My Spaghetti Sauce

     Just so you know, this posting is actually part one of a 'probably' four part series, out of which came three different meals. Two of the recipes are my own, which I had made up years ago and everybody still loves. The other two, were items I found via Pinterst and wanted to try. They were H-U-G-E hits! :-D

     As you would expect from me, I was making more than just a single batch. This time, I had done four times the recipe. Just wanted you to keep that in mind when you are looking at the pictures. :->

    Step # 1 is to put your meat into a pan to brown it. I was using what some of you now refer to as my 'retro' electric skillet. This was a five pound tube of ground beef.

     Then add the ground sausage. I used two regular Meijer brand sausage, a pound each tubes. (Is that the right way to word that?).

     Step # 2 is to finely chop up your onions. I prefer using large (man's fist sized) Spanish onions.

      Dump the chopped onions on top of the broken up meat, and spread them around.

       Add the Garlic Powder.  (Feel free to use fresh garlic if that's your preference).

      Then the Chili Powder.

       Then the salt.

            (change which way your holding the camera to keep things interesting, chuckle, chuckle...)

    Step # 3 - Start browning everything up, mixing everything together and chopping the heck out of the meat, once it sort of starts browning. (Once the bottom of the meat starts looking browned when checked, mix everything together and turn it as your chopping it.)

      Cook it until the onions are quite translucent in color, and most of the grease has evaporated.
      Like this:

      A closer look:

      And closer still:

     Step # 4. Drain the cooked mixture. I use to be able to hold the pan up to drain any grease out of it. But being 'Ms. Vertigo' makes that a very unwise option to choose. Trust me on that. So now I just prop one end of the pan up, like this:

    and spoon the grease out. Into a can. NEVER pour grease down your drain, or flush it down your toilet!!! Doing so is just asking for a huge plumbers bill!  When I was young, we use to use an empty milk carton. You know, those waxed cardboard cartons. As an adult, I switched to using cans. Personally, I prefer the ones that 28 oz.'s of canned tomatoes would come in. They have a wider opening, which equals easier to hit! Once the grease is drained in to the can, put the can into your freezer. If it's not full, you can add to it later. When it is full, put it out in the garbage the morning of trash pick up in your area. ( <-- BONUS TIP there)

     Step # 5 - Dump the drained mixture into your crock-pot. Or, if your making a big batch like I was, dump it into your large electric roaster.
      Add the dried parsley flakes.

     Step # 6 is to drain your canned mushrooms.

     Then finely chop up them up. 

     Although if none of your family is opposed to mushrooms, feel free to leave yours larger sized.
     
      Add the Basil leaves. And Italian Seasoning. And Oregano. And Chopped Tomatoes. And the Tomato Sauce and Paste. If you plan on posting this yourself, hopefully you'll remember to take pictures along the way, not get so into what your doing, that you forget all about the camera sitting oh so close to you. Sigh. Sorry!
     
     Mix everything together THOURALLY!

     Snap a picture of your silly grand daughter who has chosen to join you  and FOUND a way to be able to 'see'. She had wanted to 'see'. I wanted to 'GET DONE'. She wandered into the bathroom. I could hear her doing something... a couple of minutes later she emerged with the stool. Later, when I had gone in to see how she'd been able to accomplish that, I found numerous little piles of the books and magazines which had been in the basket on top of the stool, laying here and there on the bathroom floor. The basket itself, was on top of one of the little piles. "Where there's a will, there's a way". Yup! Oh so true where Ms. Analyse is concerned.
      She was wearing her daddy's 3-D work glasses (he works at a movie theater).  And she found the bowl full of soapy water in the sink delightful.
      Thus she looked like this:

     Adorable and comical all combined, right?!?

      Cook the spaghetti sauce for s-e-v-e-r-a-l hours on low, only rarely allowing yourself to remove the lid and stir.

      Cook up which ever type of pasta noodles you prefer. Top them with some of the sauce. Sprinkle on some (real) grated Parmesan cheese. Fix yourself an accompanying salad. And Enjoy!

         And now for the actual recipe -
            Spaghetti Sauce
                   Recipe made up by Cheryl B.

     1 1/2 lbs. Ground Beef
     1/2 lb. Ground Sausage (optional)
      2 cups finely chopped Spanish Onion
      1 Tablespoon Garlic Powder
      1 teaspoon Chili Powder
      1 teaspoon Salt
      2 Tablespoons Parsley Flakes
      1 (4 oz) can sliced Mushrooms (drained)
      1 teaspoon Basil Leaves
      1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
      1 teaspoon Ground Oregano
      1 can (1 lb.) Chopped Tomatoes (I chop whole ones myself)
      1 can (15 oz.) Tomato Sauce
      1 can (6 oz.) Tomato Paste
     
      Brown up hamburg, sausage, onion, garlic powder and salt, chopping into small bits and mixing well. Drain off excess grease and dump hamburg mixture into sprayed(!) crock-pot. Add the parsley flakes, basil leaves, oregano, Italian seasoning and (drained) mushrooms. Mix. Add the (undrained) chopped tomatoes, tomato sauce and tomato paste. MIX WELL!   Let simmer for at least six hours, on low.

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I 'plan' on linking this particular posting up to:

  ~ "Full Plate Thursday('s)", are hosted by Miz Helen, at 'Miz Helen's Country Cottage' (http://mizhelenscountrycottage.blogspot.com/).     
  ~ "Foodie Friday('s)", are hosted by "Gollum" (aka: Michael), at 'Designs by Gollum' (http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/)   
  ~ "Sweets For A Saturday", hosted by Lisa, at 'Sweet As Sugar Cookies' (http://sweet-as-sugar-cookies.blogspot.com)
  ~ "Simply Delish Sunday('s)", are hosted by KB and Whitesnakes, at 'KB and Whitesnakes Home' (http://kbandwhitesnakeshome.blogspot.com)
 ~ "Creative Monday's", are hosted by Clair Justine, at 'Clairejustineoxox' (http://clairejustineoxox.blogspot.com/), and Judy, at 'Judy-H-JS Thoughts' (http://judyh-jsthoughts.blogspot.com/)
  ~ "Homemaker Mondays ... Yours, Mine & Ours", are hosted by Jen, at '11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven'  (http://rtheyallyours.blogspot.com/).
  ~ "Making Your Home Sing Monday('s)", are hosted by Nan, at 'Mom's the Word (I love to hear)'  (http://momstheword--livingforhim.blogspot.com/).
  ~  "Kitchen Tip Tuesday('s)", hosted by Tammy, at 'Tammy's Recipes'  (http://www.tammysrecipes.com/). 
 ~ "Tuesday's Tasty Tidbits", hosted by Susan, at 'Permanent Posies / Creative Chaos' (http://permanentposies.com/)
 ~ "Totally Tasty Tuesdays", are hosted by Mandy, at 'Mandy's Recipe Box' (http://www.mandysrecipebox.blogspot.com/).
  ~ "Tempt My Tummy Tuesday('s)", are hosted by Lisa, at 'Blessed with Grace'  (http://www.blessedwithgrace.net/).
  ~ "Foodie Wednesday('s)", are hosted by Bibi, at 'Daily Organized Chaos' (http://www.dailyorganizedchaos.com/). 
   ~ "These Chicks Cooked Link Party", hosted by Katie L, at 'This Chick Cooks' (http://thischickcooks.blogspot.com)
  ~ "What's Cooking Wednesday('s)" (shall we say # 1 ?), are hosted by Cristi, at 'The King's Court IV' (http://www.thekingscourt4.blogspot.com/), and by  Diane, at 'Turning The Clock Back' ("one eco friendly step at a time") (http://turning-the-clock-back.blogspot.com/)).