Teri's Gravy i.e. Spaghetti Sauce

Teri’s  Gravy  (Spaghetti Sauce)

 

Serves 4-6

 

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

½ lb. ground turkey or ground beef

1 package Johnsonville Sweet Italian sausage  

1 large onion, chopped fine

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 large cans whole Italian tomatoes,  put through a food mill to remove all seeds or 2 cans chrushed Italian tomatoes

1 large can tomato sauce

1 small can tomato paste

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 ½ tablespoons dried oregano or to taste

2 tablespoons dried basil or to taste

1 teaspoons crushed fennel seeds – optional*

pinch red pepper flakes

¼ teaspoon fresh cracked pepper

1 cup red wine – optional

¼ cup fresh basil- optional

 

Put the 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large heavy pot and sauté onion until very tender. Add garlic and cook for just a minute, (you do not want to brown the garlic it will become bitter) next add ground turkey and sausage, cooking until ground turkey and sausage are cooked through.   If needed drain off any fat from the onion/meat mixture, then stir in all the canned tomato products, brown sugar, spices and red wine.   Then add fresh basil if desired.   Simmer for at least 4 hours.  I usually make mine in the morning and let it simmer most of the day.

This freezes very well!

 

* I add 2 teaspoons of  fennel when I am using plain Italian sausage.  I crush my fennel seeds in a small coffee grinder that I use just for spices.

            **Adding 2 shredded & cooked chicken breasts in place of the sausage is also yummy!