Swamp Grog and Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce

Happy Halloween Eve.  In the spirit of Halloween, I present Swamp Grog.  Not only is this beverage really green, but it can be made with rum or without (for your little goblins).  To avoid goblin hands from accidently drinking the alcoholic version, I prepared the base mixture (limeade, lemonade, and soda) in my Lock N Lock pitcher.  Then each person can top with sherbet and rum.  The two locking sides to the pitcher prevent the top from accidently creating a Swamp Grog mess.

We loves spaghetti but despise runny jarred spaghetti sauce. Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce is thick and hearty.  A perfect dish for the weekend.  Put all the sauce ingredients in the slow cooker in the morning and at dinner time, all you have to do is boil noodles.

Now that garden season is over, my overabundance of green peppers has ceased. During the height of harvest, I chopped my unused green peppers and bagged them in individual zipper sandwich bags.  Then placed all the bags into one large freezer bag. For Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce, I simply removed one bag from the freezer and dumped in the frozen chopped green pepper straight into the slow cooker!  Huge timesaver. 

Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce

Serves8

1 pound lean ground beef

1 pound bulk Italian pork sausage

2 medium carrots, finely chopped  

1 medium green bell pepper, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes, undrained

1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce

1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste

1 tablespoon packed brown sugar

3 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Cooked spaghetti

Shredded fresh Parmesan cheese, if desired

Cook beef and sausage in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until beef is brown and sausage is no longer pink, about 8 minutes; drain.

Mix beef mixture and remaining ingredients except spaghetti and Parmesan cheese in 3 1/2- to 4-quart slow cooker.

Cover and cook on low heat setting 5-6 hours.

"Cooking" while I assemble the sauce in the slow cooker.

Serve over cooked spaghetti.  Top with shredded fresh Parmesan cheese if desired.

Swamp Grog

Serves 12

1 (12 fluid ounce) can frozen limeade concentrate

1 (12 fluid ounce) can frozen lemonade concentrate

1 liter lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage

Rum

Lime sherbet

In a large pitcher, combine limeade, lemonade and lemon-lime soda. In a serving glass, pour desired amount of rum.  Pour in limeade mixture.  Top with 1 large ice cream scoop of lime sherbet.