Italian Penne Bolognese Food

PENNE BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• In a large non-stick skillet, heat the oil until hot but not smoking over medium heat.
• Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in the carrots,celery, and 1/3 cup of water and cook until the vegetables are tender and the liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes longer.
• Stir in the beef and cook until no longer pink, about 4 minutes.
• Add the wine and cook until the liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in the tomato paste, 2/3 cup of the milk, the salt, pepper, and oregano, reduce to a simmer, and cook,stirring frequently until the milk has been absorbed.
• Continue to cook until the sauce is thick and creamy, gradually adding the remaining 1 cup milk until all has been absorbed, about 20 minutes longer.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling water until just tender.Drain well.
• Transfer the sauce to a large bowl, add the pasta, the parsley, if desired, and the Parmesan and toss to combine all.
• Spoon the Penne Bolognese into 4 bowls and serve with additional Parmesan cheese, if desired.

BAKED PENNE BOLOGNESE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• PREHEAT oven to 350°F.
• COMBINE beef, onion and garlic in large saucepan; cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 6 minutes or until beef is no longer pink. Drain. Stir in tomato paste, water, milk, wine, bouillon and Italian herb seasoning; cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 15 minutes or until flavors are blended.
• LAYER ingredients as follows in 13 x 9-inch baking dish: half of pasta, half of sauce and half of cheese. Repeat layers; cover.
• BAKE for 20 to 25 minutes or until heated through.

ITALIAN PENNE BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• Sauté bacon until fat is rendered; drain fat.
• Add ground chicken, beef, and sausage; brown and drain fat.
• Add onion, celery, carrot, zucchini, and garlic; sauté until onion is clear.
• Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, red wine, rosemary, and nutmeg; Simmer 45 minutes.
• Add Sauterne or Marsala; simmer 10 minutes.
• Add evaporated milk to smooth out sauce.
• Serve over hot cooked penne pasta.

BAKED PENNE BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• Preheat a 3-quart lidded sauté pan or pot over medium-high heat.
• Drizzle in about 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Coat the pan with the oil and throw in the ground meat. With a wooden or plastic spatula, break up the meat so it browns. This will take about 7-10 minutes, depending on the meat you're using. If it's fatty you'll need to drain the grease.
• Toss in the dried herbs and the onion and mix it all in well with the meat. Cook about 5 minutes, until the onions are pliable; add garlic.
• Stir cans of tomatoes and the puree well into the meat mixture. Bring to a gentle simmer, give it one more good stir, cover, lower the heat and let all those ingredients get happy together. Let simmer for about 30 minutes (or even an hour if you have the time).
• Two things to do while the sauce is coming together: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, and fill a big pot with water and bring it to a boil. When you have about 10 minutes left on the sauce, take a large pinch of salt and dump it into the boiling water along with a tablespoon of olive oil and, finally, the pasta. Cook the pasta about 3/4 of the time it says on the box, so that it is very "al dente."
• When there are just a few minutes left on the sauce, pour in the sugar and the wine. Doesn't matter what kind of wine, as long as it's red. Mix in these two ingredients and let the sauce cook a few more minutes while you drain the pasta.
• After you've drained the pasta, put it in a 3-quart (such as a 9-by-13-inch) baking dish and pour in as much of the sauce as you like. You will likely have leftover sauce - use it again for pasta or even with green beans. Be creative. Mix the sauce and pasta well, and cover the top with the cheese. A nice sprinkling of dry oregano or basil will add taste and visual appeal.
• Put the dish in the bottom rack of the oven and let it cook for 25 minutes, or until the top is bubbly and just starting to brown. Carefully remove the dish, and set it aside. Thinly slice some fresh basil and set the table while the dish cools for 5 to 10 minutes.

"REAL" ITALIAN BOLOGNESE SAUCE

Steps:

• In a Dutch Oven or Medium Size Pot, heat butter and olive oil over medium heat until butter begins to froth.
• Add onion, celery, carrot, garlic, and bacon.
• Cook until onions are translucent (about 8 to 10 minutes).
• Remove bacon and remove fat.
• Chop lean portions of bacon in small pieces and return to pot.
• Add Ground beef and ground Pork, and cook until meat loses red, raw color.
• Raise heat and add wine and consomme.
• Cook sauce until wine and consomme are mostly evaporated.
• Turn heat down to simmer and add oregano, salt, pepper, sage, red pepper flakes, and nutmeg.
• Let cook for approximately 20 minutes.
• Add crushed tomatoes and bring heat to a boil.
• Once the mixture comes to a boil, return to simmer.
• Let sauce simmer (very slowly) partially covered for about 2 to 4 hours (the longer the better), stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
• About 5 to 10 minutes before serving, add milk.
• Sauce can now be added to cooked Penne Pasta, Spaghetti or many other Pastas to your liking.
• Remaining sauce may be frozen for up to two months for future use.