Rita's Pasta and Meat Sauce

This dish is great for kids and adults. There's a sweetness to the meat sauce that kids love and then they don't seem to mind that there are veggies in the sauce...

• Preparation Time: 10 mins
• Cooking Time: 40 mins
• Total Time: 50 mins
• Calories: 791 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 ½ tablespoons white sugar
• salt and pepper to taste
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 2 tomatoes, diced
• ¾ cup tomato sauce
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can stewed tomatoes, with juice
• ⅔ cup diced carrots
• 1 (12 ounce) package farfalle (bow tie) pasta
• ⅔ cup chopped green bell pepper
• ¼ cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese (Optional)

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

In a large skillet over medium heat, combine ground beef, onion and garlic. Cook until meat is evenly brown. Drain excess fat. Stir in carrots, bell pepper, diced tomatoes and stewed tomatoes with juice. Season with onion powder, parsley, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper. Cover, and simmer 15 minutes. Stir in tomato sauce and sugar. Simmer 15 minutes more.

Step 2

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. Toss pasta with meat sauce until evenly coated, and serve with crumbled Gorgonzola.