Braised Beef with Shallots & Carrots
Braising, a method of slow cooking in liquid, takes advantage of tougher (and usually less expensive) cuts of meat and has been around for centuries. Chuck roast, a budget-friendly…
beef
Meatballs and Sauce
My maternal grandmother did not cook from recipes. I never saw her open a cookbook. To my knowledge, she didn’t have any. The meals she prepared were committed to memory.…
Polpettone con Ricotta
I have made various types of meatloaf and I have made meat rolls using flank steak (braciolone), but I have never made rolled meatloaf before now. Polpettone con Ricotta…
Stuffed Bell Pepper Soup
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As a child, I remember my mother preparing stuffed bell peppers on numerous occasions. It’s one of those recipes that you can prepare in advance, tend to four children,…
Mediterranean Beef Stew
This richly-flavored stew, served on a bed of ancient grains, will awaken your taste buds and take them on a Mediterranean journey. Ladle into shallow bowls and serve with…
Creamy Beef Stew
Some of my family’s favorite dishes are the ones that are the easiest to put together and either simmer on top of the stove, such as stufato di manzo…
Rotolo di Bistecca
Rotolo di bistecca, meaning beef roll in Italian, is versatile, as you can change the filling ingredients to suit your personal taste. This is similar to braciolone, except this dish…
Beef-Barley Soup
In this month of January 2016, it seems that just about everyone in the country, from coast to coast, is experiencing unusually cold weather. A few days ago, it…
Carpaccio
Carpaccio is a very simple Italian starter. Traditionally, it is made with thinly sliced high quality raw sirloin. This delightfully different appetizer is topped with arugula and shaved Parmesan,…
Melanzane e Spaghetti Torta
So, you have an eggplant, half a box of spaghetti, a pound of ground beef and need to make something that will feed six hearty appetites. This eggplant and…
Southern Comfort Brisket
It’s smart to plan ahead if you’re thinking about making this slightly sweet brisket. Although it takes 2 hours to cook, it basically cooks itself as it makes its…
Stufato di Manzo with Polenta (Beef Stew)
This stew is the equivalent of the basic “little black dress,” the essential recipe to have in your repertoire that you can serve anytime. You can dress her up…
Cavoli Ripiene (Stuffed Cabbage Rolls)
Last weekend, my girlfriend and I attended a fundraiser, Taste for Nourish, a non-profit dedicated to providing family and community support for children with feeding challenges. These children are…
Stracoto (Italian Pot Roast)
Each year in late October, when the weather is just about perfect, our neighborhood throws a block party. The streets are partitioned off, tables are set up and it’s…
Mini Italian Sausage-Stuffed Peppers
A sandwich of Italian sausage, onions and peppers is typical street food of my beloved Sicily. I have served and eaten it on many occasions, from various local and…
Polpette con Limone
Meatballs with lemon are lighter than my traditional meatballs with red sauce. By making them smaller (about the size of a walnut) they are just the right size to…
Osso Bucco
This slowly braised, melts-in-your-mouth tender and falls off the bone with very little persuasion dish, is one of my favorites. The original version was seasoned with cinnamon, allspice and…
Beef Brisket with Carmelized Onions & Marsala Sauce
Much of the nation’s supply of brisket is made into corned-beef, pastrami or pot roast. Corned-beef brisket is a brisket that has been preserved with salt and flavorings (corned).…
Grillades with Grits and Creole Sauce
Grillades, (pronounced GREE-yads), are thin scallops of veal, beef or pork and are typically served for brunch. It is my understanding that the dish originated when the country butchers…
Braciolone
Depending on which part of Italy you’re from, Braciole (bra CHO lay) means different things. In the north it’s generally a cutlet of some kind that is cooked flat.…