If I had to pick my favorite day of the week… it’d be Sunday. Sundays are for doing nothing all day. Unless it involves relaxing on the couch and/or netflixing for hours… it’s not on the agenda. Or at least, that’s the case at my house. Parties and plans are for Fridays and Saturdays. Sundays… we save for each other. Sundays are for family. And with this being the holiday season… every day kind of feels like a Sunday. And I love it. This is the perfect time to make yourself and your family a big batch of Sunday Sauce. And if you’re like my family, maybe throw on some matching PJs while you eat bowl after bowl of gluten-free spaghetti topped with a flavorful and meaty tomato sauce. Oh, except for the one vegetarian in the family (cough, my brother, cough) 😉 He gets to eat a vegetarian carbonara instead. (also: please notice that the dog, Sasha, is wearing a matching red hoodie. It’s very important that you notice this).
I love Sunday sauce because it’s so simple to make. You just throw some ingredients together in a pot and then let it simmer for a few hours on the stove top. You’ll forget it’s there until the sweet aroma of Sunday sauce drifts into the living room and lifts you out of your netflix daze. It’ll smell so darn delicious that you won’t even mind getting out from under your warm and cozy blanket. Yes, I’m being for real.
So what is Sunday Sauce? I guess I should have told you sooner? It’s basically a rich, meaty tomato sauce that’s sweet and savory and perfect over a bowl of noodles (gluten-free/paleo pasta or zoodles!). Traditionally, this Italian dish is made using whatever meat you have available – inexpensive cuts that taste delicious when simmered over a long period of time. My recipe is very simple and calls for plain ground sausage and ground beef. I use a good amount of spices in this sauce – a blend that’s incredibly flavorful. It’s so flavorful that you’ll crave it meal after meal – which is great, because this recipe makes a good amount. You can enjoy it for several meals throughout the week and never get tired of it. Or you can freeze some and thaw it out on a night when you’re feeling particularly lazy. Try and freeze some if you can – it’s the best feeling knowing that you can eat a slow cooked meal on a day when you don’t feel like cooking.
If you eat cheese, then top this with freshly grated parmesan. If not, use fresh cilantro or parsley instead. I hope you’re all enjoying family time this holiday season! 🙂 Like this recipe? Pin it to your favorite Pinterest board now so you will remember to make it later!
