My Mama Iuliucci's "Don't Skip a Step" Spaghetti Sauce

Ingredients

• 2 (28 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes

• 1 (28 ounce) can tomato puree

• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon parsley
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese or romano cheese
• 2 onions, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• Italian sausage or home-made meatballs
• 1-2 spareribs (optional)
• leftover cooked chicken thigh or chicken leg (optional)
• pepperoni (optional)

Directions

1. 1

   Combine tomato products in large stock pot or dutch oven.

2. 2

   Add a 28 ounce can of water and stir.

3. 3

   Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer.

4. 4

   Sprinkle with sugar, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, parsley and grated cheese and stir to combine.

5. 5

   In a frying pan, heat about 1/4" of vegetable oil and fry up your sausage or meatballs until cooked through.

6. 6

   Add the meat to the simmering sauce, along with any optional meats (recommended) mentioned in ingredients.

7. 7

   Now, this is an important, not to be left out, step: Add chopped onions and garlic to pan that meat was fried in.

8. 8

   Do not drain anything before adding onions and garlic-- there should be some drippings/oil left in the pan!

9. 9

   Fry onions and garlic until tender and aromatic.

10. 10

    Remove pan from heat.

11. 11

    Another important step, not to be left out: Add about 1/2 cup water to the pan and swish around, combining the leftover drippings and onion and garlic.

12. 12

    Pour and scrape it all into the simmering sauce.

13. 13

    Stir to combine.

14. 14

    Let simmer for 3 hours or until desired consistency, stirring occasionally.

15. 15

    I keep mine only half way covered, so it cooks down and gets thick and rich.

16. 16

    Remove pepperoni, chicken and ribs if used.

17. 17

    Remove meat from bones of chicken and ribs and add back to sauce in small shreds.

18. 18

    Discard pepperoni, eat it, or chop it up and add it back to sauce.

19. 19

    Serve over your favorite pasta and enjoy.