Italian Meat Sauce Family Secret

Total Time: 3 hrs 15 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 3 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 1/2 lb bacon, chopped
• 2 1/2 lbs ground beef
• 2 cups onions, chopped
• 1 cup green bell pepper, chopped
• 6 garlic cloves, minced finely
• 105 ounces canned tomatoes (preferably plum tomatoes)
• 18 ounces tomato paste, canned
• 1 1/2 cups dry red wine (divided)
• 5 teaspoons oregano (divided)
• 5 teaspoons basil (divided)
• 2 teaspoons thyme
• 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped (heaping tbls dry)
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 bay leaf, crumbled

Recipe

• 1 fry bacon until crisp in a wide 6 qt pot.
• 2 remove crisp bacon and all but 2 tbls of bacon grease, saving bacon and extra bacon grease.
• 3 brown ground beef in pot with bacon grease.
• 4 stir in chopped onions, green pepper, and garlic and cook on medium low for 10 minutes to soften veggies (add additional bacon grease if needed).
• 5 crush tomatoes (i use my hands) and add to pot along with tomato paste, crisp bacon bits, one c of wine, 4 tsps each of oregano and basil and then remaining ingredients.
• 6 don't forget to reserve wine and spices.
• 7 bring everything to a boil, reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 3 hours, stirring occasionally.
• 8 after first hour, taste sauce to correct seasoning to your taste.
• 9 ten to fifteen minutes before serving, add the remaining oregano, basil and wine.
• 10 serve over hot pasta and top with grated parmesan cheese.
• 11 to enhance flavors if time allows, allow sauce to cool, refrigerate for 1-2 hours, bring to room temperature before reheating.