Field Grade Spaghetti Sauce

The delightful surprise ingredient in this sauce is cinnamon, and I guarantee that it's absolutely delicious! In the military, the term "field grade" is for Colonels and Generals, as in "He's a field grade officer." That's how this recipe got it's name...by being the cream of the crop! It's one of the many recipes I've accumulated as a military wife for almost 30 years. This sauce freezes well.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 60 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins
• Calories: 377 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup water
• 1 pinch ground cinnamon
• 1 (1 ounce) package dry onion soup mix
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 2 pounds lean ground beef
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• ½ cup red wine
• 1 pinch ground allspice
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 (4.5 ounce) can canned mushrooms, drained
• 2 teaspoons dried basil leaves, crushed

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

In a large skillet, brown the meat with the garlic over medium heat. Stir in the wine; simmer, stirring often, for 10 minutes.

Step 2

Mix in dry onion soup mix, mushrooms, basil, salt and pepper, cinnamon, allspice, parsley, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and water. Cover pan almost completely, allowing space for steam to escape, and simmer 1 hour. Add additional water if needed to prevent sticking.