Gourmet With a Twist Spaghetti Sauce

O Sole Mio...traveling to Italy today for my menu choice.

There is something deeply satisfying to put a sauce on to simmer for hours. The smell permeates your home.

Walking past the sauce pan and stirring occasionally, along with a taste test and perhaps an additional sprinkle of this or that makes you feel like an artist!

This is a great weekend dish. Great to put on the stove to simmer while you catch up on housework or laundry. Sit down in the evening to a side salad and garlic cheese biscuits and enjoy a plate of spaghetti with a sauce that didn't come in a jar.

The unusual 'twist' in this recipe is the 1/4 cup coffee. It adds a depth of flavor you cannot put your finger on.


3 pounds Ground Chuck
1 cup chopped Onions
1 cup chopped Green Pepper
2 small cans chopped Mushrooms or preferred 1 quart fresh sliced mushrooms
1 medium can Tomato Sauce
2 cloves minced Garlic
1 package Spaghetti Sauce Mix
Cayenne Pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon Thyme
1/2 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
3/4 teaspoon Oregano
1/4 teaspoon Sage
4 Bay Leaves, (4 to 6)
2 small cans Tomato Paste
1 Tomato Paste can Water
1/4 cup cold coffee
Salt and Pepper, to taste

1. Brown ground chuck and onion until beef is browned. Crumble ground chuck with wooden spoon while cooking. Drain off excess fat.

2. Add green pepper, mushrooms, tomato sauce, garlic, spaghetti sauce mix, cayenne pepper, brown sugar, thyme, Italian seasoning, oregano, sage, bay leaves, tomato paste, 1 tomato paste can of water, 1/4 cup cold coffee, salt and pepper.

3. Simmer several hours. Remove bay leaves.

4. Serve over hot spaghetti with grated parmesan cheese, toss salad, garlic cheese biscuits.



Garlic Cheese Biscuits

2 cups bisquick or jiffy baking mix
2/3-3/4 cup milk
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
3 tablespoons melted butter or margarine
1/2 tsp garlic powder

Mix baking mix and milk, until just mixed. The variance in milk was given in case you prefer a less 'firm' biscuit, add the additional milk. Mix in the cheddar cheese.

Bake at 450 degree for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown on a Pam sprayed baking sheet. Add the garlic powder to the melted butter and baste with a pastry brush on top and sides of hot from the oven biscuits.

If you've ever eaten the yummy bread at Red Lobster Restaurants....this will walk you down memory lane as a close second.