Sausage Broccoli Pasta

This recipe is one of my favorites to make. Not only is it VERY tasty, but it's relatively quick, and only needs one skillet and one pot which results in minimal clean-up. And lastly, my daughter likes it -- so, it's at the top of my list.

The sausage adds some spice and makes it filling, while the broccoli and roasted red peppers give it a healthier feel. In addition, the Pecorino Romano gives it a salty and cheesy kick that makes you want to stuff your face. :)

I first ran across it in the America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook. And after the first bite, it became a favorite of ours. If you want to turn it into a more relaxed weekend meal, I highly recommend that you serve it with a bottle of Pino Noir, and some warm bread to dip in olive oil.

Click "Read More" for the ingredients and directions..

Recipe of the Week: Meat Ragu

Ragu and ziti pasta cooking
on stove-top.

I've been on an Italian kick lately.  Last weekend we made Bolognese. The week before we visited an Italian restaurant.  And before that, we visited ANOTHER Italian restaurant. Needless to say, my wife wasn't surprised when I decided to try making a new meat sauce.

The below meat ragu recipe is based on the recipe in the America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook. I honestly can't say enough good things about this book. When I was learning to cook, a friend recommended it.  And it is now the most used, destroyed and beloved cookbook in our kitchen.

This is an awesome cookbook is made by the same people who made the America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook, mentioned above:


This meat ragu came out very hearty with a strong beef flavor. In some ways, it almost tastes like my favorite beef stew.  However, the Pecorino Romano cheese and the Ziti noodles all but made me forget the resemblance. If I were to modify this recipe, I'd try to give it a more Italian flavor by adding oregano, a couple cloves of garlic and more tomatoes.

Click Read More for the ingredients and directions.

Recipe Friday: Tomato, Basil, and Garlic Pasta

Summer has finally arrived, and the heat is setting in. So, here is a SUPER EASY, light, and refreshing sauce for your pasta. Actually, I use the term sauce loosely. It's more like delicious chunks of stuff with which to top your pasta. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
6-8 tomatoes, cut into sixths
1 clove garlic, minced
6-8 leaves of basil
1/4 cup of olive oil (approx)
Salt and Pepper (needed for every recipe)
1 lb of chilled but cooked pasta (Use noodles like rotelle, farfalle, etc. Do not use spaghetti or fettuccini.)
shredded or shaved parmesan

Directions:
1) Mix the tomatoes, garlic, basil, and most of the oil in a large bowl.
2) Add salt and pepper to taste
3) Toss with the pasta, if needed add some extra olive oil to thin the sauce.
4) Top with parmesan to taste
5) Enjoy!

Recipe Friday: Pasta Bolognese

On a coldish and rainy day like today, I can think of nothing better than a heaping bowl of pasta with a delicious homemade sauce topped with lots of parmesean. Below is a recipe for a bolognese sauce. Once all the ingredients are added, you should let it simmer for about 1.5 hours. However, if your spouse or guests are late, you can cook it longer.

This is one of my favorite recipes. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon butter
1 small onion (minced)
1 clove garlic (minced)
2 large carrots (minced)
4 ribs of celery (minced)
1 pound of beef
1.5 cups whole milk
1.25 cups dry white wine
1 (28oz) can diced tomatoes
3 tablespoons heavy cream
1 container of good parmesean cheese

Directions:
1) Melt butter in large pot or skillet over medium-high heat
2) Add onion, garlic, carrot, celery, and salt to taste
3) Cook until vegetables are softened. (About 5 mins)
4) Add beef, and break up-meat. Stirring occasionally until done
5) Add milk, and simmer until milk evaporates (about 15 mins)
6) Add wine, and simmer until wine evaporates (about 15 mins)
7) Stir in entire can of tomatoes (including juice)
8) Reduce heat to low, and simmer for about 1.5 hours - 2 hours
9) Before serving add cream, and stir in
10) Serve over pasta, and top with lots of parmesean cheese.
11) Enjoy!