Italian Bolognese Sauce Recipe

Italian Bolognese Sauce Recipe

Ingredients:
1 stalk celery (finely chopped)
1 large carrot (finely chopped)
1/4 lb bacon
1 medium onion (finely chopped)
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 lb lean ground beef
1 (2 teaspoon) jar garlic or 4 cloves garlic (minced)
4 tablespoons butter or 4 tablespoons margarine
1 cup dry white wine
1 (28 ounce) can s&w italian style crushed tomatoes (or other)
1/2-3/4 lb ground pork
1 (8 ounce) can beef consomme
1 -1 1/2 teaspoon rubbed sage
1 tablespoon oregano
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup milk (I use 2%)
1 lb small penne pasta
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Preparation Instructions:
In a Dutch Oven or Medium Size Pot, heat butter and olive oil over medium heat until butter begins to froth. Add onion, celery, carrot, garlic, and bacon. Cook until onions are translucent (about 8 to 10 minutes). Remove bacon and remove fat. Chop lean portions of bacon in small pieces and return to pot. Add Ground beef and ground Pork, and cook until meat loses red, raw color. Raise heat and add wine and consomme. Cook sauce until wine and consomme are mostly evaporated. Turn heat down to simmer and add oregano, salt, pepper, sage, red pepper flakes, and nutmeg. Let cook for approximately 20 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes and bring heat to a boil. Once the mixture comes to a boil, return to simmer. Let sauce simmer (very slowly) partially covered for about 2 to 4 hours (the longer the better), stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. About 5 to 10 minutes before serving, add milk. Sauce can now be added to cooked Penne Pasta, Spaghetti or many other Pastas to your liking. Remaining sauce may be frozen for up to two months for future use.

Photo credit: joyosity