This is great sauce and will leave your kitchen smelling wonderful. This recipe makes about 4 quarts so you can freeze half to use in lasagna, baked ziti or spaghetti later on.The longer it simmers, the better the sauce. Adapted from Sharlene W.

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound Italian sausage, sweet or hot-casings removed
1/2 pound lean ground beef (if you like a really meaty sauce , use 1 pound).
1 large onion, chopped
4-6 garlic cloves, minced
2 stalks celery with leaves,chopped
8 ounce package fresh mushrooms, sliced-optional
1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes-Italian seasoned is good
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
2 (15 ounce) cans tomato sauce
1/2 cup-1 cup water (start with a 1/2 cup, depending on how long you let it simmer you may need to add more)
2 teaspoons dried basil
1-1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
1-2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1/4-1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon fresh coarse ground black pepper
2 bay leaves
1/3 cup good red wine-Burgundy or Cabernet
1 pound spaghetti
freshly grated Parmesan cheese
fresh chopped parsley

Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or stockpot. Brown Italian sausage and ground beef in oil, breaking up as you go. (I seasoned the meat with some Emeril's Essence, pepper and Worcestershire.)
Add the onions, garlic, celery, and mushrooms and continue to cook, stirring occasionally until onions are softened.
Drain fat.
Add tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce and water to meat mixture.
Add basil, oregano, parsley flakes, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, salt, crushed red pepper flakes, pepper and bay leaves.
Stir well and barely bring to a boil.
Stir in red wine.
Simmer on low , stirring frequently for at least an hour.
A longer simmer makes for a better sauce, just be careful not to let it burn. (I simmer mine for 3-4 hours.)
Cook spaghetti according to package directions.
Discard bay leaves from sauce.
Spoon sauce over well-drained spaghetti noodles sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and parsley.
Drink the rest of the wine you used for the sauce ,with dinner. Optional, but a very good idea!
Yum!
Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"There's nothing as good as great spaghetti sauce!"

--
Jennifer

"Every Saint Has A Past,
Every Sinner Has A Future"

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Edited by 2864590 at Oct 23, 2009 10:53 AM PDT