Divine Spaghetti Sauce

This is one of those all-day spaghetti sauces that simmers beef, tomato, and herbs together for hours. It is very good and very nutritious. Ingredients can be increased or lessened to your taste. Freeze the remainder of the sauce in plastic bags in serving sizes. Tastes better with each heating!

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 6 hr
• Total Time: 6 hr 30 mins
• Calories: 535 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 bay leaves
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
• 4 stalks celery, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 2 (28 ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes
• 2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
• 1 pound spaghetti
• 5 tablespoons Italian seasoning
• 2 green bell peppers, chopped
• 15 fresh mushrooms, sliced
• 1 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.

Step 2

Brown beef in a large skillet over medium heat until no longer pink; cut up any remaining chunks of beef and reserve.

Step 3

Combine whole tomatoes and paste in a large saucepan; mash until smooth. Cover and heat on low.

Step 4

Quickly sear onion and celery in a large skillet over medium heat until transparent; add to the tomato sauce in the saucepan. Sauté bell peppers and mushrooms in the same skillet for a few minutes, but do not allow them to become soft; add to tomato sauce.

Step 5

Add Italian seasoning, dried red pepper flakes, bay leaves, basil, and garlic to tomato sauce; add beef and mix. Remove cover, simmer over low heat and continue to simmer all day, stirring occasionally.

Step 6

Add sauce to pasta; serve.