Meat Sauce with Hidden Vegetables

Ingredients

• 2 carrots, chopped
• 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 large stalk celery, chopped
• Two 25 oz jars marinara sauce
• 3 cloves garlic
• Pinch of sugar, if desired
• 3 heaping handfuls fresh baby spinach
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 small red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1 small yellow onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• One 28 oz can crushed tomatoes