Soak the mushrooms into very warm water for 20 min. remove the mushrooms from the water and filter the water. Add bouillon cube to the water and bring to a simmer. This is your stock.
In a wide non-stick saucepan saute the onion in the olive oil, add the rice, stir for 1 minute; add 1 generous ladle of stock, the mushrooms and the rucola. Continue stirring gently and adding stock as needed for 15-16 minutes.
After that, fold in gently the parmigiano, cover the pot and let it sit for at least 5 monutes, better if 10 mintues but it all depends on how hungry you are.
Ragù alla Bolognese, not to be confused with Ragú ™, and commonly called Bolognese in the US, is the queen of Italian cuisine. Originally from the Bologna region, it is a staple in Italy’s home cooking and restaurants alike.
Most everyone has their own recipe and variation, but historically back in 17 October 1982 the original recipe was registered at Bologna’s Chamber of Commerce by the Italian Academy of Cuisine, and that is indeed the absolute best recipe there is for flavor, texture and . . . labor of love. Highly recommended as an exercise in culinary achievements and a walk down memory lane of fabulous meals experienced on an Italian vacation.
This is the original recipe – as registered in 1982 – translated into English:
Ingredients (serves 6):
1 lb ground beef 8 oz pancetta, diced 75 grams of carrots, minced 75 grams of red onion, minced 75 grams of celery, minced 1 lbs of tomatoes, crushed 100 ml of dry white wine 200 ml of whole milk 3 tbl extra virgin olive oil 4-5 cups of quality (home-made) beef stock, nothing from a can or cardboard, please.
Preparation:
Have the beef stock simmering in a pot.
In a large non-stick skillet, saute the pancetta for 2-3 minutes until the fat is starting to become translucent (do not overcook it).
Add the olive oil, wait a few second until it’s hot, and then add the mixture of onion, celery and carrots, med-low heat, for 5-6 minutes (do not overcook it).
Add the ground beef, and sear it stirring continuously until it’s thoroughly cooked and browned.
Add the wine, continue stirring, until the wine has evaporated completely.
Add the crushed tomatoes and simmer (on low) stirring frequently – and adding the beef stock as needed 1-2 tablespoons at the time – for 1.5 hours.
Add the milk, and continue cooking a slow simmer for an additional 30 minutes, still adding beef stock as needed.
You should have plenty of beef stock left, do not use the entire 4-5 cup as listed above.
Add salt to taste, but it should be pretty much OK as is since the beef stock will give the ragù enough flavor.
Now you have a nice batch of ragù, you can serve it on top of virtually any type of pasta you wish, in Bologna the quintessential use is on tagliatelle, but maltagliati or pappardelle would do; best if fresh pasta.
For best result let the ragù rest in the fridge for 24-48 hours. Reheat gently before serving.
If it is to be used on top of dry pasta, add 100 grams of cream (whipping cream) at the end of the cooking cycle, or before reheating.
Cubed bread crumbs
1 lb sweet Italian sausage (remove casing)
8 oz chicken livers
1 medium red onion chopped
3 celery stalks chopped
4 sage leaves chopped
1 tsp rosemary chopped
1/4 cup parsley chopped
1 cup parmesan cheese
1/2 cup golden raisins
2 large eggs
3/4 pot of vegetable broth
Preparation:
Saute sausages in skillet for about 5 minutes until no longer pink. Break up into smaller pieces.
Add chicken livers to skillet and saute until until no longer pink. Stir and break up into smaller pieces.
In a large bowl, mix bread crumbs, sausage, and chicken livers.
In same skillet with juices from the meat, saute onions, celery, herbs and parsley.
Add cooked vegetables and herbs to the bowl with bread crumbs. Mix all ingredients together and add raisins.
In a small skillet whisk two eggs and transfer everything to large stock pot. Add vegetable broth to coat bread crumbs.
Cook everything in covered stock pot over low heat for 15 minutes.
2lbs chickens (5 legs/5 thighs)
1 large red onion sliced
6 cloves of minced garlic
olive oil (to coat chicken)
fresh basil chopped
fresh parsley chopped
dried oregano
salt
pepper
1.5 cups of red wine vinegar
0.75 cups of water
Preparation:
Place onions and chicken in roasting pan. Coat evenly with 4-6 tbsp olive oil, garlic, dried herbs, salt and pepper.
Turn chicken and repeat seasoning with oil, dried herbs, salt and pepper.
Pour red wine vinegar and water underneath chicken and place parsley and basil on top.
Roast uncovered in oven 375 for 1.5 hours or until done.
Best if served over rice or quinoa, but a side of broccoli works as well.
Ingredients:
1 onion
2 carrots
2 celery stalks
4 garlic cloves
6 oz tomato paste
1 cup red wine
1 tbsp rosemary chopped
1 bay leaf
1 tbsp thyme
4 lamb shanks
Preparation:
Brown lamb shanks on the stove top in olive oil for 5 minutes.
Chop onion, carrots, celery and garlic in a food processor and add to pan with lamb shanks. Allow to cook for 20 minutes, turning the lamb shank over and stirring every 5 mins.
Add tomato paste and cook an additional 5 minutes.
Next add wine, rosemary, thyme and bay leaf and allow to cook for another 5 minutes.
Finally, add 3-4 cups of water to submerge lamb shanks. Cook for 2 hours over med-low heat stirring often until liquid is reduced to stew-like consistency.
Extra-virgin olive oil
1 9oz package of Gardein home style beefless tips (or 9-12 oz of wild boar meat, cut into 1″ cubes)
1 medium sized onion, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
leaves of 2-3 spring of fresh rosemary (about 3-4″ each), chopped
1 glass of chianti wine, or other red wine of your choice (not fruity)
2 oz of tomato paste (about 1/3 of a small can)
1 teaspoon cacao (optional)
1 bay leaf (optional)
7 juniper berries (optional)
Preparation:
Cover the bottom of a stainless steel saucepan with the extra virgin olive oil:
Add the Gardein home style beefless tips (or the wild boar meat), clustering it on one layer in the center of the saucpan:
Pile on top of the “meat” the chopped onions, chopped garlic, and chopped rosemary leaves (and the optional cacao, bay leaf, and juniper berries):
Cover the saucepan and simmer at medium for about 5 minutes:
After 5 minutes, stir the ingredients together, and let it simmer for an additional 5 minutes
Once the onion is caramelized, add the Chianti, and from now on deglaze the pan every so often:
Simmer uncovered on high till the sauce has thickened
Fold in the Tomato Paste
Let it rest while you cook the pasta of your choice, best bet is home made pappardelle or maltagliati:
