Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  8                     links spicy italian sausage -- cut 1-1/2"
  1              pound  ground sirloin
  1         tablespoon  extra virgin olive oil
  8             ounces  red wine *or*
  8             ounces  welch's grape juice
  1         tablespoon  minced garlic *or*
  1           teaspoon  powdered garlic
  6             stalks  fresh opal basil -- use only leaves
  2              small  stal fresh oregano *or* -- leaves only
  1           teaspoon  dried oregano
  1           teaspoon  salt -- (optional)
  1           teaspoon  sugar
     1/2      teaspoon  cloves
  2              whole  italian tomatoes
  2                     carrots -- chopped small
  1              large  celery stalk -- chopped
  1              small  yellow onion -- chopped
  1             medium  red sweet pepper -- sliced
  8             ounces  fresh mushrooms washed -- drained & split
  1            8 ounce  thi tomato sauce

Preparation:

Wipe bottom and sides of kettle generously with olive oil. Place over med high flame. Add sliced Italian sausage, and brown well on med heat. Remove browned sausage to bowl and pour excess grease into grease can (don't ask). Replace kettle to heat without wiping out, increasing to med high. Add minced garlic until kettle just begins to smoke (garlic will be a light brown), then quickly crumble in sirloin and brown thoroughly. Reduce heat to med. Add red wine. Add mushrooms and stir. Add remaining spices and continue stirring. Now reduce heat to low and add tomatoes (smush them up) and remaining chopped vegetables with tomato sauce and the bowl of sausage chunks, as the final ingredient. Simmer, covered, until it tastes just right. About 6 hours on low, low flame. (Add water, only if necessary.) Another note: You may add more of anything, if necessary, but it's great if you merely follow the recipe. Recommendation: Serve with the best angel hair fedelini (pasta) money can buy; it's the perfect lightweight pasta for this big-legged dish! Yellow crookneck squash presents well with this sauce and balances the palette (or palate!) as an accompan

Nutritional Information:

1342 Calories (kcal); 92g Total Fat; (62% calories from fat); 89g Protein; 37g Carbohydrate; 313mg Cholesterol; 2534mg Sodium