Now that the holidays are over, it's back to the grind. Back to work. Back to school. Back to all the extra curricular activities that we are all involved in. Well, not exactly....
We were hit by a massive snowstorm here in Michigan over the weekend so the kids have not been back to school yet. But hopefully in a day or so they will, and things will be back to being crazy again.
I mentioned this before, but my goal for 2014 is to eat less processed foods. I started last year and I'm hoping slowly to cut them out for good. That means clean eating, and making everything homemade.
Making homemade meals does not necessarily mean that it has to take a lot of time. Obviously we are all short of that some days. So I created a quick and easy weeknight rigatoni with meat sauce.
Pair this hearty dish with a salad and some garlic bread or breadsticks and you've got the perfect weeknight dinner in a flash!
As the school year winds down I find us even busier than usual. Field trips, award ceremonies, graduations, etc...it's all so much on top of an already crazy schedule.
I find these are the best times to use my slow cooker. It's so easy to get things started first thing in the morning, then when dinnertime rolls around it's ready for us. And if it happens to be hot outside, you haven't steamed up your kitchen by using your oven! Another reason to love the old slow cooker.
This Italian meat sauce has been cooked many times before in my kitchen, but I'm finally getting around to sharing the recipe with you all. It's super delicious and makes a HUGE batch, so you have enough for dinner tonight and enough to freeze for another meal later. Score!
Slow Cooker Italian Meat Sauce
Recipe written by The Chef Next Door
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Ingredients:
1 lb. Italian sausage
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 cup pre-chopped onion
8 oz. sliced fresh mushrooms
2 cloves garlic, minced
28 oz. can organic diced tomatoes, undrained
(2) 15 oz. cans organic tomato sauce
6 oz. can organic tomato paste
1 Tbsp dried sweet basil
1 tsp dried oregano
1 Tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 to 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, depending on how much heat you like
In a large skillet cook sausage, ground beef, onions, mushrooms and garlic over medium heat about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until meat is no longer pink; drain.
Spoon the sausage and beef mixture into the slow cooker and stir in the remaining ingredients.
Cover and cook on low heat setting for 8 hours or high heat setting for 4 hours.
Cook up your favorite pasta and serve this tasty sauce on top.
Bon Appetit!
