my meat-lover's taste of italy spaghetti sauce

Ingredients For my meat-lover's taste of italy spaghetti sauce

• MEAT MIXTURE:
• 2 lbs.

  lean ground beef, * 1 1/2 lbs. if adding fresh mushrooms
• 1 lb.

  bulk ground italian sausage, jimmy dean works fine mild or hot
• 1 lg.

  onion, chopped
• 1

  green or red bell pepper, diced
• 2 tsp.

  whole fennel seeds
• 1/4 tsp.

  salt or a little more
• 1/4 tsp.

  coarse ground black pepper
• 1/4 tsp.

  garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp.

  oregano
• 1/2 tsp.

  italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp.

  basil
• 1/2 tsp.

  marjoram
• SAUCE:
• 3

  (15 oz.) cans tomato sauce, i use hunts
• 1 (14 oz.)

  can delmonte original stewed tomatoes with juice, crush tomatoes with hand as adding
• 1 (6 oz.)

  can contadina italian herb tomato paste
• 1/2 tsp.

  coarse ground black pepper
• 2 tsp.

  oregano
• 1/2 tsp.

  basil
• 1/2 tsp.

  italian seasoning
• 1/4 tsp.

  thyme, measure into palm and crush with finger and thumb when adding to pot
• 1/2 tsp.

  marjoram
• 1 1/2 tsp.

  garlic powder
• 2 Tbl.

  sugar
• 1

  bay leaf
• 1/2 tsp.

  superior touch better than bouillon beef base
• 1/4 tsp.

  salt, more if desired, taste first
• 1 Tbl.

  butter
• 1 (8 oz.)

  container fresh sliced mushrooms, optional
• 1/2

  cup red wine, optional, up to 1 cup if you really like it that way