1 lb. hot ground Italian sausage
2 lg. onions, chopped
6 garlic cloves
2 c. hearty red wine
8 oz. beef broth
2 lg. cans pureed tomatoes
3 to 5 fresh tomatoes, chopped
2 bay leaves
1/4 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. basil
Handful of crushed red peppers
Salt and pepper

In a heavy frypan, cook the sausage (we get extra hot sausage). Drain off the fat. Set the meat aside and put the fat back in the pan. Add the chopped onions. Saute over medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes until the onions are golden brown. Crush the garlic and add directly to the onions. Stir for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the red wine and bring to a boil. Scrape the bottom of the pan with a spatula.

Place the sausage in a deep cooking kettle. Add the red wine and onion mixture to the sausage. Add boiling hot beef broth. Bring the liquid to a boil and reduce until the liquid has almost completely evaporated.

Add the fresh and canned tomatoes and the spices. Return the sauce to a boil, lower heat and let simmer, stirring frequently for 30 minutes or until the sauce has reduced to desired consistency. Remove the bay leaves and season with salt and pepper. (We're convinced the more you reduce something, the better it tastes. If you have the time, this is a wonderful spaghetti sauce. Try this sauce with our Spaghetti Pie recipe.)