This is straight from an email from my uncle. This is my favorite spaghetti sauce recipe from my grandfather. My kids don't really like spaghetti but they love it when I make this. It may sound a bit weird but its so awesome...may want to half the recipe if you have a small family. I salt and pepper the hamburger while browning. I found that you really need to make sure you put enough salt, it will taste really good if you do so.
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Here's your grandfather's super awesome Universal Marinara Spaghetti/Pizza Sauce recipe.



2 pounds Hamburger

4 whole Onions (browned)

1/2 teaspoon Rosemary Leaves

2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning

1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper

1/4 teaspoon Thyme

2 teaspoons Garlic Powder

2 teaspoons Chili Powder

1 teaspoon Oregano

2 teaspoons Vinegar

1 teaspoon Liquid Smoke

1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce

2 large cans Tomato Sauce

1/4 cup Molasses



Start by browning the Onions and Hamburger together in a skillet with low to medium heat. Toss them around the pan and cook long enough that the hamburger is no longer red, and the onions no longer crisp. You can cook them longer if you like the onions browned and the hamburger crisp. You can also omit the hamburger altogether to vegetarian or, after the sauce has a short time to simmer, add meatballs, and cook them in the sauce. It will take your favorite meatball recipe to a whole new level.



While you're waiting for the hamburger and onions to brown, you can start adding the remaining ingredients. All but the Tomato Sauce. You can add them all in the pot later if you wish, but it works out best, if done while doing the browning. It will keep you attentive so you don't go and burn the hamburger or onions, and stirring them all into the mix ensures that both get cooked evenly throughout. Plus; it will make your kitchen smell absolutely delightful. Add the Molasses as the last ingredient, mix everything together thoroughly, then empty the skillet into something like a 1 gallon size covered pot. It percolates (spits and sputters) while it simmers, so you want to have the pot filled only about half way if possible. Add the Tomato Sauce if you haven't already done so, and stir it all together.



Finally; place the cover over the pot, with it cocked just a bit to allow steam to escape easily. The purpose of the cover is to contain the spitting and sputtering so that it doesn't make a lovely mess of your kitchen. :-) Tend to it by stirring it while waiting for the sauce to start erupting into a slow boil, then adjust the heat to a low enough level that it just barely continues to boil. This is the simmering phase.



While the sauce simmers, you can start preparing your favorite pasta, or pizza crust.



The sauce will be ready to serve whenever you're ready for it. Some say that a good spaghetti sauce needs to simmer for several hours, but this recipe is ready to go as soon as you put the cover on it. You can simmer it for hours if you wish, but... in my humble opinion... the wait isn't worth it. :-)

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