Bolognese Sauce

Your Sunday Sauce

A few years ago, I was lucky enough to travel to Boston quite often. I fell in love with the North End. While wandering around, I entered a small gift store, attached to a seemingly, quaint restaurant. I began thumbing through a simple Italian cookbook. The author, an Italian woman in her 60's, was signing copies and I figured, hey, she seems like the real deal, this must be good! Since, Craig and I have made and enjoyed many meals from this book.

This is not the recipe to make while dieting! This is however great for a large party or a nice way to end the weekend on a cold Sunday evening. Bolognese sauce can be poured over fresh linguine, stuffed shells, manicotti . . . your choice. Serve with a crisp green salad and crusty Italian bread. You have the perfect meal. This also freezes amazingly well, so don't worry about making a big pot of sauce. It's always a great treat when I don't feel like cooking to remember there is 'sauce' ready in the freezer.
Manja Manja!

Bolognese Sauce
Servings: 8 (Sauce freezes well)

Ingredients:

• 1/2# Ground pork or ground Italian Sausage
• 1/2# Ground beef
• 1 diced yellow onion
• 4 pressed cloves garlic
• 1 - 28 ounce can of crushed tomatoes
• 1 - Med can tomato sauce
• 1 small can tomato paste
• 1/2 C half and half
• 1/2 C red wine
• 1 T Italian seasoning (basil, oregano, rosemary)
• Salt and pepper to taste
  

Directions:

Over medium heat, in large, deep, heavy pan, brown meat. Pour browned meat into a bowl. Add garlic and onion to pan, sauté for a few minutes. Add meat back into the pan. Thoroughly stir in tomato paste. Add crushed tomatoes, salt, pepper, red wine and Italian seasoning. Simmer for 30 minutes. Add half and half. Simmer for another 5 minutes. This can sit on the stove at a simmer for as long as you like.