Beef and Sausage Sauce

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 onions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon hot pepper flakes (optional)
1 pound ground beef
1 pound Italian sausages
4 cups sliced mushrooms
2 cans (28 oz. each) stewed tomatoes
1 can (13 oz.) tomato paste
Salt and pepper

Heat oil in a large frying pan. Add onions, garlic and hot pepper flakes and cook until softened.

Add beef. Remove sausage meat from casings, break up and add to pan. Cook until the meat is browned. Drain off fat.

Add mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and tomato paste. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, until thickened. Season with salt and pepper.

Makes 8 servings.