I chop up a slice or two of smoked bacon and fry in olive oil, then add onion and garlic. Then add carrot (and celery if we've got any!) and fry off. I usually brown the mince in a separate pan, get rid of the extra fat, then add to the big pan but sometimes if I'm rushing I add it to the pan before the carrot. Then I add a tin of chopped tomotoes and some stock, a bay leaf, oregano, black pepper and leave to cook for as long as possible.