Pasta With Homemade Red Sauce

• servings: 8
• active time: 30 minutes
• total time: 3 hours

Ingredients

Ingredients

1. 1/2 lb (675 g) sweet or spicy Italian sausage (ideally a mixture of both)

1 1b (675 g) lean ground beef or some stewing beef

you can vary the type and ratio of meat ie. Less sausages and more beef or make some Italian meatballs with the sausages)

1/4 cup (60 ml) olive oil

1 to 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) crushed red pepper flakes or chop up a spicy hot fresh pepper instead

2 celery stalks and 1 medium carrot, chopped (optional)

2 green or red peppers, chopped

3 small or medium onions, finely chopped

4 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 small package of mushrooms, chopped

1 can 5 1/2 oz (156 ml) tomato paste

2 cans 28 oz (796 ml) diced Italian tomatoes

28 oz (796 ml) crushed or pureed tomatoes (the ones I usually give you in a tall bottle)

2 cups red wine or water (or a mix of the two)

2 teaspoons (10 ml) dried oregano

½ cup of fresh basil (this gives it a really nice flavor!)

1 tsp. sugar if you are not adding the sweet Italian sausages

Salt and pepper to taste (about 1 tbsp. or a bit more) also add a bit of Herbamare

Taste the sauce after 1 hour and adjust it with salt and pepper.

Directions

1. In a large saucepan, brown the meat in 30 ml (2 tablespoons) of the oil with the red pepper flakes. Add more oil, if needed. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside in a bowl.

2. In the same saucepan, soften the onions and garlic in the remaining oil. Season with salt and pepper. Add the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute over medium to high heat.

3. Add the meat, tomatoes, tomato sauce, wine, oregano, and basil, Herbamare and sugar. Bring to a boil and simmer gently, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan regularly, for about 2 ½ to 3 hours.

4. Serve over the pasta of your choice and sprinkle with some Romano or Parmesan cheese