Halloween Party Food | Swamp Monster Spaghetti

Directions

1. Set a colander in the sink and line it generously with paper towels.
2. Place the ground beef in a Dutch oven or large saucepan over medium-high heat. Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons of salt and 1 teaspoon of black pepper. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to break the meat apart. Cook, stirring frequently, until the beef is fully browned (roughly 10 minutes). Turn off the heat. Move the browned meat to the prepared colander, pressing to remove excess grease. Wipe the inside and outside of the Dutch oven clean.
3. Return the Dutch oven to the stove. Add both cans of crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, and the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons of black pepper. Stir to blend everything. Turn the heat to medium-low, partially cover with a lid, and let it simmer slowly for about 20 minutes, stirring now and then. Take it off the heat and set aside.
4. Place the Dutch oven back on the stove over medium heat. Pour in the olive oil and let it warm up. Add the diced onion and bell pepper. Sauté for about 5 minutes, then add the minced garlic and cook for another minute.
5. Fill a large pot with water, salt it heavily, and bring it to a boil over high heat. Stir in the black gel food coloring, then add the spaghetti. Cook following the package instructions, then drain thoroughly. Put the spaghetti on a serving platter and ladle the meat sauce over it. Slice the stuffed green olives into thick rounds and arrange them in pairs on top of the sauce. Serve immediately.
6. This recipe yields 8 servings.