Italian Vegetable Pasta Sauce

From my Fix-It and Forget-It Big Cookbook 1400 Best Slow Cooker Recipes! by Phyllis Pellman Good, attributed to Sherril Bieberly of Salina, KY.

• Ready In: 18 hrs 25 mins
• Serves: 8
• Yields: 8

Ingredients

• 3  tablespoons olive oil
• 1  cup  packed chopped fresh parsley
• 3  celery ribs, chopped
• 1  medium onion, chopped
• 2  garlic cloves, minced
• 2  inches  sprig fresh rosemary or 1⁄2 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 2  small fresh sage leaves or 1 1⁄4 teaspoons dried sage
• 32  ounces tomato sauce
• 32  ounces chopped tomatoes
• 1  small  dried hot red chili pepper
• 1⁄4 lb fresh mushrooms, sliced or 8  ounces  sliced mushrooms, drained
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 2  lbs ground beef, browned (optional)

Directions

1. Heat oil in skillet. Add parsley, celery, onion, garlic, rosemary, and sage. Saute until vegetables are tender. Place in slow cooker.
2. Add tomatoes, chili pepper, mushrooms and salt,.
3. Cover. Cook on LOW 12-18 hours, or on HIGH 5-6 hours.
4. VARIATION: Add 2 pounds browned ground beef to olive oil and sautéed vegetables. Continue with recipe.