Nathaniel's Favorite Meat Sauce

This is a simple meat sauce, but Nathaniel said I should write it down since it was one of the best he ever tasted. I think it was just good because I cooked it so long while we waited for everyone to be home.

INGREDIENTS

3T olive oil
4 small onions, chopped
1 whole head of garlic, roughly chopped
3/4 t each of dried thyme, oregano, and basil
1/2 t dried red pepper flakes
1 29 oz. can of Trader Joe's Tuscano Marinara Sauce (or other good quality prepared marinara)
1 lb. ground beef (local)
about 1 1/2 cups vegetable stock. I used some I had made and frozen.

DIRECTIONS

1. In a heavy skillet or pot, add olive oil and heat to hot.
2. Add onions and cook to translucent. Turn down to low and caramelize for 5-10 min.
3. Add garlic, herbs, red pepper, and heat through.
4. Add marinara sauce. Bring to boil, then turn down and simmer.
5. In a separate pan, brown the ground beef. When thoroughly browned, add all of it with any fat to the simmering sauce.
6. Add salt and pepper to taste (about 1/4 teaspoon each or so)
7. Simmer on lowest heat for about 40 minutes. Stir occasionally, and add the vegetable stock about a half cup at a time to keep it from getting too dry.