Kittencals Pork Stew With Pasta Food

CLASSIC HOMESTYLE PORK STEW

Steps:

• Whisk together the flour, salt and pepper. Place the pork in the flour mixture and toss until the pork is coated. Shake off the excess.
• In a large Dutch oven over medium high heat, cook the bacon until it's tender crisp. Remove the bacon and drain on a paper towel lined plate, leaving the drippings.
• Add in the pork and cook in batches until all sides of the cubes are browned. Remove and place on a plate. Add in the onions and saute for 6-7 minutes, or until soft. Add in the garlic and saute another 2 minutes until browned and fragrant.
• Whisk together the broth, Worcestershire, tomato paste, rosemary and thyme. (add red wine now as well if desired).
• Pour a small amount of the stock mixture into the bottom of the Dutch oven and deglaze by scraping the browned bits off of the bottom of the pot. Pour more stock mixture in as needed until the bottom is cleaned and the browned bits have dissolved into the liquid, then add the rest of the broth.
• Add the pork and the bacon back into the pot.
• Add in the vegetables and bay leaves and then stir until combined.
• Bring the mixture to a low boil, cover and reduce the heat.
• Cook for 40-50 minutes, until the pork is fork tender.
• Remove and serve.

PENNE WITH PORK RAGOUT

Steps:

• Dry the pork well and sprinkle it on all sides with 1 tablespoon of the kosher salt and the pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons of the vegetable oil in a Dutch oven over high heat. Working in batches to avoid crowding the pan, brown the pork on all sides, about 4 minutes per side. Remove the pork to a plate and set aside. While the pork is browning, tie the thyme, rosemary and bay leaf into a bundle using butcher's twine.
• Once all of the pork has been browned, reduce the heat to medium. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil no oil remains in the pot. Add the onions and the remaining 1/2 tablespoon kosher salt. Cook for about 8 minutes, stirring and scraping up any browned bits. Add the garlic and cook for another 2 or 3 minutes. Deglaze with the white wine and cook until reduced to nearly dry, 6 to 10 minutes. Add the chicken broth, crushed tomatoes, Parmesan rind, chile flakes and the herb bundle and bring to a simmer. Return the pork to the pot, tucking it in under the sauce. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, covered, until the pork is fork tender, about 1 hour 45 minutes.
• Remove the pork and shred into bite-size pieces using two forks. Remove the herb bundle from the sauce and add the pork back to the pot. Stir in the olive oil and half of the grated Parmesan. Keep warm over low heat.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the penne for about 1 or 2 minutes less than the package directions. Drain and add the pasta to the sauce, tossing to coat. Finish cooking the pasta in the sauce, about 2 minutes, adding a ladle of pasta water as needed. Serve topped with the remaining grated Parmesan, or more as desired, and a drizzle of olive oil. Garnish with a few leaves of baby arugula, if using.

KITTENCAL'S BEEF OR PORK MARINADE AND TENDERIZER

Steps:

• In a large bowl combine all ingredients except the meat; mix/whisk until very well combined.
• You may now transfer the marinade to a large resealable plastic bag if desired or leave in a large bowl.
• Pierce the meat all over with a fork.
• Add the meat to the marinade then turn to coat.
• Refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight.
• Remove meat and discard the marinade.
• Leave the beef or the pork sit out on the counter and bring almost room temperature, this will relax the meat fibers and make for a more tender juicy steak or cut of beef or pork (this is a very important step!).
• Grill or oven-broil to desired doneness.

KITTENCAL'S PORK STEW WITH PASTA

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the flour, seasoning salt, cayenne pepper and garlic powder.
• Coat the pork cubes in the flour mixture.
• Heat olive oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat.
• Shake any excess flour off the pork.
• Brown on both sides in hot oil; remove to a bowl or large plate.
• Add in more olive oil if desired, then add in the onions, crushed chili flakes, thyme, bay leaves and oregano; saute for 5-6 minutes (adding the minced garlic the last 2 minutes).
• Add in the tomato paste; stir using a wooden spoon for about 3 minutes.
• Add in the wine; bring to a boil; simmer for 2 minutes.
• Add in beef broth or consomme, water, Worcestershire sauce, diced tomatoes with juice and button mushrooms, and return the pork back to the pot, stir with a wooden spoon; bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer COVERED for 1 hour on low heat, stirring occasionally.
• After about 1 hour of cooking, uncover and let simmer over low heat (UNCOVERED) for about 1 more hour or until the pork is tender, stirring occasionally, and seasoning with salt to taste.
• Skim any fat that has accumulated on top of the juice in the pot.
• Ladle the pork and juices over cooked rigatoni or penne pasta in bowls, then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
• Delicious!

KITTENCAL'S RANCH POTATO SALAD OR MACARONI SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the cooked cubed potatoes or cooked pasta with peas. celery, green onions, cheddar cheese and chopped eggs; toss to combine.
• In a small bowl, combine relish, mayo, ranch salad dressing and mustard and garlic powder (if using) mix well then add to macaroni mixture; toss to coat then season with salt and pepper.
• Add in chopped yum yum pickles if using; mix to combine.
• Season with more salt and black pepper to taste.
• Cover and refrigerate for 3 or more hours to blend flavors (the longer chilling time the better!).
• Delicious!

ITALIAN PORK STEW

Steps:

• Place flour in a shallow dish. Add pork, a few pieces at a time, and turn to coat. In a Dutch oven, brown pork in 3 tablespoons oil in batches. Remove and keep warm., In the same pan, saute onion in remaining oil until crisp-tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the tomatoes, wine, bay leaves, cinnamon, tomato paste, vinegar, anchovy paste, herbs, salt, pepper flakes, pepper and pork; bring to a boil., Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1-1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. Stir in parsley. Cover and cook 30-40 minutes longer or until meat is tender. Skim fat; discard bay leaves and cinnamon stick., Serve with pasta; sprinkle with cheese. Freeze option: Place individual portions of cooled stew in freezer containers and freeze. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally; add water if necessary.

KITTENCAL'S BEEF STIFADO (GREEK STEW WITH FETA)

Steps:

• Heat oil and butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat.
• Season the beef with salt and pepper.
• Add in the beef cubes (cooking in batches) cook until browned remove to a plate.
• Repeat with remaining beef.
• Return the first batch of beef back to the pot.
• Add in the oregano, onions and garlic; cook stirring with wooden spoon for 3-4 minutes.
• Add in wine with all remaining ingredients except the currants and feta cheese; bring to a boil, simmer covered over medium-low heat for about 1-1/2 hours, then discard the whole cloves and bay leaves.
• Add in the currants and continue to cook (uncovered) over very low heat for about 30 minutes more, or until the beef is tender. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Sprinkle in the feta the last 5-6 minutes of cooking and push down slightly with a spoon.
• Season with more salt and freshly ground pepper if needed.
• Ladle into bowls and serve with crust bread or buns.
• Delicious!

KITTENCAL'S SPAGHETTI PIE

Steps:

• Grease a round 2-quart casserole dish or an 11 x 7-inch baking dish.
• For the sauce; in a skillet or saucepan brown the ground beef with onion and red chili flakes until no longer pink.
• Drain fat then add in garlic, oregano and basil; cook for 2 minutes.
• Add in tomato sauce, mushrooms and 1/2 teaspoon salt, bring to a boil over medium heat stirring.
• Reduce heat to low and simmer for 30-40 minutes stirring occasionally, season with more salt to taste if desired.
• Meanwhile cook the spaghetti in boiling water until almost tender (undercook the spaghetti as it will soften up even more when baked in the oven) drain in a colander then rinse under cold water, drain well again then place into a large bowl.
• Add in melted butter, garlic powder, eggs, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese and black pepper; using clean hands toss/mix until well combined (use hands for mixing spaghetti this will not work with a spoon) season with salt to taste if desired.
• TO ASSEMBLE; spread the spaghetti mixture evenly into bottom of the pie plate, pressing down with hands to flatten.
• In a bowl mix 2 cups cottage cheese with 1/4 cup Parmesan and 1 cup mozzarella cheese cheese then spread over the spaghetti.
• Dollop the tomato sauce mixture over the cottage cheese then spread out with a spoon.
• Top with 1 cup or more of mozzarella cheese.
• Cover with foil and bake at 350°F for 30 minutes.
• Uncover and continue to bake 10-15 minutes more or until hot and bubbly.

KITTENCAL'S DELICIOUS MEATY PASTA SAUCE

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven heat oil, then add in the basil, oregano, chili flakes, bay leaf and onion; saute, stirring with a wooden spoon for about 4 minutes (this will release the flavors in the spices).
• Add in garlic and cook for 2 minutes.
• Add in tomato paste and cook stirring with a wooden spoon for 2 minutes.
• Add in ground beef and sausage meat; cook until well browned (about 10 minutes) drain any fat.
• Add in the wine and simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring.
• Add in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, mushrooms, sugar, 2 tablespoons salt, Worcestershire sauce; bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer partially covered for about 2 hours (or you can simmer for longer on low heat).
• Season with black pepper.
• Remove the bay leaf and serve over hot cooked pasta then sprinkle with lots grated Parmesan cheese.

KITTENCAL'S ITALIAN TOMATO PASTA SAUCE AND PARMESAN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Prepare the meatball recipe as directed on the recipe; transfer to a plate cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use (the meatballs may be prepared up to 1 day in advance).
• Drain the diced tomatoes over a strainer.
• Coat bottom of large heavy-bottomed pot with olive oil, heat over medium heat.
• Saute onion with bay leaf, oregano, basil, salt, black pepper and crushed chili peppers for about 5-7 minutes or until the onions are transparent.
• Add in fresh garlic; cook stirring for 2 minutes.
• Add the tomato paste;mix and stir for about 2 minutes or until well combined with the onion mixture.
• Add in the wine; stir well to combine.
• Add the 2 cans crushed tomatoes (can use 3 cans if you are freezing some sauce) and the drained diced tomatoes, stir and bring to a light boil; boil for 5-8 minutes then reduce heat to low.
• Add in uncooked meatballs to the sauce (if you are adding the meatballs uncooked do not stir for 30 minutes or you may run the risk of them falling apart in the simmering sauce).
• Simmer uncovered on low heat for about 3-5 hours (the longer you simmer uncovered the thicker and richer your sauce will be so don't be afraid to simmer even 6 hours!) adding more salt if desired.
• Skim off any fat that might gather on top of sauce.
• Allow to cool to room temperature then refrigerate (with the meatballs in the sauce) a minimum of 1 day or up to 4 days before using.
• Use as much as desired then freeze the rest for another meal, just reheat the sauce on top of the stove or heat in microwave (this will freeze well for up to 6 months).
• Note: if desired, you can bake the meatballs in the oven before adding to the sauce.