Bolognese Sauce

I went looking for a better-than-canned Bolognese sauce, and found a little something online. I've changed it up a bit, but the real secret here is the ham. I would never have thought to add ham, but it adds such a rich flavor to the whole thing. I just use leftovers from a Sunday brown-sugar-&-mustard ham, chopped into little bits. Yumm-o.

Bolognese Sauce

1 cup diced ham
1 onion
2 cloves garlic
1 tbsp olive oil
1 lb ground beef or turkey
1 - 2 tsp oregano
1 - 2 tsp basil
salt
1/2 - 1 cup shredded carrots
1/2 - 1 cup shredded celery
1 cup chicken broth
mushrooms
1 can tomato sauce
2 cans diced tomatoes

Saute ham, onion and garlic in olive oil. Set aside.
In the same skillet, brown ground beef.
Add spices to taste. Add carrots and celery and allow vegetables to get soft.
Add broth, mushrooms, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes and the ham mixture back in. Allow to simmer for an hour or more. I make mine early and put it in the crock pot for the rest of the day. It's better the longer it sits.

Enjoy over pasta and top with Parmesan cheese.

Kari