This was Mom’s go to pasta sauce for dinner at home, formal dinner parties that she hosted, and barbecues in the backyard, none of which were complete without “un bel piato di pasta” (a beautiful dish of pasta).  It is one of our favorite comfort foods, taking us back to Mom’s cozy kitchens in Connecticut and Italy.  The aroma of a rich and simple pasta sauce simmering on the stove would hit you as you approached the kitchen, and you knew you were in for a hearty and satisfying meal, or first course of a meal, as pasta was usually one of three to five courses.  That’s the Italian way of eating - every meal is an opportunity to slow down and enjoy good food and the people you are sharing it with.  Now, meals are still a time to slow down and catch up, but a bowl of pasta with this sauce, sprinkled with a little, or a lot, of grated Parmesan cheese, is a one dish meal - hearty, satisfying, and delicious.  

This recipe may very well be one of the best examples of Mom’s way of cooking - just a few quality ingredients, often Italian pantry staples, cooked in a way that maximizes the flavors of each.  Quality ground meat (I like to use a mix of beef and veal, but any single ground meat - beef, veal or pork - will work) is essential.  If you buy more than what you need, set aside what’s left over for meatballs.  Good quality extra virgin olive oil is a must, but not very hard to find these days.  Hunts Tomato Sauce was the only canned tomato sauce that mom ever used.  I’ve tried others, but they’re not the same, probably because we grew up with Hunts.  Any white wine that’s available (and red wine in a pinch) will work - it’s just a splash, but important.  Try not to skip the wine - this is an Italian recipe, after all.        

This is the recipe as told to me by mom, in her own words, as she stood by me at my kitchen stove one evening.  That is one of my favorite memories.        

Ingredients

2 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil

1 Tbs. Butter

1 cup finely chopped yellow onion 

½ lb. Ground Beef, or a mix of ground beef and ground veal or pork

3 15 oz. cans of Hunts Tomato Sauce

White wine

2 -3 Tbs. tomato paste

Salt & Pepper, to taste

"Get ready to cook up Mom's famous pasta sauce with these straightforward ingredients and steps:

Instructions:

1. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and olive oil together.

2. Add the chopped onion and cook until translucent.

3. Add the ground beef to the pan, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it browns.

4. Pour in the tomato sauce, then fill each empty can with water (about 1 tablespoon per can) to rinse out any remaining sauce and add that water to the pan.

5. Stir in a splash of white wine and the tomato paste, along with salt and pepper to taste.

6. Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for one hour, stirring occasionally.

7. Serve the sauce over your favorite pasta, topped with grated Parmesan cheese.

8. Any leftover sauce freezes well for future meals.