Homemade Meat Sauce #Recipe - March Crazy Cooking Challenge

What is a great way to dress up simple spaghetti?

Well, how about the perfect homemade meat sauce?

This month's Crazy Cooking Challenge was something I make for my family every week. My kids ask for it and I have my own spin. All veggie, all fresh, every time. But, that isn't the point of this post. This isn't about my recipe. For the challenge we are to find another blogger's recipe to try. I went for something a little different. A nice meat sauce.

This recipe is from mel's kitchen cafe. The family recipe is from scratch and contained a little twist that I had never heard of in a spaghetti sauce before  - balsamic vinegar. 


This recipe makes a lot and is perfect for a large family with plenty left-over to freeze for later. That is my kind of recipe.


Homemade Spaghetti Sauce adapted from mel's kitchen cafe


You Will Need:
3 Tbsp. Olive oil
2 c. Onion, chopped and divided
1 Red Pepper, coarsely chopped
1.5 lbs. Lean Hamburger
5 cloves Garlic, finely chopped
1 12 oz. can Tomato Paste
1 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Black Pepper
1 tsp. Onion Powder
3 tsp. dried Oregano
3 tsp. dried Basil
1 1/2 tsp. dried Thyme
2 14-oz. can Italian-style diced Tomatoes
2 28-oz. can crushed Tomatoes
1 c. sliced Button Mushrooms
1 1/2 c. Chicken Stock
1 Tbsp. Brown Sugar
2 Bay Leaves
2 Tbsp. Balsamic Vinegar

Saute 1 c. chopped onions in olive oil till soft and translucent. Add garlic and heat for one minute. Then add the beef and brown it through.


Put the remaining onion and red pepper in the blender. Coarsely pulse the mixture. Scrape down the sides and give it another go. Add this to the meat.

Add the paste and spices to the pot and let it become fragrant. Just give it a minute or two on medium heat.

Then go ahead and add the remaining ingredients except for the balsamic vinegar. The sauce may seem thin, but it will tighten up as it simmers for an hour.

15 minutes before serving, add the balsamic vinegar and stir well. Serve over a hot plate of spaghetti noodles and enjoy!

Be sure to check out all the other blogs and recipes for "Spaghetti with Red Sauce"