Servings: 8

½1x2x: subheading: ½1x2x:
1 ½ pounds ground beef or pork (may add sausages but I don't) 1 ½ pounds ground beef or pork (may add sausages but I don't)
1 large onion, chopped 1 large onion, chopped
1 large green,red or yellow pepper, chopped 1 large green,red or yellow pepper, chopped
Celery chopped Celery chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced 2 cloves garlic, minced
3 (15 oz) cans diced tomatoes 3 (15 oz) cans diced tomatoes
1 (6 oz) can tomato paste 1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
2 teaspoons brown sugar 2 teaspoons brown sugar
1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano 1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon dried basil ½ teaspoon dried basil
½ teaspoon dried thyme ½ teaspoon dried thyme
1 tsp cumin 1 tsp cumin
~1 tsp cinnamon ~1 tsp cinnamon
Ground cloves to taste Ground cloves to taste
~1 tsp chili powder ~1 tsp chili powder
~1 tsp or so cayenne pepper (optional if you like spicy) ~1 tsp or so cayenne pepper (optional if you like spicy)
Garlic powder Garlic powder
1 to 2 bay leaf 1 to 2 bay leaf
2 cups water, or beef broth 2 cups water, or beef broth

In a dutch oven cook meat, onion, peppers, celery and garlic until meat is browned and vegetables are tender. Drain off fat.
*may now transfer to slow cooker if using one then add the rest and cook on low 8 hours or so or high for 4 hours or so...OR...
Stir in undrained tomatoes, tomato paste, brown sugar, spices, and bay leaf.
Stir in the water or beef broth. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 1 ½ to 2 hours or until sauce is of desired consistency, stirring occasionally. Remove bay leaf. Serve over hot cooked spaghetti.

Don’t skip the brown sugar. Adding a bit of sugar to your homemade spaghetti sauce helps to cut the natural acidity of the tomatoes and helps to balance the sauce.  Don’t skip the brown sugar. Adding a bit of sugar to your homemade spaghetti sauce helps to cut the natural acidity of the tomatoes and helps to balance the sauce.
For an extra kick, add a sprinkling of red pepper flakes to your sauce. Only add this if you like some spice, though!  For an extra kick, add a sprinkling of red pepper flakes to your sauce. Only add this if you like some spice, though!
Meat substitutions: you can replace the lean ground beef with ground turkey or pork sausage. You can also leave it out completely for a meatless, vegetarian spaghetti sauce.  Meat substitutions: you can replace the lean ground beef with ground turkey or pork sausage. You can also leave it out completely for a meatless, vegetarian spaghetti sauce.
Let it simmer. I like to let my sauce simmer for at least an hour and a half, but longer is better (up to 2-3 hours.) The more time you allow your sauce to simmer, the richer the flavor will be. You can also transfer the sauce to a crockpot after preparing it on the stove and allow it to cook over low heat for a few hours. If your sauce is too thick after cooking, add a little more water to thin it out.  Let it simmer. I like to let my sauce simmer for at least an hour and a half, but longer is better (up to 2 to 3 hours.) The more time you allow your sauce to simmer, the richer the flavor will be. You can also transfer the sauce to a crockpot after preparing it on the stove and allow it to cook over low heat for a few hours. If your sauce is too thick after cooking, add a little more water to thin it out.