American Meat Sauce

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 large green bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and diced
• 2 large celery stalks, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef chuck
• One 6-ounce can tomato paste
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• Two 28-ounce cans whole tomatoes, crushed by hand
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 dried bay leaf

1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
2. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion becomes translucent but does not get any color, about 10 minutes.
3. Increase the heat to medium-high, add the bell pepper, celery, garlic, a generous pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 10 minutes.
4. Add the beef, a generous pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper to the pot and cook, stirring to break the meat into small bits, until browned, about 10 minutes.
5. Stir in the tomato paste and oregano and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes.
6. Add the Worcestershire sauce, tomatoes with their juices, sugar and bay leaf.
7. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 45 minutes.

olive oil, onion, green bell pepper, celery stalks, garlic, kosher salt, ground beef chuck, tomato paste, oregano, worcestershire sauce, tomatoes, sugar, bay leaf

Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/american-meat-sauce.html (may not work)