Mama Marie Bolognese

 

Mama Marie Bolognese

Some dishes speak louder than others. “I love simple, flavorful food—and this one was a no-brainer.” A longtime admirer of Italian cuisine wasn’t able to taste test Mama Marie’s Bolognese due to a work emergency but he was moved by the heartfelt story behind it and knew it was a dish that deserved to be shared. Great food is about more than flavor: It’s about bringing people together, whether over a plated dinner or a bowl of something timeless, like bolognese. Copied and altered from Edible San Diego Fall issue 2025.
Ingredients:

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 large white onion, chopped
1 package fresh basil, chopped
2 pounds lean ground meat, tri-tip, or 6 Italian sausages
3 28-ounce cans tomato sauce (ready-cut with basil)
1 12-ounce can tomato paste
1 28-ounce can tomato purée
1⁄2 bunch parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
Salt and pepper to taste
Italian seasoning to taste
4 bay leaves
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1⁄2 cup red wine
2 carrots, thinly sliced
1 lemon, juiced
1 teaspoon ground anise
Directions:
Make The Bolognese

Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat and infuse with garlic, onion, and basil for 2 minutes.
Add the meat of your choice and sear for an additional 2–3 minutes, allowing the meat to brown slightly.

Add all the tomato ingredients, parsley, oregano, rosemary, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and bay leaves. Stir well to blend the flavors.
Use the empty tomato paste can to measure 1 can of water, and the large tomato sauce can for an additional can of water. Add both to the sauce and mix thoroughly.

Let the sauce simmer on low heat for about 3 hours, stirring every 15–20 minutes to prevent sticking.

After 30 minutes of cooking, stir in red pepper flakes and red wine for depth of flavor.

One hour before serving, add thinly sliced carrots, fresh lemon juice, and ground anise. This will allow the carrots to melt into the sauce and enhance its sweetness. 

Serve with your favorite cooked pasta.  Serves 10 to 12.

Cabbage Roll Casserole With Dilled Sour Cream

                        Cabbage Roll Casserole With Dilled Sour Cream

Cabbage Roll Casserole with Dilled Sour CreamThis comforting dish delivers all the beloved flavors of traditional cabbage rolls with a fraction of the effort. Layers of seasoned ground beef, tender cabbage and rice bake in a rich tomato sauce crowned with melted cheese until golden and bubbly. A vibrant dilly sour cream adds a fresh, creamy finish to this crowd-pleasing casserole.

Ingredients:

2 tbsp (30 mL) olive oil, divided, plus more for greasing pan and foil

1 large onion, finely chopped
1 lb (455 g) lean ground beef
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
2 tsp (10 mL) paprika
3/4 tsp (4 mL) dried thyme
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (398 mL) diced tomatoes
1 can or jar (about 680 mL) tomato sauce
1 bay leaf
10 cups (2.5 L) thinly sliced cabbage
3 cups (750 mL) cooked long-grain rice, from 1 cup (250 mL) uncooked rice
1 1/2 cups (375 mL) shredded mozzarella cheese
1 1/2 cups (375 mL) shredded old white cheddar cheese
1 cup (250 mL) full-fat sour cream
2 tbsp (30 mL) finely chopped fresh dill, plus more to garnish (optional)
Directions:
Heat 1 tbsp (15 mL) oil in a large, deep skillet or sauté pan over medium heat. When hot, add onions. Cook, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes. Add ground beef and break it into small pieces with a wooden spoon, stirring to combine with onions. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until beef is browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes.

Add paprika, thyme and garlic. Cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Carefully add diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, bay leaf, and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer, covered, for 30 minutes, stirring once or twice.

Meanwhile, heat remaining 1 tbsp (15 mL) oil in large pot over
medium heat. When hot, add cabbage. Cook, stirring often, until just wilted, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.  When meat mixture is done, stir in rice.  Taste and adjust seasoning.

Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Lightly oil a 9 × 13-inch (23 × 33-cm) casserole dish.

Spread half of cabbage over bottom of casserole followed by half meat mixture. Repeat with remaining cabbage and meat. Mix mozzarella and cheddar together in a bowl, then sprinkle over casserole.

Lightly oil a piece of foil then cover casserole, oil side down. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake, uncovered, until cheese is melted and starting to brown, 15 to 20 minutes more.                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Meanwhile, mix sour cream, dill and a pinch of salt in a small bowl until combined.

Remove casserole from oven and rest for 10 minutes. Cut into serving sizes and serve a dollop of sour cream on side. Sprinkle with chopped dill, if desired.  Serves 6 to 8

Cincinnati Skyline Chili

 Cincinnati Skyline Chili

In the city of Cincinnati, Ohio this dish is almost a religion! There are chain restaurants named for the dish. It is not unusual to find the dish on the menu at many other restaurants. You can buy the sauce in cans and sources will ship it. I found this recipe on a blog. Notice the cheese is cheddar cheese but any cheese will do that blends with the chili.  Make half of this recipe if you don't need to serve 12.  This recipe is a one pot prep.
Ingredients with Directions:

2# ground beef (85-15)

5 cups boiling water

Place meat in boiling water and with I long handled spoon, break meat into small pieces and cook.  Cook 20 minutes and when the protein surfaces skim the surface to remove this "film".  

Add each ingredient individually to layer the flavors,

2 cups onion, chopped fine

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 large bay leaf

3 large garlic cloves, crushed

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

1 oz. unsweetened chocolate powder

Salt to taste

3/4 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

Simmer on low for 1 hr., stirring occasionally to prevent scorching.

While the pot simmers on low, make the tomato "paste".

8 ounces tomato sauce

3 teaspoons tomato paste, stir 2 minutes

Add 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon and simmer 15 to 20 minutes.  Prepare your paste while it simmers.

Toppings:

Plenty of Cheddar Cheese. (That is required)

Optional:

Raw diced onion,  Kidney beans,  Hot Sauce

Directions:

Bring a pot of water to a boil.  Place ground beef in water and break into small bits.  Protein will surface looking like a scum.  Skim it from surface.  Continue for 20 minutes until meat is cooked. 

Layer the flavors adding each ingredient and herb stirring to blend after addition according to directions.  Simmer 1 hour on low stirring occasionally to prevent scorching. Add tomato paste and stir for 10 minutes.   Add cinnamon and simmer 15 to 20 minutes 

To make paste: In another skillet with a stick-free surface and while the mixture is simmering, place the tomato sauce and paste.  Stirring constantly for 2 minutes over a medium to medium low heat to concentrate the mixture.  When your spoon creates a division in the mixture that remains instead of returning to the pool of sauce, place in the mixture of meat and spices..

Serve over cooked spaghetti and top with plenty of cheddar cheese.

Oats With Tomato Sauce

Oats With Tomato Sauce

Oats with tomato sauce is a typical recipe of cuisine from Salento Italy and nearby Basilicata Italy. It is simply delicious and nutritious

A traditional peasant dish, we are not accustomed to considering oats as everyday dishes. Once upon a time, however, this was not the case – and oats with tomato sauce became a typical dish of the Salento culinary tradition, widely demonstrating this fact. Oats with tomato sauce is actually one of the recipes from history and tradition that historically used whatever ingredients were available to people at the time.

Oats with Tomato Sauce – called ‘cranu stumpatu cu lu sucu’ in Salento dialect – is a traditional recipe from Puglia, but it also comes from the neighboring Basilicata and uses one of the few foods accessible to poor farmers: oats accompanied by a simple tomato sauce seasoned with basil and grated pecorino cheese.

The Recipe: Oats with Tomato Sauce
Ingredients:

2 cups whole oats, 

4 cups tomato sauce, 

2 white onions, 

½ cup of grated pecorino cheese, 

Basil, 

Extra-virgin olive oil, 

Salt, 

Red pepper flakes

Directions:
First soak the whole oats in cold water for about 12 hours – this essential step allows the oats to absorb water and softens them for cooking. The next day, the oats will be ready. Cook them for about an hour in a pot with salted water over medium heat, stirring frequently. While the oats cook, make a quick sauce with tomato sauce and basil. Add some lightly fried onion. The trick to preparing oats with the tastiest sauce is to making another onion sauté where you stir-fry the cooked oats for about 10 minutes before seasoning it with the sauce, making it completely absorb the water. After transferring the oats to a dish, pour the sauce over them and sprinkle with pecorino cheese before serving.

Stuffed shells with Ricotta and Spinach.

Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells

 A bit of preparation makes assembling these stuffed pasta shells with ricotta and spinach much easier. 

Let’s get started!  The Tomato Sauce: For this pasta dish, you’ll need about 3 to 3½ cups of tomato or marinara sauce. I usually use half of my quick tomato sauce recipe. If you prefer, feel free to use your favorite store-bought brand.  

 Mise En Place                                                                                   Doing a little bit of prep work facilitates the assembling of these Italian shells. Let’s begin!                                                                         

The Tomato Sauce: For this recipe, you need a tomato or Marinara Sauce. You will need approximately 3-3½ cups. I used half of the amount of my Quick Tomato Sauce recipe. If it is more convenient for you, use your favorite commercial brand. 

Cook the Pasta: Bring a very large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add 2 tablespoons of salt. Add about 24 -26 shells, a few at a time to prevent them from sticking together.

Cook according to the package instructions minus a few minutes since it continues to bake in the oven.

Prepare a clean tea towel on the countertop.

Cook the Pasta: 

Bring a very large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add 2 tablespoons of salt. Add about 24 -26 shells, a few at a time to prevent them from sticking together.

Cook according to the package instructions minus a few minutes since it continues to bake in the oven.

Prepare a clean tea towel on the countertop.

When ready, remove the giant shells from the pot of boiling water.

Drain and place upside down on a clean tea towel to remove the excess water. Set   aside

The Meat Mixture: 

While waiting for the pasta to cook, sauté the chopped onion in 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat until beginning to soften (3-4 minutes).

Add 2-3 cloves of chopped garlic, a few pinches of red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper to taste, and sauté for an additional 2-3 minutes
stirring frequently.

Add the lean minced meat. Saute and break up the meat with a wooden spoon. Cook until cooked through about 5-7 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings.

Turn the heat to medium-high. De-glaze pan with 2 tablespoons of white wine.

Drain the fat and set aside the meat to cool down.                

                               The Cheese Mixture

In a large bowl combine 2 cups fresh ricotta, 2 eggs, ½ cup Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese or Pecorino Romano Cheese, 1½ cups freshly grated mozzarella and 2 tablespoons freshly chopped Italian flat-leaf parsley.  1 12oz bag spinach excess moisture removed.

The cheese filling is done.  It’s now time to combine all the ingredients 
together.

How To Assemble

Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Place the oven grate in the center.

Using two spoons or a pastry bag with the bottom cut off, fill each of the 24-26 cavities with about 2-3 tablespoons of the meat and cheese filling. As you can see, they are completely filled up.

Place about ½-1 cup of tomato sauce at the base of a 13 x 9″ baking dish. Tilt the dish so that the sauce coats the bottom evenly.

Place the cheese and meat-filled pasta shells facing up in the prepared dish.

Top with the remaining tomato sauce, reserving at least 1 cup. 

Place a piece of parchment paper over the top. Then, cover tightly with a piece of aluminum foil.

Bake for 20-30 minutes until cooked through and bubbling.

Uncover both the aluminum wrap and the parchment paper and bake for another 3-5 minutes.

Remove the baked dish from the oven.

Garnish with reserved tomato sauce (heated), chopped fresh Italian parsley and extra grated cheese.

Serve immediately and enjoy!  Serves 6 to 8.

Pizza Beans

Pizza Beans

The clever idea to give beans the pizza treatment comes from Deb Perelman and her beloved food blog Smitten Kitchen. The gooey, cheesy, saucy beans are scooped up with garlic-rubbed toasts, and, made with jarred sauce and canned beans, this hearty vegetarian appetizer comes together in no time.  Serves 6 to 8 as an appetizer
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups (375 mL) tomato sauce, preferably Rao’s or Carbone
1/2 cup (125 mL) unsalted vegetable stock
2 cans (each 540 mL) white kidney beans, drained, rinsed
1/3 cup (80 mL) chopped basil
Freshly ground pepper to taste
1/4 cup (60 mL) finely grated Parmigiano‑Reggiano
6 oz (170 g) mozzarella, coarsely grated, about 2 cups (500 mL)
16 baguette slices, cut just under 3/4 inch (2 cm) thick on a bias
2 cloves garlic, peeled, halved
Extra virgin olive oil for drizzling
Flaky sea salt to taste
Basil leaves to garnish
Directions:
Preheat oven to 425°F (218°C). Arrange racks in middle and upper third of oven. Line a heavy-duty baking sheet with foil.

Place sauce, stock and beans in a 10-inch (25-cm) cast-iron skillet over high heat. When it starts to boil, reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until they resemble saucy baked beans, about 10 minutes. Stir in basil and season with pepper.

Remove from heat and sprinkle with Parmesan then mozzarella. Bake on middle rack until bubbling and cheese has browned in a few spots, 10 to 12 minutes.

While beans are baking, arrange baguette slices on prepared baking sheet.

When beans come out, switch oven setting to broiler on high. Broil baguette slices in upper third of oven until nicely browned, about 45 seconds per side. Remove from oven. Rub tops with cut sides of garlic and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt. Transfer to a bowl or plate and serve immediately with the beans still in their skillet. (To prevent burns, cover skillet handle with a clean, folded kitchen towel.) Scatter basil leaves overtop beans for garnish.

Skillet Chili Cornbread Pot Pie

Skillet Chili Cornbread Pot Pie

You know those times when you have the energy to cook something, but the thought of making multiple dishes to make up a whole meal is completely beyond you?  Everything is packed into this one recipe, that way, once it’s cooking away we can wipe our hands of it and go get comfortable before putting dinner on the table.

Ingredients:

Chili:

1 1/2 pounds ground beef

2 (8 oz.) cans tomato sauce

1 (10 oz.) can diced tomatoes with green chiles

1 (14 oz.) can kidney or pinto beans, rinsed and drained

1 (14 oz.) can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 yellow onion, finely chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons chili powder

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon oregano

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

S&P to taste

Topping 

2 (8 oz.) pkgs. cornbread mix

2 eggs

2/3 cup milk

1 (8oz.) can creamed corn

1 cup grated cheddar cheese, optional

Directions

Preheat oven to 400º F.

Heat olive oil in a large, ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat and sauté onion until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes.

Stir in garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes, or until fragrant.

Add beef to onion and garlic mixture and cook until browned, 8-10 minutes, then season with chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper, and stir to combine.

Add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and all beans and stir until mixed.
Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15-20 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning, if needed.

While chili simmers, prepare cornbread by whisking together cornbread mix, eggs and milk in a large bowl. Once combined, fold in creamed corn and cheddar cheese, if using.

Pour cornbread into skillet, on top of chili, and spread into an even layer.

Place skillet in oven and bake cornbread is cooked through and chili mixture is bubbling, 20-25 minutes. Serve hot. Enjoy!

Navajo Tacos

Navajo Tacos

There’s always room for more when it comes to tacos. Mix to infuse taco meat with an authentic blend of peppers and signature spices before serving in warm tortillas. Top with favorite taco garnishes and hot sauce. 

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp olive oil
3/4 cup yellow onion, diced
2 cloves garlic finely minced
1 lb lean ground beef
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp paprika
1 (15 oz) can dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 (14.5 oz) can petite diced tomatoes, drained (or sometimes I used an      8 oz can of tomato sauce instead)
1 (4 oz) can diced green chilis
Salt and pepper, to taste

For serving
Romaine or Iceberg lettuce, chopped
Shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
Roma tomatoes, diced
Sour cream
Sliced black olives and chopped cilantro (optional)
Navajo Fry Bread

2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp rapid rise or active dry yeast
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup warm milk (110 degrees)
1 Tbsp butter or shortening, melted
Vegetable oil, for frying
Directions:
Navajo Taco Filling
Heat olive oil in a 12-inch non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and saute 2 minutes, add garlic and saute 20 seconds. Scoot mixture to the side then crumble beef into skillet.

Season with salt and pepper and cook stirring occasionally and breaking up beef when stirring, until beef has browned and cooked through. Drain fat from beef and return to skillet.

Stir in chili powder, cumin, paprika, kidney beans, canned diced tomatoes and green chilis then season mixture with salt and pepper to taste.

Cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes (if you used the tomato sauce you can add in a few tbsp of water to thin a little if needed).

Using a slotted spoon, spoon mixture over fry bread, then top with lettuce, cheese, tomatoes and sour cream (and any of the other optional toppings listed). Serve immediately.

Navajo Fry Bread
In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, yeast and salt. Whisk melted butter into warm milk and pour milk mixture into dry ingredients.

Stir until mixture comes together and slightly forms a ball, dough should be fairly sticky (if needed you can add in a little more flour or a little more water to reach a good consistency but try not to overwork the dough).

Cover dough with plastic wrap and allow to rest 5 – 10 minutes.
Heat 1 inch of oil in a large cast iron skillet to 350 – 360 degrees over stove top.

Divide rested dough into 8 equal pieces.

Working with floured hands and one piece of dough at a time (keep other pieces covered with plastic wrap), pat dough out on a lightly floured surface into a 6-inch circle and gently drop into hot oil, and cook until golden brown, then flip and cook opposite side until golden brown.

Remove from oil and drain onto a plate or baking sheet lined with paper towels.   Enjoy !!

Cassoulet

Cassoulet

This casserole always emphasizes pork in the form of sausage, ham, pancetta or bacon and also variously includes duck, goose, chicken, lamb or mutton. The crust of bread crumbs on top adds crispy texture and flavour.
Ingredients
1 lb (500 g) Great Northern white beans
8 Confit Chicken Thighs (recipe follows)
1 lb (500 g) fresh pork shoulder or thick loin chops
1 lb (500 g) fresh or cured garlic sausage
2 tbsp (30 mL) olive oil, preferably oil from confit chicken
1½ cups (375 mL) small-diced yellow cooking onions, about 2 medium
1½ cups (375 mL) small-diced celery, about 2 large stalks
1½ cups (375 mL) small-diced carrots, about 2 medium
1 tbsp (15 mL) minced garlic, about 2 to 3 large cloves
1 cup (250 mL) dry white wine
3½ cups (875 mL) combination of confit chicken juices and chicken broth
½ cup (125 mL) tomato sauce or 2 tbsp (30 mL) tomato paste
1 tbsp (15 mL) finely chopped fresh thyme or 1½ tsp (7 mL) dried
1 large bay leaf
Bread Crumbs
4 cups (1 L) coarse fresh crumbs (see TIP this page)
¼ to ⅓ cup (60 to 80 mL) melted butter

Directions:
Place beans in a large bowl; generously cover with water. Let soak overnight; drain and discard soaking water just before using.

Remove and discard skin, bones and clinging chicken fat from confit thighs; keep meat in large chunks.

Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C).

Cut pork into 1-inch (2.5-cm) cubes. Cut sausage into 1-inch (2.5-cm) lengths.

In a large Dutch oven that can go into the oven, heat oil until hot, over medium heat. Add pork cubes all at once; sauté 8 to 10 minutes or until nicely browned. Remove; set aside.

To fat already in pan, add sausage all at once; sauté 8 to 10 minutes or until nicely browned. Remove; set aside.

To fat already in pan, add onion, celery and carrots all at once; sauté 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly cooked. Stir in garlic; cook 1 minute or until fragrant. Add wine; increase heat to medium-high and briskly boil until wine is reduced by half.

Add broth and tomato sauce to pot. Stir in drained beans plus pork, sausage and thyme. Gently fold in confit chicken pieces; tuck in bay leaf. Heat until mixture is just beginning to bubble; do not boil.

Cover and place in oven for 1½ hours. Stir bread crumbs with melted butter. Uncover and scatter buttered bread crumbs overtop. Bake another ½ hour.

Serve in pasta bowls or shallow soup dishes. Accompany with fresh baguette slices for sopping up delicious sauce and a tossed salad lightly dressed with vinaigrette.

Covered, cassoulet keeps well when promptly refrigerated, for 3 or 4 days, however loses some quality when frozen. A splash of hot broth in the serving bowl bottom restores slightly soupy texture to reheated cassoulet.

TIP Coarse fresh bread crumbs: Cut a day-old baguette or ciabatta into chunks, leaving crust attached. Whirl in batches, pulsing in food processor until broken up and large crumbs have formed. Any extra crumbs can be frozen for use in another recipe.
Makes 10 to 12 servings

Confit Chicken Thighs

Long slow cooking produces very tender and flavourful results. Here, chicken thighs bake covered in fat for hours at a very low temperature. The result is incredibly moist and savoury chicken that can be chunked and tucked into a cassoulet or made into pulled shreds to stir into a risotto or pasta.
Ingredients:
8 chicken thighs, skin-on and bone-in only
1 tsp (5 mL) fine sea salt
1 tbsp (15 mL) minced garlic, about 2 to 3 large cloves
1 tbsp (15 mL) finely chopped fresh thyme leaves
½ tsp (2 mL) freshly ground black pepper
2 cups (500 mL) olive oil

Directions:
Place thighs, skin-side down, snugly in a single layer in an 8 x 8-inch (20 x 20-cm) or 7 x 11-inch (18 x 28-cm) glass baking dish. Tuck excess skin to thigh sides, exposing flesh.

Mix salt with garlic, thyme and black pepper. Distribute evenly over chicken; rub in slightly. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate overnight.

Preheat oven to 200°F (100°C).

Discard plastic wrap. Leaving chicken in dish, pour oil over thighs so they are submerged. Cover dish tightly with foil.

Bake in centre of oven for 10 to 12 hours. Gently using tongs, remove chicken to another dish; cover and chill. Cool cooking liquid slightly; strain. Separate fat and juice; refrigerate juice to use in cassoulet.

Refrigerate fat separately; it keeps well for a week or 2 in the refrigerator, or portion into small containers and freeze. Use this savoury oil in other recipes (including Cassoulet) from sautéed meat and potatoes to stir-fries and soups.

To use chicken, scrape off skin and visible fat; discard. Gently remove thigh meat from bones, keeping it in large chunks. Confit chicken has a rosy colour, but is fully cooked. Cover and refrigerate to use in cassoulet. Use within 3 days or freeze.   Makes 8 thighs

Meat Sauce Traditional Genoa Style

Meat Sauce ~ Traditional Genoa Style

A single piece of meat cooked for hours in tomatoes to obtain a tasty meat sauce for pasta and super springy main courses. Tocco Genoese, called 'u tuccu in Ligurian dialect, is a typical Ligurian meat sauce  that takes its name from the fact that when cooked flavors the tomato and can be enjoyed as a second course. This traditional Genoese meat sauce needs a fairly long preparation but the recipe to prepare it is really quite simple. Usually a fairly lean cut of meat, beef or veal is used. What’s the best way to enjoy this tasty meat sauce? Tradition denotes ravioli, filled with meat or borage, depending on taste.

Meat Sauce Genoa-Style: 

 Ingredients:
250 g of beef leg or rump steak (scamone),
300 g of tomato sauce,
20 g of dried mushrooms,
1 onion,
1 carrot,
1 clove of garlic,
1 stalk of celery,
rosemary,
bay leaves,
salt,
extra virgin olive oil,
1/2 glass of red wine.

Directions:

The first thing to do for the Tocco Genoese meat sauce recipe is to sauté the onion, carrot, chopped celery, oil and garlic on which the whole piece of meat needs to be browned, then add the red wine to soften. When all the liquids have evaporated it’s time to add the tomato sauce and, after soaking them in a little warm water, the mushrooms. Then add salt and continue cooking over a low heat adding water or broth if needed, bay leaves and a little pepper. The cooking time should last for a long time, at least three hours, until the meat is very tender.

Mama Picroni's Tomato Sauce

MAMA PICRONI’S TOMATO SAUCE

Yield: 4 quarts (43 servings)
2 1/2 to 3 pounds chuck roast or other boneless beef roast
1 cup onions, chopped
3 garlic cloves, peeled and left whole
3 to 4 (28-ounce) cans whole plum (Roma) tomatoes — a 6-pound can is ideal
16 oz. tomato sauce
1 large bay leaf
1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons dried basil
1 to 1 1/2 pounds boneless pork
18 ounces tomato paste

Note: This makes about a gallon of sauce. Consequently, it requires a very large pot; 12 quarts is best. Leftover sauce freezes very well. If doubling recipe, use 3 1/2 to 41/2 pounds of beef and 11/2 pounds of pork.

1. Cut fat off beef and render it in pot over medium-high heat until a thin layer of melted fat covers bottom. Discard fat. Brown beef on all sides, about 5 minutes per side. Remove roast to a plate. Add onions and garlic to pot, and sauté over medium or medium-low heat until onions are translucent, about 5 to 7 minutes.

2. Cut each tomato into 3 or 4 pieces and add to pot, along with juice from can. Stir in tomato sauce, bay leaf, parsley and basil. Return beef to pot, add pork, and simmer for about 21/2 hours.

3. Stir in tomato paste and simmer 20 to 30 more minutes, until beef is tender. Add salt and pepper to taste, if necessary. Remove garlic cloves, if you can find them, and bay leaf before serving. If desired, shred or chop some of the meat and add to the sauce. Or serve meat separately, with a little of the sauce.

Per serving: 177 calories; 5 g fat; 2 g saturated fat; 29 mg cholesterol; 12 g protein; 23 g carbohydrate; 15 g sugar; 5 g fiber; 310 mg sodium; 66 mg calcium

Lebanese Baked Eggplant

Lebanese Baked Eggplant

a recipe from www.maureenabood.com

Ingredients:
2 medium-sized globe eggplant
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
1⁄2 cup pine nuts
1 pound ground beef or lamb
1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1⁄4 teaspoon pepper
1 28 oz. can tomato sauce
1 cup shredded fresh mozzarella cheese (optional)
Directions:
Cut eggplant in half crosswise, then cut lengthwise in 1⁄2 inch slices. Brush both sides of eggplant slices lightly with olive oil. Arrange on a baking sheet and broil eggplant in batches until deep mahogany brown, turning once to brown both sides.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a small frying pan, melt 1 tablespoon of butter. Add the pine nuts and cook until golden brown, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and set aside.

In a medium sauté pan, melt butter over medium low heat. Add chopped onion and cook over medium heat until translucent, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about a minute. Add the ground beef, breaking up the meat with a spoon. Season with salt, cinnamon, and pepper. Cook until meat is medium-well done, continuing to break up the meat into small pieces with a spoon.

Butter or spray a 9x13x2-inch baking or similar sized gratin dish with oil. Spread about 1⁄2 cup of tomato sauce in bottom of dish. Place eggplant slices over the sauce, covering as much surface area of the bottom of the dish as possible. Spoon 1⁄2 of the meat evenly over the eggplant and pour half of the remaining tomato sauce over the meat. Sprinkle with half of the pine nuts. Repeat, layering eggplant, meat, pine nuts, and tomato sauce. Finish with a layer of eggplant and cover with more tomato sauce. 

Note that this can be done in two layers of eggplant if you prefer (or if you don't have enough eggplant for three layers of it) by making a layer of eggplant and nuts, then meat, then eggplant and nuts on top.
Pour enough water along the sides of the dish to fill the gratin almost to the top (about 1/2-inch from the top). This is an important step or your sauce will be too thick.

Cover tightly with foil and bake for 1 1⁄2 hours. Remove foil and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese, if using. Bake for about 1⁄2 hour longer, uncovered, until cheese is bubbling and golden.

Remove from oven and serve immediately with rice, Lebanese pita bread, and a crisp Romaine salad. 

Cabbage Roll Casserole

Cabbage Roll Casserole 

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
2 pounds ground beef
1 can (29 ounces) tomato sauce
1 head green cabbage, shredded
1 cup uncooked rice
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups beef broth
1 teaspoon coarse ground pepper, divided

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When hot, add onion and saute for about 3 minutes, until soft. Add the garlic, Italian seasoning and beef, breaking up the beef as you do. 

Fry the beef until it's brown, about 8 minutes, stirring regularly. Drain if needed. 

In a large mixing bowl, combine the tomato sauce, rice, salt and half of the coarse ground pepper. Mix well to combine; this is your casserole mixture. 

In a casserole dish, layer one-third of the cabbage, then one-third of the ground beef, and finally one-third of the casserole mixture. Repeat layers two more times. 

Pour beef broth over the entire casserole. Cover with aluminum foil.
Place the casserole dish in the preheated oven and bake for 1 hour, 15 minutes. 

After removing from oven, sprinkle entire casserole with remaining 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground pepper.

Poached Fish In Tomato Basil Sauce.

Poached Fish In

Tomato Basil Sauce

When I was a kid, my mom used to make something similar to this Easy Poached Fish recipe all the time. I can’t say that I was all that fond of it (kids and fish, you know) but still, I remember replicating it on quite a few occasions later in my adult life.

When she made her fish dish, though, my mom would invariably use High Liner fish fillets, the kind that come in a big block and that you basically have no choice but to throw directly into a pan full of simmering liquid. I don’t think I’ve ever seen those prepared any other way (can you even thaw them?) My mom, she would use a can of diced tomatoes for her source of liquid, and then she would add a handful of instant rice to it as the fish was simmering.

I more or less took my memories of her recipe and kicked it up a notch… The one thing that I appreciate the most about this fish dish, apart from the fact that it’s absolutely delicious, is that it’s incredibly easy to make and that it uses fish in its frozen form. No need to thaw it first!

It makes it a perfect option for those nights when you forgot to take meat out of the freezer…

Now, while I have nothing against the big blocks of fish fillets, I strongly suggest that you use individually frozen fillets instead, something like this right here. 

You can go with basically any kind of white fish that you like, but thick, firm fillets will definitely yield the best results. Something like cod, halibut, catfish or my personal favorite, if you can get your hands on it: mahi-mahi!

Unfortunately, I had no such luck this time: there was no mahi mahi in the counter when I went grocery shopping, so I had to settle for cod.

And while canned diced tomatoes are one of the most versatile ingredient in the world and can be a true life saver sometimes, nothing quite beats the flavor and texture of fresh cherry tomatoes in a delicate dish such as this one.

You won’t need that much either: 2 cups will amply suffice. And you don’t have to use the multicolored ones if you can’t get your hands on them, although they will make your dish look particularly pretty. But really, any kind of grape or cherry tomatoes will do.

Simply slice them in half and place them in a saute pan set over medium heat; throw in the sliced garlic, salt and pepper and cook for about 5 minutes, or until the tomatoes start to turn soft and start to blister.

At that point, add the chicken stock and dry white wine if using… feel free to sub an extra 1/4 cup of chicken stock if you want to keep your dish squeaky clean or completely booze free.

The wine does, however, confer a very agreeable depth to the flavor of the dish.

And hum, not that I mean to brag or anything, but did you happen to notice my beautifully gelified chicken stock? YUM! That stuff is so good, I could almost eat it by the spoonful; it’s like chicken Jell’o!

But I digress… back to our poached fish.

Throw in your frozen fish fillets and sprinkle them with a handful of chopped basil.

Note that you could also use fresh fish fillets, if you wanted to, or if that’s all you had on hand. Don’t go freezing your fresh fish just so you can make this recipe. Simply take into account the fact that fresh fish will cook much quicker than frozen, so you might want to let the sauce simmer for about 15 minutes before to throw that fish in… 5 to 10 minutes total cooking time for the fresh fish will be more than enough! 

Finally, put the lid on and walk away. Your dish now needs to simmer for 20 to 25 minutes, until the fish is fully cooked. You’ll know that the fish is cooked when you poke it with a fork or sharp knife and it easily pierces through the flesh.

Oh, and now would be a good time to cook some rice, quinoa or couscous, if you wanted to serve some of that with your fish. Or make a light salad, steam some broccoli, asparagus or green beans, or even whip up a batch of cauli-rice, why not? The one I made to go with this Mongolian Beef was pretty darn good and would go really well with this Poached Fish recipe. Just maybe hold the sesame oil, if you’re gonna go with that option…

As soon as the fish is cooked all the way, you dish is ready to be served.

Just sprinkle it with an additional handful of chopped basil and call the fam: dinner is ready!

Serve your fish with the side dish of your choice. Whatever you do, though, make sure to top it with a few generous spoonfuls of the tomato basil sauce.