Savory Meat Sauce

Everyone needs a staple meat sauce in their recipe collection! This is one of my go-tos... serve it up over spaghetti, use for lasagna or even eat by itself (with a side of garlic bread, obvi). It's a crowd-pleaser and the perfect comfort food for the fall weather that has just started here in NC.

Ingredients
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 lb (lean) ground beef
½ lb mild sausage
1 (medium-sized) yellow onion, diced
½ green bell pepper, diced
1 large carrot, peeled & grated
3-4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp each: dried oregano, basil, parsley, sugar, salt & pepper

½ tsp each: thyme and red pepper flakes
Note: use fresh herbs if you have them on hand - they will enhance the flavor immensely!

½ cup beef broth
1 (14.5 oz) can Italian style diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (14.5 oz) can tomato sauce

½ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated

Step One
In large dutch oven (or sauce pan) heat olive oil on medium-high heat. Add in beef, sausage, onion, 2 of the (minced) garlic cloves and ½ tsp each salt & pepper. (Cooking the meat with salt in pepper will enhance the flavor later on). Cook until meat is no longer pink.

Step Two
Tilt the pan to drain grease to one side and remove it with large ladle or spoon. Add in remaining garlic, salt and pepper and other spices (except sugar) and saute for another two minutes.

Step Three
Pour in broth, tomatoes, tomato sauce & sugar. Stir and bring to a boil for a couple minutes.

Step Four
Turn heat to medium-low then stir in cheese. Allow sauce to simmer at least 30 minutes (and up to a hour) to bring out the flavor. Add additional seasonings if you prefer.

Enjoy, y'all!