Spaghetti sauce

I assume that spaghetti recipes are like chocolate chip cookie recipes-you have your family recipe and are not willing to try another one! 

But if you are willing to try another one, this one is amazing! 

The only time Caleb will eat meat is this sauce, that is how good it is.

John doesn't really like spaghetti, but likes this sauce.

You can also make it without meat and it is still yummy! 

This is the my childhood in a recipe. Really it is. If you want to eat it like I did as a child add some grated cheddar cheese, I know that sounds disgusting, but I love it!

1 lb. hamburger

1/4 cup dried onion (or 1/2 cup fresh)

2 cloves garlic, minced or crushed

1 1 lb. 14 oz. can tomatoes

1 1 lb. can tomatoes

6 oz can tomato paste

1/4 cup minced fresh parsley or about 2 Tbs dried parsley

1 Tbs brown sugar

1 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp dried oregano

1/4 tsp thyme

1 bay leaf

2 cups of water

Brown hamburger, onion or garlic together.

Blend tomatoes, parsley, brown sugar, salt, oregano, and thyme until smooth (I like my sauce without tomato chunks. Should you feel differently blend to your desire, or don't blend at all and just cut up the tomatoes with a wooden spoon). 

Add tomatoes, bay leaf and water to hamburger. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 2-3 hours. 

This freezes really really well! Freeze individual portions, or enough for your family. Place frozen sauce in a saucepan and bring to a boil. 

BBQ chicken sandwiches

My husband is an amazing BBQer. Like AMAZING! So I never make these sandwiches because when we have BBQ we have the real thing! But I like having a simple meal to take to people or a good freezer meal for us so this does the trick! My dad use to always make it for me in college, so it takes me back to a simpler time :)

Chicken sandwiches with BBQ sauce

from Better Home and Gardens

3/4 c. water

1/4 c. Worcestershire sauce

1 T. vinegar

1 t. instant beef bouillon granules

1/2 t. dry mustard

1/2 t. chili powder

1/4 t. ground red pepper

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 lbs. chicken

1/2 c. catsup

2 T brown sugar

2 T butter

In a bowl combine water, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, bouillon, mustard, chili powder, red pepper and garlic. Reserve 1/2 c. liquid for sauce; set aside in the refrigerator. Trim fat from chicken and place in crockpot. Pour remaining liquid over the chicken

Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4. 

For sauce, in a small saucepan combine the 1/2 c. reserved liquid, catsup, brown sugar, and butter. Heat and pass sauce with shredded chicken.

To freeze, mix sauce and chicken together. Place in bags and freeze. Defrost and reheat when ready to use!