Heidi's Version of Grandma's Meat Sauce

By personal request I'm including the recipe I used to make my now, almost famous Meat Sauce.
But it's sauce, measurements are not precise, just sprinkle and add until it tastes good to you... use what you have on hand (I happened to throw in some leftover homemade pizza sauce too...) Cooking should be fun, it should be a reflection of yourself and your own personal tastes- Enjoy!

Heidi's Meat Sauce

1 lb. Italian Sausage, sliced
1-2 lbs. whatever beef you have available (I happened to use sirloin), cubed
2 heaping T. minced garlic
a few pan swirls of olive oil
4 cans (14.5 oz.) crushed tomatoes (or diced thrown into the food processor for a couple pulses)
1 T. Oregano
1 T. Basil
1 tsp. garlic powder
Fresh Cracked Black Pepper
1 28 oz. can tomato sauce
1 small can tomato paste
(Next time I will try adding about 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, but I didn't have any)

1. Brown meat in soup pot on medium-high heat, remove to food processor and pulse to coarsely chop.

2. While "grinding" your meat, add a few swirls of olive oil to the pan and saute garlic (just a few minutes), then add crushed tomatoes and spices and cook until gently boiling, stir occasionally.

3. Next add tomato sauce and tomato paste and bring back to boil, add meat, return to boil.

4. Turn the heat to low and simmer for about 2 hours, stirring occasionally. (I would add the cheese about the last 15-30 minutes.)

Serve over hot spaghetti with garlic bread, and of course parmesan cheese.

*For similar to Vince's garlic bread, use sandwich or grinder rolls sliced in half. Butter, sprinkle with garlic powder and parmesan cheese, liberally. Bake in 400 oven for about 3 minutes (or broil, watch until lightly browned and cheese is melted)

P.S. This would probably work great in a Crock Pot as well, just brown and "grind" you meat first, and then assemble all your ingredients in your slow cooker and let it cook on low for 4-6 hours.

Try it, you won't be disappointed, and let me know how it turns out.