recipe // meat sauce

I have been raving about my neighbor's meat sauce since the first time I had it! So good and full of veggies that my kids have no idea they are eating is a major win for me!

Since the first time they had us over for a delicious dinner, I immediately inquired about the magic sauce! This magic sauce is healthy and my kids just seemed to inhale it always asking for seconds. Seriously! These boys can not get enough of the magic meat sauce!

So! Because I like to share, and my beautiful neighbor straight from Italy said she would love for me to share this with y'all, here I am to clack it all out!

Meat Sauce

2-3 Carrots Sticks (Chopped)

2-3 Celery Sticks (Chopped)

1 Onion (Chopped)

4-6 Garlic Cloves (Chopped)

2-3 TBSP Olive Oil

Ground Pork

Ground Beef

Salt and Pepper to taste

2 TSP Italian Seasoning

1 Can of Crushed Tomato

1 Can of Tomato Sauce (if you prefer your sauce to be more sauce-y than meat-y)

1 Can of Beef Broth

Dash of Red Wine (If you have it!)

Parmesan Cheese (Now this portion I can't speak to since we don't do dairy, but if you do enjoy dairy in your home, add some!) 

Directions:

To start you will chop all the veggies so that they can be put into a food processor. Process away (This is how all the goodness gets enjoyed by your kiddos!). Meanwhile, add olive oil to your pot which should already be on Medium High heat. Once all the veggies have been processed, throw it all into your pot along with the ground beef and pork. Cook all foods together till the meat is cooked through. 

Once your meat is cooked through, add your crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, Italian Seasoning, dash of red wine, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Allow to simmer for as long as you like and can, stirring occasionally. The more the flavors sit together the more lovely the sauce will be!

Make your noodles (Hubby and I like spaghetti squash while the boys enjoy their whole wheat noodles.) and pour the magic meat sauce over to enjoy - nice and hot!

NOTE: The wonderful thing about this recipe is you can put as many or as few of each of the listed ingredients! It really all just melds so beautifully together no matter what! I've not had fresh garlic before and just added garlic powder to taste. Another time I only had ground turkey and ground beef - still yummy! Four carrots, one celery, small onion - perfect! No can of broth, only beef cubes and water - Yes! 

This stuff is divine and I seriously sometimes want to just eat it as a soup! It's great over bread, on any noodle, lasagna, etc etc etc and it freezes beautifully!

Let me know if you give it a go! Your kids will love it and you will love, not only the taste, but the fact that the kiddos are getting some good veggies in them!