Grandpa Kline's Poppycock {Not Your Average Caramel Corn}

Growing up, we ate spaghetti and meat sauce just about every week. Monday was spaghetti night for a few months while Mom taught a class of college students how to cook. Years later it was served on Wendesdays, then Sunday nights. Needless to say, Dad got tired of spaghetti.

I married a man whose favorite meal is spaghetti. Shortly after we were married, I wanted to make a special meal, so I asked him what he wanted. Spaghetti was the answer, and I must say, it does not bother me at all that he could eat it just about every day. Several years ago, I asked my wonderful mother-in-law to share with me her spaghetti sauce recipe. Since then, I have had the privilege of preparing the spaghetti sauce, and Dad likes it. In fact, he won't hesitate to have a plate.

This is what I would consider "doctored up" spaghetti sauce. It is by no means the real-Italian kind, but our family loves it.

Mom Smetana's Spaghetti Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 Jar of Spaghetti Sauce
• 1 Bay leaf
• Basil
• Black pepper
• 1 teas Sugar (to taste)
• 1/2 pound Meat (ground hamburger; Italian sausage; whatever you would like)

Directions:

1. Place sauce in pan. Add 1 teaspoon sugar, one bay leaf.
2. Cover the surface of the sauce with basil (go heavy) and a good bit of black pepper (I       cover the surface too)
3. Allow sauce to heat through on medium-high and reduce heat to simmer for an hour          (more or less depending on how much time there is until dinner).
4. If you are using ground beef, you may add it (already prepared) and let it simmer with       the sauce. If you are using Italian sausage, be sure to wait to add it right before                 serving, just long enough to be heated through.

Angel hair pasta is our noodle of choice! This is great to serve over any pasta, and I have even used it for lasagna. You can also freeze the sauce and then reheat to serve. I always do a little tasting along the way and adjust the spices, but this is the "starting recipe" from my dear mother-in-law.

Enjoy! Thanks to Mom Smetana for giving new life to spaghetti dinners around here!

Carrie