Ingredients

3 pounds lean ground beef
2/3 cup chopped onions
2/3 cup chopped green pepper
1/2 cup chopped celery
2 tablespoons fresh minced garlic
3 29-ounce cans tomato sauce
1 12-ounce can tomato paste
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning, dried
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Directions

In a large pot, brown ground beef with onions. Drain fat. Add green pepper, celery and garlic to ground beef and cook until vegetables are softened. Stir in tomato sauce, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, sugar, salt and nutmeg. Simmer to blend flavors. This makes about 18 cups of sauce. Package in freezer bags or containers, allowing for about 1 to 1 1/2 cups of sauce per serving. (This makes two six-serving meals or three four-serving meals, or six two-serving meals.) Thaw in microwave or under warm water; then place in a casserole dish or pan for reheating. To freshen the color and flavor, stir in 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce and a teaspoon or two of chopped fresh herbs such as basil, oregano or rosemary. Taste and adjust seasonings. This sauce can also be thawed and used in lasagna.