Jo Mama's World Famous Spaghetti

My kids will give up a steak dinner for this spaghetti. It is a recipe I have been perfecting for years and it is so good (if I may humbly say) that my kids are disappointed when they eat spaghetti anywhere else but home! In fact they tell me I should open a restaurant and serve only this spaghetti and garlic bread. In response to requests, I have posted the recipe for Jo Mama's World Famous Lasagna that uses approximately 1/2 of the sauce from this recipe. Have spaghetti one night and lasagna later! Thanks to all of you who have tried my recipe and have written a review. I read and appreciate every one of them! Chef Note: After I posted this recipe I remembered a funny incident--my dear husband usually has a nice bottle of wine handy so when I make a batch of spaghetti I just help myself to a splash of it. On one occasion, there wasn't a bottle opened, but there was a bottle sitting on the counter so I got out the corkscrew and helped myself. For some reason, the spaghetti that night was the best ever. My husband asked what wine I put in it and I showed him the bottle. He nearly fell off the chair. I had opened a rather expensive bottle he had bought to give his boss. Goes to show you--don't use a wine for cooking you wouldn't drink. You get the best results from a good wine!

Ingredients:

2 lbs Italian sausage, casings removed (mild or hot)

1 small onion, chopped (optional)

3 -4 garlic cloves, minced

1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes

2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste

2 (15 ounce) cans tomato sauce

2 cups water (for a long period of simmering for flavors to meld. If you don't want to simmer it as long, add less)

3 teaspoons basil

2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes

1 1⁄2 teaspoons brown sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1⁄4-1⁄2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1⁄4 teaspoon fresh coarse ground black pepper

1⁄4 cup red wine (a good Cabernet!)

1 lb thin spaghetti

parmesan cheese

Instructions:

1. Step 1
   In large, heavy stockpot, brown Italian sausage, breaking up as you stir.
2. Step 2
   Add onions and continue to cook, stirring occasionally until onions are softened.
3. Step 3
   Add garlic, tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce and water.

1. Step 4
   Add basil, parsley, brown sugar, salt, crushed red pepper, and black pepper.
2. Step 5
   Stir well and barely bring to a boil.
3. Step 6
   Stir in red wine.

1. Step 7
   Simmer on low, stirring frequently for at least an hour. A longer simmer makes for a better sauce, just be careful not to let it burn!
2. Step 8
   Cook spaghetti according to package directions.
3. Step 9
   Spoon sauce over drained spaghetti noodles and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
4.