Table d'hôte Tuesday-Crock Pot Bolognese Sauce

Pioneer Woman posted a Bolognese sauce recipe on her blog so I am posting mine here since I'm making it today...served over whole wheat gnocchi purchased from Trader Joe's and some nice crusty bread.

Crock Pot Bolognese Sauce

Ingredients

2 Tbs Olive Oil
2 pounds lean ground beef
2 slices pancetta (Italian bacon) or bacon, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 cup non-alcoholic wine (chicken broth works too)
3 cloves fresh garlic, diced or grated
1 Tbs Italian spices (fresh or dried)
2 Tbs chopped basil (I used frozen)
1 small can sliced black olives, drained
Salt and Pepper to taste
2 large cans diced tomatoes
3 Tbs tomato paste
1/2 cup milk
Grated Parmesan cheese for topping

Instructions

In a large saucepan over medium heat, add olive oil and heat through, add bacon and simmer until it just starts to crisp, add onions and cook for 2-3 minutes, add ground beef (pull off little pieces until all in pan and spread around evenly), cook until almost done and stir to finish browning. Add wine (or chicken broth) and cook for 3 minutes, add garlic and Italian spices, basil, salt and pepper to taste and stir. In a crock pot, pour diced tomatoes and tomato paste in and stir until mixed. Add in meat mixture, olives and milk and stir. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Serve over a thick pasta with crusty bread and a nice green salad. Top with Parmesan cheese.