Sausage, Cannelini, and Tomato Ragout over Rosemary Polenta

Tags

bolognese, cannelini, comfort food, dinner, hearty, lunch, polenta, sausage, tomato

Now that hubby and I are back from Negril (and can’t wait to go back) we are trying to get back into the swing of things. The wedding is over. The honeymoon is over. And the gorging on take-out is definitely over.

I came home to a STACK of my favorite magazines. Cooking Light. Food and Wine. Bon Apetit.

My schedule has been a little crazy but once I had a moment, I sat down with my post-it tabs and got to tabbing. While tabbing away, I came across a recipe that reminded me of my favorite comfort dish and the fact that I haven’t made it in FOREVER.

Bolognese over polenta. Really, anything with a marinara sauce and a sharp creamy polenta is heaven to me. It’s simple but so filling and really good! Inspired by this recipe, I tore apart my pantry and freeze and found everything I needed to make this dish- plus a few tweaks.

Sausage, cannelini and tomato Ragout

6 ounces bulk hot Italian sausage (6 sausage links with casings removed)

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 cup chopped onion

1 tablespoon unsalted tomato paste

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/3 cup dry red wine

3/4 cup unsalted chicken stock (such as Swanson)

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Dash of crushed red pepper

1 (14.5-ounce) can unsalted diced tomatoes, undrained (I used Fire Roasted for more heat)

1 (15-ounce) can unsalted cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

2 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano

Directions:

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Add sausage to pan; cook 2 minutes, stirring to crumble.

Remove sausage from pan.

Add oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add onion; sauté 3 minutes. Add tomato paste and garlic; cook 1 minute, stirring frequently.

Add wine chicken broth; cook 1 minute, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Stir in stock and next 5 ingredients (through beans); reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 8 minutes or until slightly thickened.

Stir in cooked sausage and oregano.

Rosemary Polenta
Ingredients
1 cup ground corn meal
1 cup cold water
2 cups boiling water
1 tsp salt
4 ounces non-fat Greek yogurt
4 Tbsp reduced fat parmesan cheese
1 tbsp dried rosemary

Directions
Combine cornmeal and cold water. Place in medium pot. Place over medium low heat. Add boiling water and stir. Lower the heat and allow to bubble. Add yogurt, cheese, salt, and rosemary. Allow to simmer for 5 or 8 minutes.

Serve polenta with sausage and bean sauce on top. Sprinkle with parm cheese. Enjoy!

This dish didn’t take long to make but it made SO many servings. I had polenta and ragout for days! I love it with lots of grated parmesan!

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Slow Cooker: Beer Braised Beef

Tags

beef, carrots, dinner, polenta, slow cooker, Steak

When I moved into my apartment, conveniently located across the street from my mother, she placed bets on occasions where I would show up after work with an appetite for some home cooked food. Perhaps 4 years ago, that might have been an instant win but, my, how the tables have turned. I feel incredibly blessed to be so close to home again after having moving out on my own for 4 years. Living on my own in Queens for 4 years taught me a lot about time management and living on a budget. My commute was a complete hour each way and when I got home, I would walk mickey and then when I returned from walking the dog, I would start cooking. Batch cooking was ESSENTIAL then as was utilizing my slow cooker. But now, my commute is a measly 23 minutes and coming home to cook is something I look forward to.
My family had a big renovation in their kitchen last week which meant no use of their stove or sink.
*Phone Rings*
Me: Hello?
Mom: Hi baby! How are you?
Me: Im good, mom.  Just getting in. What are you up to?
Mom: Ugh, this renovation is killing me! Wanted to know what you were doing for dinner tonight?
Me: As a matter of fact, I just turned off the slow cooker. I made some kind of beef dish.
Mom: Do you have enough to share?
***
Yes. The tables definitely have turned now. Make no mistake, I am more than happy to be there for my family. Whenever  I needed them, they were always there and now that I live so close to home I can be there for them- even for something so simple as providing a home cooked meal. That’s what family is.

Beer Braised Beef

Ingredients:
1 cup onion, chopped
Cooking spray
1 pound boneless top round steak, trimmed
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano, undrained
1/2 cup light beer
2 tablespoons molasses
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 Tbsp flour

Directions
Place onion in a 3- to 3 1/2-quart electric slow cooker coated with cooking spray.
Heat a large nonstick skillet over high heat; coat pan with cooking spray. Add steak; cook 2 minutes on each side to sear.

Place steak over onions in cooker; pour tomatoes and beer over steak. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours.

Shred steak with 2 forks in slow cooker; stir in molasses and salt. Whisk in flour to thicken the sauce.

 

Let steak stand 10 minutes before serving. 1 serving is 1 cup of beef. Serve over mashed potatoes, rice or polenta.

I served mine with my favorite polenta (also in the slow cooker) and some glazed Carrots!

Cellar 58

Tags

dinner, panna cotta, polenta, sausage, tapas, wine, wine bar

So… I mentioned in a previous post that I was seeing someone. While I have kept my seeing him a secret from you, today is the big reveal. Today, I introduce to you my boyfriend.

Whoa.

Still weird saying that.

I have never really been a debbie downer and am generally a really happy person, but this is probably the happiest I have been in a VERY long time. And I am happy to share the news with you guys.

C and I went to a wine bar over the weekend (I told you wine was his thing, right?) courtesy of mom and her plethora of groupons that were about to expire.

Cellar 58 is an intimate and cozy wine bar on 2nd Avenue in the East Village. While the reviews were mixed, we both went with an open mind.

We started the evening with a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. Since I am a lover of whites, this was really pleasant. But It did hit me quickly.

He started with the Farro Salad which I secretly wished I had ordered. Plump grains of Rarro with sliced artichokes and shaved Pecorino Romano. I managed to steal a bite and could have eaten an entire bucket of this stuff… but I went for something lighter.

The Cucumber salad sounded pretty boring but the small bowl full of cucumbers, grape tomatoes, fresh corn, avocado and fresh basil with a light vinaigrette went so beautifully with the white wine that I forgot to be jealous of C’s delicious salad.

C ordered the Filet Mignon Carpaccio. Paper thin slices of buttery marbled filet mignon. Served with some sharp cheese and bitter greens, this plate looked small but it was big on flavor.

I had the sausage and polenta. It was a great dish when I thought about what it would be since I am a fan of polenta but the dish sort of fell short. I mostly enjoyed the sausage (that’s what she said) and the polenta was a little dry.

For dessert, C ordered one of my favorites, Affogato (a little suggestive, isn’t it?). Two scoops of vanilla ice cream with a fresh shot of espresso poured on top. C isn’t a huge coffee person and despite that, enjoyed it but wished there was less espresso.

I enjoyed the panna cotta with berry coulis. This panna cotta was creamy and had a delicious specs of vanilla bean in it…an overall win.

I liked the ambiance at Cellar 58. There was soft, mood appropriate, music playing and the staff were attentive but not pushy.

And, for those that are my friends on facebook you already know the face of the man that keeps me smiling.

But if you don’t, here is C in our first photo together:

He has great potential.

Till next time bebes!

My Favorite Food

Tags

crock pot, dinner, meatball, polenta, turkey

These days, spending my time in Queens has been rare. I have been schlepping back and forth to Brooklyn with my doggy in tow to spend time with my family. It hasn’t been easy but despite missing my bed so much, i feel so blessed to be able to spend this time with my family.

We dont live forever, you know?

But the other day I did manage to sleep in and spend a good chunk of my day at home and what I wanted so badly was to cook something. And not something elaborate or fancy. I wanted some good old fashioned comfort.

When I think about what I am in the mood for its usually creamy polenta and homemade meatballs.

You might recognize the name, its because I have made it before. I actually make this when I am in need of comfort food. It’s funny because when people ask me what my favorite food is, i tell them i dont really have one… but I think i have been lying.

My favorite food is creamy polenta with meatballs.

I like making my polenta in the slow cooker. Plus, I like getting “miles” out of this baby! It only cost me $10 when i first moved into my apartment. Its my special baby.

My polenta is probably not the healthiest as it has butter AND cream cheese in it… but one thing you can be sure of- its FREAKIN Delicious.

While my polenta is cooking away, I get started on my meatballs. I used a lb of ground turkey and in it i added an entire chopped onion (a small one), garlic powder (because i hate chopping garlic), an egg, salt, pepper, italian seasoning, parmesan cheese and oats (becuase I was out of breadcrumbs).

I made meatballs the size of golf balls and placed them in my cast iron skillet to bake at 425* for 25 – 30 minutes.

They were so pretty!

I had to wait another hour before the polenta was finished (longest hour of my LIFE) and served up a heaping spoon of polenta with two hearty meatballs and a spoonful of my favorite marinara sauce (please dont tell my grandmother i are jarred sauce!), sprinkled it with parmesan cheese and went to town on it!

This is my bowl of heaven. My comfort. When I cant be home every day, this really livens my spirit!

Whats your go-to comfort?