It’s Food Friday! And I must really love you guys because I am about to share one of the things that makes me the happiest in all the world.  As a kid, I gorged on this stuff.  As an adult, I eat a lot of it, too (although I don’t eat wheat anymore, so I either use gluten free pasta or use zucchini that has been turned into “pasta”).

Truly, y’all should bow at my mother’s feet, this recipe is so good.  Try it.  I bet you’ll love it!

What follows is the recipe that she gave me when I went away to college.  I eyeball the ingredients now, which just goes to show you that this recipe is idiot-proof.  You can tweak the ingredients and it’s still a major yum-fest.

Without further ado …

Mom’s Italian Meat Sauce

2 T. Olive oil
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 lb ground beef
1/2 green pepper, diced
1/2 lb mushroom, diced (I always use more)
1 T chopped fresh parsley or 1 t dried
1 #3 can Italian Style tomatoes (to this day, I do not know what a #3 can is. Go with the normal sized can, about 15 oz)
1 8 oz can tomato sauce (or thereabouts)
1 4 oz can tomato paste (or thereabouts)
1 t salt
1/2 t pepper
1/8 t red pepper
1/4 t allspice
1/2 t oregano
1 t basil
1 bay leaf
1 t sugar (I never use)
(Note, I tend to use more of the spices, and I almost always double or triple the entire recipe)

In a 5-6 qt heavy pan, heat oil and saute onions and garlic lightly. Add meat. Brown meat, stirring to break up pieces.

Add green pepper/mushrooms. Cook 2 minutes.

Stir in other ingredients.

Cover and cook 2 hours over low heat.

Taste and adjust seasonings.

Serves 4-6 (enough for about 1lb of spaghetti).

Let me know what you think! Got any recipes you’d like to share?
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