Ingredients:

2 –   cups olive oil

4 –   minced garlic gloves

1 –   coarsely chopped medium yellow onion

1 –  coarsely chopped medium white onion

3 –  lbs lean ground beef

1.5 lbs ground sausage (2 12oz Jimmy Dean Hot)

2 – 10.5 oz cans beef broth

2 – 12oz cans tomato paste

4 – 15oz cans tomato sauce (no spices added)

4 – 28oz cans whole tomatoes, drain & chop (no spices)

2 – large green peppers, coarsely chopped

4 – bay leaves

6 – tsp salt

2 – tsp ground pepper

1 – lb sliced fresh mushrooms

4 – tbsps. fresh basil

Use at least a 10 quart Stew Pot, or cut the recipe down by 1/2 or 1/4.

Start with medium heat.

Pour olive oil into the pot.

Heat until it will fry the onions.

Pour in the onions and garlic and cook them for 5-6 minutes.

Add all the meat. Stir it until grey-brown and crumbly.

Drain excess liquid off of whole or diced tomatoes.

Add tomato paste, tomato sauce, whole or dices tomatoes, beef broth, green peppers, salt, pepper, and bay leaves.

Boil on low heat for a least one hour.

Stir in mushrooms and basil and heat for 20 more minutes.

Serve over spaghetti or your choice of pasta.

Freeze portions to reheat later. Great quick meals.

Prepare a mixing bowl (greater than one quart) for all ingredients. A food processor would also be helpful, or you’ll have a lot of chopping to do. A small one works fine since the ingredients can be chopped in batches. You’ll also want a large knife and a cutting surface for course chopping.

In the food processor, combine and finely chop, almost liquefy, the following and pour into the mixing bowl. It’s good to cut these ingredients into large pieces that easily fit into your food processor.

2 – 14oz cans (drained) plain diced tomatoes with no added flavors or spices.

1/3 of a lime without rind

2 – Large jalapenos

4 – 6 cloves of garlic. Less if you find garlic breathe offensive.

4 – Serrano peppers

¼ – 1 – Habanero pepper. Zero for “hot” sauce. Add habanero for extra hotness.

3 – Chipotle peppers and ½ the Adobo sauce from a 7oz can of Chipotle peppers.

5 – green onions with a partial amount (1/2) of their green stem

10 – leafy sprigs of cilantro

1/3 – medium brown or yellow onion

1½ tsp salt

Add:   2 – 14oz cans (drained) of plain diced tomatoes with no added flavors or spices.

Now, coarse chop the following and mix in with the above sauce. Or, if you don’t care for the heavier texture, fine chop everything in your food processor.

2 – Large jalapenos

4 – Serrano peppers

5 – green onions with a partial amount (1/2) of their green stem

10 – leafy sprigs of cilantro

1/3 – medium brown or yellow onion

This recipe makes a little more than 1 quart.

Enjoy!