Long ago, my grandmother took a recipe for spaghetti and meatballs and thought, “I’m too tired to make meatballs. I’m just throwing it all in one pot.”

2.0 lbs hamburger
0.5 tsp salt
1.0 tsp oregano
0.5 tsp garlic powder

Brown in stock pot. Drain fat, return to pot.

6.0 cps crushed tomatoes
3.0 6oz cans tomato paste
0.5 tsp salt
1.0 tsp sugar
1.0 tsp oregano
2.0 tsp crushed red pepper
2.0 tsp onion powder
1/4 cup parsley

Simmer one hour with lid on, one hour with lid off.

This makes an extremely meaty and well-spiced meat sauce. My grandmother made it for my mom, and my mom made it for our family many a night. It’s one of my favorite meals; it ALWAYS reminds me of warm conversation around the table. So when I started birthday party weekends and inviting 10-20 of my friends, I naturally thought of this recipe. It’s the first recipe I learned how to cook. Cooking the sauce and watching my friends line up for seconds reminds me that good cooking DOES include that most savory of ingredients – love.