Hearty Quick Meals Food

QUICK AND HEARTY GROUND BEEF RAGU

Steps:

• In a large stockpot or dutch oven over medium heat, saute the carrots, celery, onion and shallot for 4-5 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and saute for one minute longer.
• Turn heat to medium high. Move vegetables to side of pot and add ground beef in batches and brown. When all ground beef has been added to pot and browned, add Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, salt, and black pepper. Thoroughly combine meat, vegetables and seasonings.
• Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste and roasted red peppers. Pour some of broth into cans to clean out remaining tomatoes into pot. Pour remaining broth into pot and thoroughly combine with all other ingredients. Add more black pepper or crushed red pepper if you like it hot and spicy.
• Reduce heat to low and simmer until sauce has reduced to half or two thirds of original volume.
• Serve over your favorite pasta and top with grated cheese if you like.

HEALTHY, HEARTY ITALIAN DINNER

Steps:

• Brown onions and baby carrots in a little olive oil over medium heat.
• Stir in other vegetables and toss well.
• Add spaghetti sauce, stock, vermouth, and herbs. Stir well and bring to a boil.
• Simmer until carrots are fully cooked and flavors are blended - about 30 minutes though it can hold as long as needed. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary.
• If the sauce is too thick for your tastes add additional stock, tomato juice, or V8.
• If the sauce is too thin for your tastes add tomato paste or simmer, uncovered, until it thickens.
• To prepare the polenta, first slice about 1/2 to 3/4 inches thick.
• Lightly grease a griddle with olive oil. Heat it on medium to medium-high heat.
• Brush the polenta slices with olive oil as well.
• Brown both sides of the polenta on the hot griddle then sprinkle lightly with garlic powder and Italian seasoning.
• Serve sauce over polenta and top with Parmesan.
• If you like, you can round out the meal with a green salad and garlic bread.
• Note: Feel free to add cooked chicken, browned ground beef, browned sausage, cooked pork, or whatever leftover meat you have if you don't want a meatless dish.
• Note: If you are adding leftover vegetables that have already been cooked add them at the last 10 minutes so they don't overcook.
• Note: This can be made in the crockpot but may require you to reduce the amount of stock. Brown onions and carrots first for the best flavor.