Recipe | Mama's Spaghetti with Marinara & Meat Sauce

     When I was growing up, Wednesday was Prince Spaghetti Day!  My Mama made spaghetti for dinner pretty much on a weekly basis.  She worked full time, and it's an easy week day meal.  Every now and then she would also make garlic bread using a loaf of freshly baked Italian bread from the bakery at the grocery store.  My Spaghetti with Marinara & Meat Sauce is one of the most requested meals at our home.  I like to serve it with a fresh tossed salad.

Mama's Marinara & Meat Sauce

1  large yellow onion chopped

1  lb.  ground round 90/10

2  garlic cloves minced and pressed into paste like consistency

28 oz.  can   Crushed San Marzano tomatoes (I use Delallo)

15 oz.  can  tomato sauce (Delallo)

1  Tablespoon brown sugar

2 teaspoons dried oregano

2 teaspoons dried basil

2 teaspoons dried parsley

A generous pinch of red pepper flakes (about 1/8 teaspoon)

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 package Delallo Spaghetti (prepared according to package directions.)

In a Dutch oven add ground round along with onion, break the beef with spatula and stir--until onions are translucent and beef is browned. Do not over cook.  Drain fat drippings.  Add garlic paste and stir for a minute, until fragrant.  Add tomatoes, brown sugar and all the spices to the pot.  Bring to bubbling under medium heat,  stirring occasionally.  Turn heat down to simmer and cover pot with lid, stirring occasionally.  If the sauce seems thin for your taste, remove lid and let simmer.  Sometimes the steam in the pot will thin out the sauce. The longer the sauce simmers, the deeper the flavor becomes---and your home will smell heavenly.  

     The boys prefer the marinara sauce served on top of the cooked spaghetti.  I sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese on top of the warm spaghetti and then add the sauce.  Then, I add more Parmesan on top of the sauce.  

                                                                 Buon Appetito!

                                   

                                                                        ~Marcie