one of my most favorite foods

My experimenting was postponed.  Busy schedules, changed plans and snow storms intervened.  I promise a new and interesting recipe this week.  In the meantime, how about an old classic?  At least it is in my family.  This recipe is simple and quick to come together, and sure to please a crowd.  And I have loved it since I was a little kid, requesting it on every birthday.  Now that I am all grown up, I make it at least once a month.  

This meat sauce cooks all day in the crock pot.  We usually top off a big pile of spaghetti with it, but it's great in lasagna, atop ravioli, over grilled eggplant - whatever your heart desires.  And please don't be scared off by ground beef.  I use the leanest kind you can find (you can, of course, use ground turkey, but it's actually not that much better for you - they grind the skin and fat right in).   This rich, thick sauce is low in fat and extremely high in antioxidants (hello, tomatoes!).  It'll do your body good, and it'll make a cold day comfy.

Here's what you need:

1 lb. ground beef

1 large onion, thinly sliced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 32oz. can stewed tomatoes

2 6oz. cans tomato paste

1/4 cup fresh parsley 

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 teaspoon oregano

1 teaspoon basil

1 teaspoon salt

In a large skillet, brown the meat with the onion and garlic.  

Drain fat.  

Add meat mixture to the crock pot, along with the rest of your ingredients.

Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

How easy is that?

Try it, love it, pass it on.