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Classic comfort food mom’s spaghetti recipe

Mom's Spaghetti

“Spaghetti” means different things to different people. I feel like it is a meal that seeps into your soul and stains your memory and leaves permanent expectations. Not unlike what it does to Tupperware.
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Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2-3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 large or two small onions finely chopped
  • 3 ribs of celery finely chopped
  • handful of garlic cloves finely chopped
  • 1 bell pepper finely chopped
  • 1 to 2 lbs. 80/20 or leaner hamburger meat; beef or venison
  • 1 TBSP garlic powder
  • 1 TBSP salt
  • 1 TBSP dried oregano
  • 1 TBSP dried parsley
  • 2 or 3 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp basil
  • 3 to 4 15 oz cans of petite diced tomatoes

Method
 

  1. In a large pot preheated on medium-low heat, drizzle the olive oil and pour in diced vegetables: 1 onion, 3 stalks of celery, 1 bell pepper and 5 or so garlic cloves. Stir often as they sweat, about 10 minutes.
  2. When the vegetables become semi-soft, turn the heat up to medium and add hamburger meat. Use a potato masher or metal spatula or other rigid utensil to break it apart and mix well with vegetables.
  3. Add in spices: 1 TBSP garlic powder, 1 TBSP salt, 1 TBSP dried oregano, 1 TBSP dried parsley, 2-3 bay leaves, 1 tsp basil.
  4. Reduce heat to low and add in tomatoes, stirring to be sure all ingredients are well incorporated.
  5. Allow the sauce to gently simmer, barely bubbling, for at least 30 minutes or up to an hour, stirring occasionally. Turn off the heat and allow the pot to cool slowly on the residual heat. Sample and season to taste.
  6. Serve over freshly boiled al dente pasta, I prefer angel hair. Top with shaved parmesan if desired. Pairs well with a green salad with ranch and or balsamic, or sautéed vegetables, good bread and something chocolate for dessert!

Notes

Really, no matter the timing or order of steps, you can't mess up this spaghetti. This meal is all about comfort, simplicity and feeling fed and satisfied when it's over.
 
Some of us like a drizzle of homemade ranch dressing over our spaghetti, while others like a drizzle of balsamic. I think I learned to appreciate the blending of these flavors from having a salad on the same plate with my spaghetti, with either ranch or balsamic, and the mingling of flavors that happen by the last few bites is really, oddly satisfying.
 
If you're in a hurry, crank the heat to medium-high to cook your vegetables until they're very soft, stirring often, and then add in the meat and brown it. You can then reduce the heat to low and add in the spices and tomatoes and let simmer for 30 minutes and serve over pasta right away.