fresh Italian Parsley (chopped)

PREPARATION

1. In a large pan or dutch oven crumble ground beef and Italian sausages and brown over medium heat.
2. Drain all but 1 Tablespoon of fat.
3. Add carrots, celery and yellow onion. Cook until onions are translucent.
4. Stir in tomatoes, turn heat to low and simmer for 1 hour.
5. Add Italian seasonings, dried basil and fennel seeds. Continue simmering for ½ hour.
6. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
7. Mix in fresh basil and Italian parsley.