Spaghetti Sauce

½ lb. mild Italian sausage
½ lb. ground hamburger
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 tsp. basil
1/2 tsp. fennel seeds
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 Tbsp. parsley
2 1-lb Italian style canned tomatoes (or 1 qt. home canned)
1 8-oz can tomato paste
1/2 cup white cooking wine
Brown sugar or honey (to taste – approximately 2 Tbsp.)

Brown meat with onion and garlic.  Add seasonings and mix well.  Add tomatoes, paste, and wine.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer (or move to crock-pot) covered until thick for about 2 hours (or 6 – 8 in crock-pot).  Add sugar, to taste, right before serving.

Also makes a great lasagna!

Pesto Pasta with Chicken

1 pkg. bow tie pasta
1 tsp. olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cooked & cubed*
crushed red pepper flakes (to taste)
1/2 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained
1 jar pesto

Cook pasta according to package directions; set aside.

Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat.  Saute garlic until tender, then stir in chicken and season with red pepper flakes.  Cook until chicken is golden and cooked through.

In a large bowl, combine pasta, chicken, tomatoes and pesto.  Toss to coat evenly.  Serve warm or cold.

*chicken can be omitted or substituted with baked halibut/tilapia which is delicious!