by Mari-Anne Grimaldi

Created on: August 24, 2009   Last Updated: August 25, 2009

The best pasta sauce is homemade pasta sauce, hands down! It's not hard to make.

I like to start my sauce fairly early because I make a wonderful meat sauce that simmers the meat about four hours or so. First you need a large pot. Pour in a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. Add two cloves of chopped garlic and a small diced onion. cook until onion is transparent, about four or five minutes.

Next comes the meat. I use a few different meats. That's what makes it so delicious! First add about a half pound lean ground beef.Let that brown slowly. Next add Italian sausage.(I prefer hot). Let that brown also. Next add about a pound of lean stew meat. Again let it brown up. All the meat is now added. You may need to drain off some of the fat.

Now we are ready for the Tomatoes. Three large cans tomato sauce, 32oz. each. One small can paste. 8 oz..Fill the tomato paste can with water and add three cans water.Give everything a good stir.

Next come the spices. I never use an exact measure. You have to adjust a little to suit your own taste. Remember these seasonings are approximate: 1 teaspoon salt. 1 teaspoon white pepper. 1/4 teaspoon red pepper.2 tablespoons dried parsley.1/2 teaspoon oregano.

This sauce is a little spicy as you probably guessed from the ingredient list. You can go easy on the peppers and maybe you want to use sweet sausage too.

Okay, now everything is in the pot Stir everything good. Cover and let simmer about 4 or 5 hours. The longer the better is the way I feel. You won't believe how tender the meat is. It will melt in your mouth! Cook up some pasta and enjoy!

Quick view ingredient list

garlic salt

onion white pepper

lean ground beef dried parsley

Italian sausage oregano

lean stew meat red pepper * (optional)

3- 32 oz cans tomato sauce

1- 8 oz can tomato paste

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