Crockpot Spaghetti

Recently I've been trying to use the crockpot more days where I'm working a little bit later. It's so nice to come home from work and have dinner waiting for you. Patrick really enjoys his sister's bolognese sauce so I thought I would see if a bolognese sauce in our Food Made Fast: Slow Cooker book would rival his favorite. 

Bolognese Sauce from Food Made Fast: Slow Cooker

2 tbsp olive oil

2 oz pancetta

2 small onion, finely chopped

2 carrots, finely chopped

1 stalk celery, finely chopped

3 lb ground beef

2 cups beef broth

1 1/2 cups dry red wine

1 can crushed plum tomatoes

1/2 cup milk

salt and freshly ground pepper

   I halved this recipe and omitted the pancetta.

1. Saute the ingredients: In a large frying pan over medium-high heat, warm the oil. Add the pancetta and saute until it begins to render its fat, about 1 minute. Add the onions, carrots, and celery and saute until the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the beef and cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until it is no longer red, about 7 minutes. Transfer to the slow cooker. Add the broth and wine to the pan and raise the heat to high. Bring to a boil and deglaze the pan, stirring to scrape up the browned bits on the pan bottom. Pour the liquid into the slow cooker along with the tomatoes and stir to combine.

2. Cook the sauce: Cover and cook the sauce on the high-heat setting for 4 hours or the low-heat setting for 8 hours. Add the milk, stirring to combine. Cover and continue cooking for 20 minutes longer. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

3. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 2 tablespoons salt and the pasta. Cook, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until al dente, according to package directions. Drain, return the pasta to the pot, and toss gently with 2 cups of the sauce. Serve, passing Parmesan at the table.

Even though this sauce was prepared for an ordinary mid-week meal it was anything but! I invited Rachel over and she brought along a wonderful side salad and bread. She had fun throwing together yummy ingredients at the Harris Teeter salad bar including spinach, strawberries, bacon, and tasty vinaigrette among other items.

I was so excited to feature this spinach lemon fettucine with this sauce. It was a birthday gift for Patrick from Christine and Kasper! Thanks guys; it was great! Christine, when I visit you'll have to take me to this shop.

And for the record, Patrick didn't think this surpassed the flavors of his much loved original bolognese sauce. I agreed but it was certainly easier!