Gail's Italian Spaghetti Sauce

My cousin Gail is one "incredible" cook, which reminds me I need to get her to give me some more of her recipes.  This spaghetti sauce is really good and easy.  I adapted it a bit and used the crock pot.  I actually tripled the recipe so I would have "on purpose" leftovers.  My plan it to make a couple spaghetti casseroles and freeze them.  I will first give you the original recipe and then my adaptations.

Gail's Italian Spaghetti Sauce

1 lb. Italian sausage

1 garlic clove, crushed

1 medium onion, chopped

1 cup water

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. crushed oregano

1/2 tsp rosemary

1- 8 oz. can tomato sauce

1 6 oz. can tomato paste

1 tsp. sugar

3/4 tsp. basil

1 bay leaf

Brown sausage with onion and garlic.  Drain. Stir in remaining ingredients.  Heat to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 1 hour.  Serve over hot noodles. Serves: 4-6

CROCK POT ADAPTATION X 3

1 1/2 lbs. regular sausage, cooked and drained.

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 Tablespoon salt

1 Tablespoon crushed oregano

1 Tablespoon sugar

2 - 8 oz. tomato sauce

3 - 6 oz. tomato paste

1- 14.5 oz can of diced tomatos

1 medium onion, chopped

3 cups water

2 1/4 teaspoon basil

3 bay leaves

Place all ingredients in crock pot and stir to mix.  Cook on high for 1 hour and then turn to low and cook 2-4 more hours.  You can also start out on low and cook all day. 

*I have also used hamburger instead of sausage and it is also good. Use the kind and amount of meat that you like.

*I left out the rosemary and used regular sausage even though my hubby would of preferred the Italian.  I also ended up cooking it about 6 hours because of an unplanned carpool trip.  It was so good!!

Check out other crock pot recipes at Crock Pot Wednesday!