Simple Pasta Sauce

I posted a picture of our dinner recently, and I'm proud to say I was bombarded with requests for the recipe.  Nothing makes a food blogger more proud than sharing a recipe with friends!  Mr. Devilish Dish comes from a long line of pasta eaters.  He's kind of a pasta guru.  I'm more of a Mexican food girl, so I'm fine with plain ol' marinara.  But not Mr. DD.  No Prego for him.  He wants a rich, hearty meat sauce.  My heritage is not Italian.  So my mother and grandmother were not simmering red sauce all day in the kitchen.  They were frying up chicken fried steak and okra instead!  I stumbled upon a basic recipe for red sauce, and tweaked it to fit Mr. DD's liking.  If you are looking for a simple meat sauce recipe, that you can prepare on a weeknight, that's still delicious and will still please the picky Italian eaters in your house, then this is the sauce for you!

Please your picky eaters with this
delicious and simple meat sauce!

Here's the sauce before the 2 hour simmer...

Here's the sauce after the 2 hour simmer...
Look how thick, rich and dark red it has become!

Enjoy!

Simple Pasta Sauce
1 pound ground beef
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
6 ounces water
1 (24 ounce) can tomato puree
2 tablespoons olive oil
6-8 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
large handful fresh basil leaves, chopped
lots of salt and freshly cracked pepper

In a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add olive oil and saute garlic about 2 minutes, careful not to burn.  Add ground beef and cook until meat is browned.  Season well with salt and pepper.  Add tomato paste, water (I use the tomato paste can to measure!), tomato puree, spices and basil.  Mix well.  Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.  Simmer uncovered, for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.  Taste and re-season with salt and pepper if necessary.  Serve over pasta.

Prep Time:  Approximately 15 minutes     Cook Time:  Approximately 2 hours