Brown 1 pound of ground beef, 2 large onions (chopped), 1 large green pepper (chopped), 2 large cloves of garlic (minced) in a small amount of fat. Stir in one large can of tomatoes, 1 large can tomato paste, 1 large can mushrooms. Add 2 crumbled bay leaves, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, 1/4 teaspoon thyme, 1/8 teaspoon basil, 1/4 teaspoon oregano, salt to taste and a touch of cayenne pepper plus 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce. Simmer at least two hours. Adjust spices to your taste, maybe adding a pinch of sugar. Recipe from Becky Nolan, Christmas, 1980.