Penne Pasta with Meat Sauce

What you need:

    • 1/2 lb. penne pasta
    • Salt
    • Olive oil
    • 1 large onion, chopped
    • 2 cloves garlic, chopped (I used dried)
    • 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
    • Red Pepper flakes
    • Dried thyme
    • Salt and pepper
    • 1 lb. ground beef
    • 1/2 tsp. dried basil
    • 28 oz. can chunky tomato sauce (original recipe recommends Muir Glen - I agree!)
    • 1 tsp. sugar
    • 1 tbsp. fresh parsley

Directions:

    1. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add 1 tbsp. salt and bring back to a boil. Add pasta and cook, uncovered, for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain.
    2. While waiting for the water to boil the first time, heat olive oil in a large skillet on medium heat. Add chopped onion, Italian seasoning and a dash of red pepper flakes. Cook for 5 minutes until onions are soft. Add garlic, dash of thyme, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook for 1 minute. Remove and place in a bowl.
    3. In same skillet, cook ground beef, crumbling as it browns. Drain, if needed.
    4. Add cooked onions once beef is no longer pink. Add tomato sauce, basil and sugar. Bring to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes, uncovered.
    5. Salt and pepper sauce to taste and stir in cooked penne pasta. Serve topped with fresh parsley. (Or in my case with dried!)

Recipe from Simplyrecipes.com