Category: Book Reviews

Review of books I have read or listen to!

The 3Jamigos Favorite Pasta Sauce #1

The 3Jamigos Favorite Pasta Sauce #1

What kid doesn’t like pasta?  My kid’s favorite spaghetti sauce is from Patricia Well’s Trattoria cookbook, a collection of well written, easy to follow Italian recipes, nothing too fancy just delicious, homestyle classic meals.  Meat sauces (Ragu’) generally require hours of cooking but this recipe calls for simmering for approximately 20 minutes.  It has lots of flavor and tastes fresh and light.  You start with a onions, carrots and celery which gives the sauce  sweetness which appeals to kids.  Over the years I have tweeked the recipe a little..like adding butter and basil to finish the sauce, yum.

DSC01963_2

So if you are looking for a meat sauce with kid appeal, look no further, this is it!

A little Dino to put you in the pasta mood:

The 3Jamigos Favorite Pasta Sauce #1

Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Keyword pasta, Ragu'
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 1 .5 quarts

Ingredients

  • 1 small yellow onion chopped finely almost minced
  • 1 carrot peeled chopped finely almost minced
  • 1 stalk of celery chopped finely almost minced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/4 cup italian parsley chopped
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 -1 tsp chili flakes omit if using spicy Italian sausage
  • 8- 12 ounces of a mix of ground beef ground pork and ground veal or you can use 50/50 beef and italian sausage, spicy or mild
  • 1/4 cup vermouth or dry white wine
  • olive oil
  • 2 28 ounce cans of tomatoes San Marzano or domestic, Muir Glen

Instructions

  • I use a food processor to finely chop the vegetables. Heat olive oil in saucepan (min 4 quart size), add onion, carrot, celery, parsley & salt; saute 3-4 minutes until fragrant and soft, add garlic cook additional minute. Add ground meats, cook over medium low heat, until meat is no longer pink. Break up any chunks of meat with a spatula while cooking. Add vermouth and continue to cook for 3-4 minutes.
  • Puree tomatoes using food processor or a food mill. Do not over process, bits of tomatoes are fine, texture is good.
  • Add tomatoes to pan along with chili flakes. Simmer 20 minutes, until slightly thickened. If you like a thicker sauce, leave uncovered, if not, partially cover during simmer. Taste for seasoning.
  • Just before serving add 2 T butter and 1/4 cup julienned or chopped fresh basil.

Notes

Variations: Addition of 1/4 cup finely diced pancetta to ground meats, adds smokiness to dish.
Instead of butter, finish off sauce with 1/4 cup heavy cream.

 

 

Chili, Brownies & Friends

Chili, Brownies & Friends

At the risk of losing any credibility I might have earned with previous posts, yes, that is The Friends Cookbook in the photo.  I told you, I have a cookbook addiction, this proves it.  In my defense I did peruse the book before buying, first I noticed the cast of Friends did not write this cookbook, lol (not even Monica), it was actually written by a senior writer for Cooks Illustrated, the bastion of obsessive recipe testing.  Second, it was on sale…so what the heck, I took a chance and bought a copy.

IMG_8423

I kid you not, it has been my go to source for a variety of recipes, pancakes, brownies, coffeecake and yes, chili.  The recipes are fairly simple, delicious and KID FRIENDLY, a prerequisite for the last 20 years of my life.  Here are 2 favorites from the book, Flirting with Firemen Chili and the link to Absolutely Best Brownies,  Kid tested and approved.

Adapted from Cooking with Friends

Firehouse Chili

Kid friendly chili!
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 2 hours
Servings 8 -10 servings

Ingredients

  • 3 T vegetable oil
  • 3 medium yellow onions chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper chopped
  • 3 medium cloves of garlic minced
  • 1.5 pounds ground beef I use a mix of beef and ground turkey or chicken 2:1
  • 2 cups canned crushed tomatoes I use a 15 oz can of fire roasted diced tomatoes
  • 1 15 ounce can of beef broth
  • 3 T chili powder
  • 1.5 t cumin
  • 1/2 t oregano
  • 1 t salt
  • 1 15 ounce can of kidney beans or pinto beans or black beans drained and rinsed

Instructions

  • Heat oil in large pot. Add the onions and saute over med heat until soft and transparent looking about 8 minutes. Add garlic and bell pepper and saute for additional 2-3 minutes. Stir in ground beef and cook until it loses pink color. Cook for about 4-5 minutes, breaking up the beef with a fork or spoon. Add tomatoes, broth, spices and salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for approximately 2 hours until chili thickens a little. Add beans. Ladle into bowls, garnish with shredded cheese and green onions.
  • I add corn (frozen is fine) 1-2 cups because what kid doesn't like corn and to spice it up I will add hot sauce like Cholula which is a little sweeter than Tabasco.