4 tbsp. cooking oil
1 sm. onion, finely chopped
1 (15 1/2 oz.) can tomato sauce
1 1/2 c. water
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. red pepper, optional
1 lb. ground beef
1 (29 oz.) can tomato puree
1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. oregano
2 lbs. sausage (Italian links or country style)

Brown ground beef in 2 tablespoon hot oil in frying pan. When almost browned, add onion and continue browning until onion is tender. Pour meat and onion into 3 1/2 quart crockpot.

Add puree, sauce, paste, water, salt, pepper and oregano and set dial on low setting. Cut 2 lbs. sausage into pieces and brown in remaining 2 tablespoons oil. When brown, place sausages in sauce in crockpot. Continue cooking for 12 hours. (If you like your sauce sweeter, you could add 1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar to this.)