Gourmet Spaghetti Sauce

Hearty, thick ground beef and mushrooms with onions and garlic in a spicy, seasoned tomato sauce.

Ingredients -

2 pounds Ground Chuck
1/2 cup chopped Onions
1/4 cup chopped Green Pepper
1 small can chopped Mushrooms
1 medium can Tomato Sauce
2 cloves minced Garlic
1/2 package Spaghetti Sauce Mix
Cayenne Pepper, to taste
1/2 teaspoon Thyme
1/2 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
3/4 teaspoon Oregano
1/4 teaspoon Sage
4 Bay Leaves, (4 to 6)
2 small cans Tomato Paste
2 Tomato Paste cans Water
Salt and Pepper, to taste

Preparation:

1. Brown ground chuck and onion until beef is browned. Crumble ground chuck with wooden spoon while cooking. Drain off excess fat.

2. Add green pepper, mushrooms, tomato sauce, garlic, spaghetti sauce mix, cayenne pepper, thyme, Italian seasoning, oregano, sage, bay leaves, tomato paste, 2 tomato paste cans of water, salt and pepper.

3. Simmer several hours.

4. Serve over hot spaghetti.

Cooking Tip

Durum Wheat

Pastas made from durum wheat stay firm and retain their shape after cooking.

Cooking Tip

Add Salt to Pasta Water

Add salt to the pasta water when the water has come to a boil. Unsalted water has a lower boiling point than salted water. The salt can also mar the surface of pots if added earlier.