[Ghoulish Delight]

This was the simplest version I make, though I tried a new twist that I think helped a lot.

1 lbs ground beef (the leaner the better).
5 spicy italian sausages, casing removed
2 15oz cans diced tomatoes (preferably no salt added)
1 can tomato sauce (again, I prefer no salt added)
1 can tomato paste
1 medium red onion, chopped
1 Tblsp garlic
salt, pepper, Italian seasoning

Saute garlic and onions with some salt and pepper in a large skillet (5qt is about right). Add beef and sausage and Italian seasoning (sorry, no measurements. But don't be shy, at least a couple Tbsp worth). Cook over medium high heat, breaking the sausage up, stirring regularly until meat is almost cooked through. Add the various cans of tomato products. Stir, heat to boil, reduce heat to low and simmer. Leave simmering, uncovered, for a couple hours.

Once the sauce has just begun to thicken, take it off the heat. Let sit for a while, until it's cooled to just about room temperature. Then turn the heat back on to low, get it back up to a simmer. 30-40 minutes before you want to serve, turn the heat up just a bit, you want a fast simmer, nearly a boil. Let it cook at that heat until it's starting to dry out. Don't stir, you actually want the bottom layer of it to burn just a little bit. Once you do get that little bit of burn at the bottom, turn off the heat, give it a good stir, and serve.

And of course, taste it along the way and add salt, pepper, or seasoning as needed.

ETA: oh yeah, you can also throw some red pepper flakes in when you're sauteing the garlic and onion. 1/2 tsp will give it a little kick, go up from there to your desire.