Bolognese Tomato Sauce

This is an authentic Italian sauce (or so says my friend who served a mission in Italy). I usually serve it with penne or rigatoni pasta.

Ingredients:

Olive oil or butter

Milk

1 medium carrot

1 stick of celery

1 large yellow onion

1 tsp parsley

1 tsp thyme

1 large can peeled tomatoes (28 oz) + 1 normal-size can peeled tomatoes (14.5 oz) [puree these in a food processor]

Salt to taste- about 1 spoonful

Pepper to taste

¼ cup parmesan cheese

1 lb ground beef

Directions:

1. Brown beef, leaving it a little raw. Divide into very fine pieces. Drain the excess grease.

2. Chop the carrot, celery, and onion very fine.

3. In a large pot on medium heat, cook carrot, celery, and onion with olive oil or butter until onion becomes transparent (about 5-10 minutes).

4. Add ground beef and cover with a thin layer of milk and let cook on medium heat for about 5 more minutes.

5. Add tomato sauce, spices, and parmesan cheese. Mix well.

6. Simmer for 45 minutes on a low heat without a lid.