Wonderful Monday morning!

I woke up to a sunshine & my spirits are up …… I have a feeling today will be a wonderful day ….. especially since today is the first day of the Spring Break for my kiddos.

Last week I spent 3 days in Vancouver on a career trip with Little Peanut ….. right after we left Hormone Boy got sick ….. no matter how old they get …. they need their mommy when sick.

I felt so bad I couldn’t be home to take care of him so last night I had to make it up to him …. I cooked his favorite Sunday Supper …. SPAGHETTI WITH MEAT SAUCE & BAKED ITALIAN MEATBALLS.

I don’t usually make the MEAT SAUCE …. that is my husband’s job the Italian in the family , but since he won’t be home for another couple weeks  I had to do my version of MEAT SAUCE with the help of  Hunt’s Tomato Products  (always in my pantry).

However …. I am the MEATBALL maker & I have been told my BAKED ITALIAN MEATBALLS are to die for …..

So yesterday I made a big pot of SPAGHETTI MEAT SAUCE …… baked huge tray of ITALIAN MEATBALLS …. cooked box of Barilla ( the only pasta I use) SPAGHETTI ….

…. Sunday Supper was on ….. mother’s guilt was gone …. smile on my boy’s face was restored.

….. and we have enough leftovers for today ….

I can’t give you my husband’s Meat Sauce recipe because only he knows it & cooks it for 3 days just like his grandma did …..

….. however, according to my half Italian children …. my MEAT SAUCE was AWESOME!!!!

Spaghetti with Meat Sauce & Italian Meatballs

This recipe makes enough Meat Sauce to freeze for later.

Ingredients:

• 3lbs Lean Ground Beef
• 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
• 1 Onion (chopped)
• 6 Cloves Garlic (chopped)
• 2 cups Carrots (finely chopped)
• 14 oz Hunts Green Pepper, Celery & Onion Chunky Tomatoes
• 16 oz Hunts Stewed Tomatoes
• 5.5 oz Hunts Tomato Paste
• 1 Tbsp Oregano
• 1 Tbsp Basil
• Salt
• Pepper

STEP 1:  In large pot or skillet heat olive oil on medium high and brown the ground beef. Turn the heat to medium. Add onion, carrots and garlic. Cook for few minutes. Stir occasionally.

STEP 2: Add crushed tomatoes, stewed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes. Cover the pot. Turn the heat down to low. Cook for 1 hour.

STEP 3: Take the lid off. Salt to taste. Stir well and serve over cooked spaghetti.

TIP:  Sprinkle the meat sauce with fresh chopped basil when serving.

MY SECRET INGREDIENT: Adding 1 tsp of Red Currant Jelly when cooking the sauce will take the acidity out.

Spaghetti with Meat Sauce & Italian Meatballs

Don’t forget …. Keep Smiling …. Keep Cooking!

This recipe is linked to:

MANIC MONDAY @ Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen