Creamy Parmesan Spaghetti Sauce

This is my updated/changed/revamped version of the Spaghetti Sauce that I remember my Dad making (I'm sure Mom did too, but for some reason I only remember Dad making it.)  Anyway, I made a few changes and my boys (all three of them) beg for this sauce.  And as you can see in the picture - we put it over more then just Spaghetti.

1 lb Ground Beef

1 can (15 oz) Beef Broth

3 cups Tomato Sauce

1 pack Spaghetti Sauce Mix (I like Western Family)

1 cup Cream

1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese

Pepper

Onion Salt

Garlic Salt

Brown the Ground Beef.  Once it's nice and brown, pour in the Beef Broth and deglaze the pan.  Add the Tomato Sauce and Sauce Mix, and stir until the Mix is dissolved.  Add the Cream and the Parmesan Cheese and bring to a simmer.  Add Seasoning to taste.  Pour over desired Pasta and enjoy.

Chicken Gnocchi Soup

One of my favorite foods at Olive Garden is the Chicken Gnocchi soup.  I LOVE it!  And we don't have one here in Moab :( so I have to try and make my own.  This isn't quite it, but it's pretty good, and it's just so pretty . . 


melt 1/3 cup butter in a soup or stock pot
saute 2 cloves minced garlic
         1/2 onion, chopped
         1 stick of celery, chopped
Add  1/3 cup flour
         2 cans chicken broth or 3 cups chicken stock from scratch
         1/2 tablespoon chicken base or 2 chicken boullion cubes
         2 cups half and half
         1 shredded carrot
         1/2 teaspoon thyme
         1/2 cup chopped spinach, fresh or frozen
         A couple of handfull of diced chicken, however much you like 
Mix and cook until soup thickens, stirring occasionally.   Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.  Add more milk if a thinner consistency is desired.   
Add 1/2 pound Gnocchi last and cook another 3-4 minutes.  Just long enough for the Gnocchi to cook throughout.  I also added a couple of dashes of Red Wine Vinegar, but that's optional.


         

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