It has been a while since my last post.

It is very hard to find time to blog when you have two jobs and school to juggle.

Having said that, I still want to win the 2014 World Food Championship and winning this Pasta Challenge is my last opportunity.

I have decided to make bolognese sauce because a very simple dish could be the most difficult to make. Here is the recipe:

2 pounds ground beef

half red onion

1 carrot, skinned

2 stalks celery

1 can crushed tomato (about 800 mL)

1 bag dried spaghetti

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

8 cups water

6 bay leaves

2 teaspoons oregano

1 teaspoon brown sugar

salt and pepper for taste

Parmesan cheese, grated (optional)

1) Cut celery, onion and carrot into small cubes (brunoise). Set aside.

2) Heat pan over medium-high heat. Add oil and wait until pan is hot. Saute celery, onion and carrot in hot pan until onion are caramelized and you can smell aroma (about five minutes).

3) Add ground beef to the pan and cook ground beef until half cooked.

4) Add crushed tomato to the pan. Add bay leaves and oregano and lower heat to medium heat and let the mixture simmer for at least five minutes until mixture slightly thickens. Add brown sugar, salt and pepper for taste.

5) Boil water in a separate pot. Add salt when water boils and cook spaghetti until al dente (about five to seven minutes).

6) Drain water and incorporated cooked spaghetti into bolognese sauce. Give it a quick mix. Serve with Parmesan cheese when ready.

This sauce is very delicioso. Even my parents who are not a big fan of Italian food loved this sauce.

I added brown sugar to the sauce to enhance the sweetness of the crushed tomatoes. Feel free to add white wine or red wine vinegar if you feel your sauce is too sweet.

I have a good feeling about this dish, so WISH ME LUCK!