Meat Sauce Forty Years in the Making (or as we Southerners call it, Spaghetti Sauce)

Back when I was a young Southern Bride, I had no clue how to make sauce for Spaghetti. Mama had always made good sauce but I don't think I ever saw her do it.

My husband at the time was in the Air Force and we had TDY (temporary duty) in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Our housing was a hoot. It was a "retirement home" where the AF rented a few apartments.  There were about 8 couples staying there when we were there.

I met one gal around my age who was from NY.  She was a beautiful Italian American girl.  Long dark hair, dark eyes. Just gorgeous and sweet.

She basically "taught me" to make sauce.

Here's what I remember of her way.  (I have veered off from the exact recipe over the years, just kind of doing my own thing. But this was the foundation of what was to become my meat sauce.)

Tomato Meat Sauce

4 lbs hamburger

6 sausage patties

2 28oz cans tomato sauce

2 28oz cans whole tomatoes

1 18oz can tom. paste

Olive oil

chopped:

2 gr. peppers

2 onions

4 stalks celery

2 T. oregano

1/2 t. red pepper

1 t. thyme

2 cans water

salt/pepper to taste

Now - 

I use ground turkey instead of beef.

I add 3 to 4 cloves garlic chopped/minced

I mix red/yellow/green sweet peppers.

I used fresh herbs if I have them - oregano, thyme, basil - 1 tablespoon fresh in place of 1 teaspoon dried

Heat Olive Oil till you see it "ripple".

Brown ground meat, stirring up from the bottom to get all the "good bits" as it browns.

Add chopped veggies, stir and let them cook down a bit.

When the veggies have softened, add all the tomato ingredients. Bring to boil. Stir well.

Turn down and simmer "all afternoon", stirring occasionally to make sure it's not sticking to the bottom.

(I split my recipe into two pots as I don't have one thick bottomed pot to hold it all.)

Serve over spaghetti (generously sprinkle with parmesan cheese) , use in lasagna, etc.

I freeze in pt.sized containers in the freezer for quick meals.

Taste the sauce after it's simmered for a while to see if you want more salt, or herbs, etc.  Play with it till you get it the way your family likes it best.

I can't tell you how "superdy dooper" it is to pull out frozen sauce and have a "real meal" ready quickly! Especially if I'm tired or have just been busy doing other things.

And it's great for a company meal with salad and bread!

*******

I no longer use Olive Oil as DH doesn't like the flavor. Just vegetable oil to brown the meat.

I mostly use ground turkey, but do mix ground beef and turkey on occasion.

I add a Tablespoon of sugar. The mother of one of my friends told me she did that to "cut" the acidity of the tomatoes.

Today's Sauce Bounty!

Delicious Dinners to come!

I hope you find this helpful.  It seems like a lot of work, but the payoff is unbeatable!

Bon Appétit!