The Ultimate Spaghetti Sauce For A Perfect Meal

My Mama used to make spaghetti often for our family of 7. Somewhere along the way, my carrying on of this tradition got lost. But, my sister, Vickie held on tight to that legacy of Mama’s spaghetti sauce.

You see, she is the keeper of recipes. Not adventurous, but the keeper of the tried and true recipes tucked safely away in her recipe box.

She has ventured out with the subscription box deliveries of meals, but for the most part, her basic favorites are the ones that she feels comfortable creating.

This sister is the one that makes that fabulous pumpkin bread.

But today’s story is about the legacy of Mama’s spaghetti sauce. Vickie’s version.

That Spaghetti Sauce

When I let Vickie know I was sharing this sauce, she asked if I knew the history of this sauce.

History of this spaghetti sauce?

Never knew there was a history!

She explained that when she was little, our family traveled to see our grandfather in Mississippi.

Along the way they stopped at an Italian restaurant where my Mama ate Italian spaghetti for the first time. Vickie described that restaurant with booths that had red and white checked curtains that they pulled when your family was tucked into the booth.

She thought that must have happened BEFORE I was born or when I was a baby because I had absolutely NO memory of this.

But, then she asked…”Do you know where Mama got this recipe”?

Uh…nope! Just that Mama made it and it was served to us often with a salad and garlic bread.

She proceeded to tell me that it was actually from a 1950’s NAVY kitchen. At the time, my uncle was serving in the Navy as a cook and my mother requested that he find a recipe for spaghetti. My Dad had eaten Italian spaghetti when he was in the Navy…so Mama was sure that my uncle would find a recipe there.

When he returned home, that spaghetti recipe was delivered to my Mama’s delight!

That’s where that family spaghetti tradition began.

Who knew?

Vickie’s recipe that I’m sharing is a small version one so if you have larger gatherings, keep doubling until you get the right portions for your number of guests.

This recipe is probably the most requested from her family.

Even though her daughter in law worked in an Italian restaurant in New York, she has heralded this bolognese recipe as the best sauce.

Her grands request her spaghetti sauce often.

And then this happened. When my niece brought her boyfriend (now fiance) in to meet the family, they ventured to see my sister and family.

You guessed it if you knew that they requested her spaghetti for their visit.

Fourteen family members gathered with feet under her dining room table to share life and her (Mama’s) spaghetti.

Now she served a great salad and garlic bread with that spaghetti and spaghetti sauce…but, I lost count in our discussion of HOW many batches of this sauce she actually made for them.

So that you can carry on the legacy of Mama’s spaghetti sauce, I’ve added it to my recipes here.

Just a note…you can substitute the green pepper for a red, orange or yellow bell pepper. A red bell pepper was what I had on hand for creating this dish. The green pepper is the original version’s flavor, so don’t substitute that if you love them.

Vickie’s recipe is a tiny bit different than the one I added to my box years ago.

And after years of having my feet under her table…she has carried Mama’s spaghetti legacy and tradition far better than the rest of us.

Thank you, Vickie, for holding tightly and keeping Mama’s spaghetti sauce for all of us.

Her version is on my table tonight…

Treasured and loved. Thanks, Uncle GW for finding the recipe and beginning the legacy.

If you need a great sauce for your lasagna, this one works beautifully.

And if you want to make it ahead…add it to the freezer and defrost before making the lasagna or great pasta dinner.

Other favorite recipes…

• Marinara sauce
• Favorite braided bread
• Rosemary infused baguettes
• Butternut squash salad

Enjoy!

Adding link to that chopper that I love for browning. Just click on the photo and it will take you right to it. Saving you a bit of time locating it is a favorite thing for me to do here…same price for you…but, may benefit this blog. Thanks if you love using the links here.