HOT AND SWEET SPAGHETTI SAUCE

Hot and Sweet Spaghetti Sauce image

Provided by Victoria Ross

Time 50m

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 1/2 lb ground beef
5 large links of italian sausage, i use hot but feel free to use regular or sweet
2 large green peppers, large dice
1 large onion, large dice
4 clove garlic, minced
2~8 oz package of white mushrooms, sliced
28 oz can of diced tomatoes with juice
6 oz can of tomato paste, roasted garlic or plain
3~24 oz jar or can of spaghetti sauce, your choice
1/2 c brown sugar
1 tsp salt
2 tsp ground black pepper
1-2 Tbsp italian seasoning, i use penzey spice's tuscan sunset blend
a few shakes of garlic powder

Steps:

1. With the Italian sausage still in the casing, squeeze out some of the sausage so it resembles a ball about half the size of a golf ball. Do this will all the sausage. Brown ground beef and sausage in large skillet until done. Drain off fat in a colander and return to skillet.
2. In a large stockpot with lid, heat 2 tbs olive oil over medium heat. Add green pepper, onion and mushrooms. Cook until slightly tender with a little crunch left in the onion and peppers. Add minced garlic and cook for 2 more minutes.
3. Add jars of spaghetti sauce, diced tomatoes and tomato paste to cooked vegetables in stockpot. Mix well. Add cooked hamburger and sausage to sauce in stockpot. Mix well.
4. Add brown sugar, pepper, salt, Italian seasoning and a few shakes of garlic powder to sauce. Mix well.
5. Reduce heat to low and cover pan with lid. Simmer over low heat,stirring occasionally, for at least 30 minutes, but I do mine for a few hours to let the flavors do their thing.
6. I use this sauce over spaghetti and for making manicotti and stuffed shells. Enjoy!!