Sugo, an Italian Meat Sauce
originally published August 2018
Most of you might still be in a summer state of mind (or maybe denial). I realize a hearty, slow simmered, Italian meat sauce is likely the last thing on your mind as you cling to the last days of summer. Me? I’m so ready for Fall. It’s my favorite season—not too hot, not too cold, just right. As I sit here, writing in my back porch, wearing an old sweatshirt of Michael’s because it’s that chilly here right now—it was 45ºF when I woke up, I feel a little peace wash over me as I think about the change in seasons.
This feeling ricochets a lot lately. I love watching nature pack away her summer clothing, knowing soon her trees will be tinged with flecks of red, yellow, and gold. What makes me feel misty-eyed in saying goodbye to Summer is not the warm weather, or leisurely schedules. I’m actually looking forward to being back on some level of predictability during the weekdays.
Once the girls begin school next week, it’s officially the end of our year of living life on our own terms. That was my goal when I made the decision to homeschool last Spring. I wanted to push society’s calendar to side, and live according to how we felt, and what we needed—truly be in the moment.
I know we can still do this to some extent, and I hope they hold onto the confidence they gained, both personally and academically, during our year together. I’m a force to be reckoned with, and over the course of our year, we became a trinity of strong, fiercely opinionated women who constantly push back at the way the world tells us to live.
Slow down—that is the message I want my girls to hold in their hearts as they move through their lives.
Finding that balance is difficult in a society that’s only focused on the race to the top. The world we live in today will constantly push you forward, often at a pace that doesn’t match what you’re feeling inside. Challenge those outside forces. Be more in the moment. Always push yourself to be the best person you can be, but not the best of all—that is an empty goal.
Be kind, be loving, be determined, and be true to yourself. Remember the reflection you see in the mirror every morning is the only approval you need. There’s a lot to be enjoyed on the journey along the way. Appreciate every moment, even the difficult ones—they will make you stronger, I promise, even if it doesn’t feel like it at the time (secret: it seldom ever does).
And so, this recipe for Sugo is perfect not just for Fall, but also a reminder that while instant gratification is great, there are things in life that can only be enjoyed when we slow down and give them time to unfurl their true potential.
Now, a word about this Sugo. I realize slowing down is not always possible. Some days we need to be on the go, and that’s okay so long as we’re mindful about carving out times to take it easy. That’s where making this Sugo comes in. You can cook this on the weekend, or whenever you have some time to get it going, as part of your meal planning strategy if you do such a thing. As with stews, Sugo is even more delightful a day or two after it’s been made.
Some of you might be wondering if this can be made entirely in the slow cooker. Kind of. Unless your slow cooker has a browning function, you’ll need to start it off in a skillet on the stove top, then transfer the meat sauce to the slow cooker. At that point you can let it go all day on the low setting, or cook 3 to 4 hours on the high setting.
InstantPot and pressure cooker users, I know you want to ask me if this can be made in there, too, to speed up the cooking time. Technically, the answer is yes. I’ve done it in a pinch, and it does the job of getting dinner on the table faster. I promise you, though, it will not taste nearly as amazing as a Sugo that has been slowly simmered into submission, the meat so tender it melts the moment it hits your tongue.
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