Christmas Pasta Sauce

== Ingredients ==
* ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
* small carrot
* small onion
* small celery stalk
* large garlic clove
* 1 lbs Italian sausage
* ⅓ lbs ground beef
* 6½ oz pancetta, diced
* ½ tsp salt
* ½ tsp freshly ground pepper
* ¼ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
* ½ cup dry red wine
* ½ cup tomato paste
* 1 cup Italian tomatoes, chopped
* 2 tbsp parsley
* dried porcini mushrooms (to taste)
== Directions ==
# Soak the porcini in warm water for at least ½ hour.
# Remove from the water, squeeze dry and chop.
# Meanwhile, in a large saucepan or flameproof casserole, heat the olive oil over moderate heat.
# Add the carrot, onion and celery and saute until the onion is golden, about 4 minutes.
# Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
# Add the sausage, ground beef and pancetta to the pan.
# Cook over moderate heat, stirring to break up the meat, until the beef and sausage are no longer pink.
# Drain off any fat.
# Season with the salt, pepper and nutmeg.
# Pour in the red wine and cook, stirring occasionally, until it evaporates, about 5 minutes.
# Add the tomato paste, tomatoes, porcini and ½ cup of warm water.
# Simmer for 30 minutes.
# If the sauce gets too thick, add a little more water.
# The recipe can be made to this point up to 2 days ahead.
# Cover and refrigerate; reheat before serving.
# Add the parsley just before serving.
Category:Christmas dressings, stuffings, sauces and gravies
Category:Pasta sauce Recipes
Category:Carrot Recipes
Category:Onion Recipes
Category:Celery Recipes
Category:Pancetta Recipes
Category:Ground beef Recipes
Category:Pork sausage Recipes
Category:Tomato Recipes
Category:Red wine Recipes
Category:Porcino Recipes
Category:Tomato paste Recipes