Tomato Sauce With Ground Beef (And Variations)

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• salt
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 whole bay leaf
• VARIATIONS
• 1 -2 cup coarsely cut up mushroom
• 2 1/2 cups diced carrots
• 2 1/2 cups diced celery
• 2 1/2 cups diced green peppers
• 3 1/2 cups red wine

1. Heat oil in a large heavy saucepan; add onion; saute over low heat, stirring, until tender and golden, about 5 minutes.
2. Add the garlic, saute 1 minute.
3. Meanwhile, brown the ground beef in a skillet, stirring to crumble meat; drain off fat; add the onion mixture.
4. OPTIONAL: now is when you would add the mushrooms, vegetables or red wine.
5. Saute until tender or until the wine is reduced by half.
6. Add the tomatoes, tomato sauce and paste, 1 tsp salt, the basil, oregano, pepper and bay leaf.
7. Heat over medium-low heat to simmering.
8. Simmer, uncovered, over low heat, stirring occasionally until sauce is thickened and flavourful, about 1 hour 15 minutes.

olive oil, onion, garlic, lean ground beef, tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, salt, basil, oregano, black pepper, bay leaf, variations, mushroom, carrots, celery, green peppers, red wine

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/tomato-sauce-with-ground-beef-and-variations-67785 (may not work)