My Dad's Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

Prep time - 30 min. Cook time - about 4 hours


Ingredients:

1 1/2 lb ground chuck
1/2 lb ground lean pork
(Dad used Italian Sausage instead of the ground pork, cut into bite size chunks, I use the ground pork.)
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped fine
2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
2 (2 lb) cans tomatoes, crushed strained
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup celery, chopped fine
1/4 cup green pepper, chopped
2 teaspoons parsley, chopped
1/4 teaspoon oregano
1/4 teaspoon basil leaves
1/4 teaspoon rosemary
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon salt
2 foam boxes of Mushrooms - sliced
(the kind in the veggies section at the grocery store) OPTIONAL if you dont like mushrooms.


Preparation:

TIP:: Use a BIG pot. Simmer until the sauce is the desired thickness.
Dad ALWAYS simmered for closer to 6 hours.

Trim fat from chuck and pork and grind together.
Brown together till just light tan, stirring constantely.
Add onions to meat, cook till onions are transparent.
Add the following to the meat and onions: garlic, tomato paste, tomatoes, water, celery, parsley, oregano, basil leaves, rosemary, green pepper, bay leaf, brown sugar, black pepper, salt and mushrooms.
Cook and bring to a boil stirring constantly.
Turn heat to simmer, keep stirring till burner reaches simmer stage and don't scorch.
Simmer about 4 hours stirring occasionally.
Serve over spaghetti.