Fabulous Spaghetti Sauce

This is a truly wonderful spaghetti sauce and makes lots, so you can freeze some if you want. It will also feed a crowd, at least 12 people. Combine with a nice salad and some bread, and you have a marvelous winter "comfort food" meal!! Oh for a snowy night in the mountains!!

1. 2 1/2 pounds ground beef


2. 1 pound mild Italian sausage


3. 4 medium onions, finely chopped


4. 8 garlic cloves, minced


5. 4 cans (14 1/2 oz. each) diced tomatoes, undrained(I chop mine in my Cuisinart food processor, as my family doesn't like chunks of tomatoes)


6. 4 cans (6 ounces each) tomato paste


7. 1/2 cup water


8. 1/4 cup sugar


9. 1/4 cup Worchestershire Sauce


10. 1 Tablespoon Canola Oil


11. 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley


12. 2 Tablespoons minced fresh basil or 2 teaspoons dry


13. 1 Tablespoon minced fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dry


14. 4 Bay leaves


15. 1 teaspoon rubbed sage


16. 1/2 teaspoon salt


17. 1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram


18. 1/2 teaspoon pepper


19. Hot cooked spaghetti

In a Dutch oven, cook the beef, sausage, onions, and garlic over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink, Drain. Transfer to a 5 quart slow cooker. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste, water, sugar, Worchestershire sauce, oil and seasonings. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or until bubbly. Discard Bay leaves. Serve with spaghetti.

Beef Stroganoff

Another great family recipe from my friend, Jamie Henderson Swensen. This is one of my favorite recipes, I have received over the last month to post. My husband loves it too. Just add a nice green salad and some French Bread and you have a nice meal. Great for a cool Fall evening meal, and sure to become a favorite of yours too.

1. 1lb. 1/4-1/2 inch thick round steak( I use about a lb. and a half as my husband likes lots of meat!!) You can also use good quality stew meat- 1 1/2 lbs.
2. 2/3 cup water
3. 1 cup sour cream
4. 1 8oz. pkg. cream cheese
5. 8 oz. fresh mushrooms, sliced or 1 small can sliced mushrooms
6. 1 pkg. dry onion soup mix
7. 1 pkg. cooked egg noodles
8. 1 TBLS. flour

Slice steak to desire thickness( strips or chunks, I prefer strips). Brown in skillet in 2 TBLS. oil. Add water, fresh mushrooms or undrained canned mushrooms, and soup mix. Heat to boiling. Blend sour cream, cream cheese, and flour in bowl and add to meat mixture. Simmer for 15 minutes.( I added a TBLS. or 2 of cooking sherry to this and really liked that taste too) Serve over hot noodles. Serves 4.