Lol! I season and brown two thin cut, bone in pork chops and let them simmer in the sauce. After about 90 minutes, I pull them out and shred them with a fork. Back into the sauce they go. The meat and the bones add a superb porky note to the sauce. They add up to about 1/4 of the meat in the sauce. The rest is a mix of hot and sweet Italian sausage.
I feed 6 adults daily. Pork in Tomato Sauce is a fav around here too. To 3-28oz cans Whole Tomatoes, hand crushed, 12oz of Tomato Paste, and all the flavorings, wine, garlic, onion, carrot, oregano and fresh basil at the end, I add 5 pounds of browned CSR's! The whole deal simmers 2-3 hours until fork tender. The kids prefer the meat chunky so I remove the meat to a platter to pass with Pasta and Sauce. ALL THE MEAT GOES IN THAT SITTING! We do get another meal of tasty sauce over pasta and usually fry some sausage to go with.
During the holidays, I do similar to you. It's Grandma's Gravy time! In a 20Qt Stock Pot, I double the tomato product then the meat is 2 pound CSR's, 2 pounds Beef Chuck, 2 pounds Italian sausage left in the casing, 2 pounds Chicken Thighs and 2 pounds Meatballs. All the meat gets browned and set aside. First the pork and beef simmers 2 hours. Add chicken and sausage, simmer 1 hour. Add meatballs, 30 more minutes and call them to the table. We get 3 meals and some lunch out of Grandma's Gravy...JJ
If anyone is interested....
Porky Pasta Sauce
4-5Lbs Pork Country Style Ribs or Butt, cut in 2x2 pieces ( This is a Min. up to 8lbs won't hurt, Bones Too! )
2T Olive Oil
2C fine Chopped Onion
1C fine Chopped Carrot
2-3ea lrg Cloves Garlic, minced (1Tbs)
2ea 28oz. Cans Diced Tomatoes (7Lbs Fresh Diced)
12oz Tomato Paste
12oz Red Wine
16oz Water or Stock
tsp Oregano
1tsp Salt
1tsp Black Pepper
1C Fresh Basil Leaves, torn (Big handful.)
1T Sugar if needed.
Lots of Parm Reggiano Cheese for pasta
Heat oil in a large Heavy Bottom 12Qt Stock Pot.
Brown meat on all sides, 6-7 pieces at a time. Set aside.
Saute Veg until Onion is translucent and golden.
Add Tomato Paste and saute until it darkens slightly.
Add wine and reduce 5 minutes to concentrate flavor.
Add Meat and remaining, except Basil and Sugar.
Bring to a Boil, reduce Heat and simmer, uncovered, until meat is nearly falling apart. About 3 Hours.
Stir every Ten Minutes, scraping the bottom of the pot to keep from burning.
When meat is Fork Tender, Add Basil and adjust seasoning. If too acidic add sugar to taste.
Serve Sauce over your Fav pasta and meat on the side. Top with Cheese.