Family Secret Spaghetti

prep time:: 10 min
total time:: 40 min

Makes 4 servings

Mike and I made this super-secret, highly classified recipe of canned sauce with veggies in it. OPSEC: Do not tell the kids there are veggies in this sauce!

ingredients

1 (15 ounce) can tomatoes, diced, un-drained
1 (26 ounce) can spaghetti sauce
1/2 lbs lean ground beef
1/2 lbs Italian sweet sausage, remove casing
1 medium onion, diced
1 medium red bell pepper, diced
1 tbsp garlic, chopped
1 tbsp fresh basil, julienned
1 tbsp fresh Italian parsley, chopped
8 oz low-fat mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 (8 ounce) box spaghetti
olive oil

directions

1
Start up a skillet on the stove under medium heat. Add in the oil. When oil is hot but not smoking, add in the meats and stir until half way done. Once the meat is about half way, add in the onion. Stir mixture occasionally so it doesn’t burn.
2
Add in the red bell pepper and stir until pepper is cooked through. Then add in the garlic, but do not let it burn.
3
Turn the heat down to low and add in spaghetti sauce and tomatoes. Cover skillet, turn heat down to simmer/low and let simmer for about 20 - 30 minutes, checking on it periodically so sauce does not burn or boil over.
4
In the meantime, start a large pot of boiling water for spaghetti. Follow pasta’s directions on box. Lightly coat oil on the pasta without drenching. Mix in cooked pasta to sauce and top with fresh basil, parsley and mozzarella.