Tonys Braciole With Gravy Food

BEEF BRACIOLA

Steps:

• For the braciola: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Toss the pine nuts in a small skillet over low heat until lightly toasted, about 3 minutes. Cool and chop.
• Combine the bread and 2 cups warm water in a medium bowl, then let soak until softened, about 5 minutes. Squeeze out the excess water, then add to a large bowl with the Parmesan, parsley, garlic, eggs, scallions and pine nuts and mix to combine well. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and several grinds of black pepper.
• Set the flank steak on a cutting board. Use a knife to score the steak down the middle against the grain, cutting only halfway through its thickness. Working from the center out toward the edges, cut thin flaps from the score to the edge, like a gatefold. Pound with the flat side of a meat mallet to an even thickness of about 1/2 inch. Sprinkle both sides of the steak with salt and pepper.
• Layer the prosciutto over the steak, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges. Layer the provolone over the prosciutto. Pat the stuffing in an even layer over the provolone. Roll the steak around the fillings like a jelly roll, from short side to short side. Tie closed at 2-inch intervals around the circumference with kitchen twine. Tie 1 more piece of twine lengthwise around the meat. Sprinkle the outside of the braciola with salt and pepper.
• For the sauce: Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. When the oil is hot, brown the braciola on all sides, about 6 minutes total. Remove to a plate. Add the onion and cook until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until softened, about 1 minute. Pour in the red wine and bring to a boil. Reduce the wine until almost gone, then add the tomatoes, oregano and bay leaf. Add the braciola back to the pot with enough water to come halfway up the sides of the braciola (1 to 2 cups). Bring to a simmer, then cover and bake until fork tender, 1 hour and 30 minutes to 1 hour and 45 minutes.
• For serving: Remove the braciola to a cutting board and let rest 10 minutes. Meanwhile, bring the sauce to a simmer on the stove top. Stir in the parsley. Untie and slice the braciola into 6 thick slices on a slight bias. Spread about 1 1/2 cups sauce on a rimmed platter and arrange the braciola slices on top. Add the cooked pasta to the simmering sauce and toss to coat, adding up to 1/2 cup pasta cooking water if it seems dry. Sprinkle with the Parmesan, then toss and serve alongside the braciola.

BRACIOLA AND SAUSAGE SUNDAY GRAVY

Steps:

• Sprinkle the meat on both sides with salt and pepper. In a bowl, combine half of the cheese, the breadcrumbs, 1/2 cup parsley, pine nuts, lemon zest, salami, minced garlic and the finely chopped chile pepper. Top the steaks, leaving a 1-inch border. Roll and tie the meat.
• Heat about 2 tablespoons of EVOO in a pot over medium-high heat. When the oil smokes, add the meat bundles and brown. Remove the meat bundles, then add the sausages and cook until brown, then remove. Add about 1 tablespoon of EVOO and reduce the heat to medium, then stir in the fennel seeds and cook for 15 seconds. Add the wine and deglaze the pan, then add the tomatoes, bay leaf, carrots, celery and halved onion. Break up the tomatoes, and add the passata, then stir in the basil and season with salt and pepper. Slide the meat and sausages into the sauce and bring to a bubble, reduce the heat and simmer partially covered for a couple of hours, stirring occasionally.
• In a skillet, heat about 2 tablespoons EVOO, 2 turns of the pan, then add the sliced onions, cubanelles, red bell peppers and sliced chile pepper, and cook to soften, stirring frequently, 12 to 15 minutes. Add the stock, the remaining 1/4 cup parsley, tomato paste and season with salt and pepper. Simmer 15 minutes more.
• For a make-ahead meal, cool the sauce and meat and refrigerate. Reheat over a medium-low flame on the stovetop until warmed through. Store the onions and peppers separately and reheat over medium-low heat in small skillet.
• To serve, bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt the water and cook the spaghetti to al dente.
• Place the meat and sausages on a serving platter. Remove the onions, carrots, celery and bay leaf.
• Add about 1 cup of the starchy cooking water to the sauce, then put half of the sauce in a gravy boat. Melt the butter into the remaining sauce and toss with the pasta and cheese. Serve the pasta alongside the meat roll and sausage. Top the pasta and meat with more sauce and cheese, and serve the peppers and onions on top of the sausage.

SUNDAY GRAVY WITH BRACIOLE

Steps:

• Arrange each piece of beef with a short edge facing you. Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons of salt. Cut the provolone and salami in half. Cover the entire surface of each piece of meat with 1 1/2 pieces of salami, going up to but not beyond the edges; press down on the salami to adhere to the meat. Lay 1 1/2 pieces of provolone over the salami. (If there is any extra salami or provolone, distribute evenly among the braciole.) Mix the panko and parsley together in a small bowl. Scatter 2 rounded tablespoons down the center of the provolone. Tightly roll the meat away from you, pressing gently to make the rolls as even and uniform as possible. Tie each tightly with kitchen twine (2 or 3 pieces per braciola) or seal by inserting a toothpick to close.
• Heat the oil in a large, heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Working in batches if necessary, add the braciole and cook, turning, until browned all the way around, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
• Lower the heat to medium, add the garlic and cook, stirring gently until barely toasted, about 30 seconds. Pour in the wine and scrape the bottom of the pot to loosen any browned bits. Cook until the wine is reduced by half. Add the crushed tomatoes (if using whole, crush the tomatoes by hand), Parmesan rinds, tomato paste and the browned braciole. Simmer until the sauce is thickened and the braciole are tender, about 4 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent the rinds from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
• Remove the rinds and discard. Remove the braciole, cutting the strings or removing the toothpicks and discarding. Serve the meat with the pasta or as a separate course. Top with grated Parmesan if desired.

ZITI AL FORNO (FROM THE SOPRANOS FAMILY COOKBOOK)

Steps:

• Put all the ziti in a large bowl.
• Toss ziti with 3 cups of the gravy and half of the grated cheese.
• Spoon half of the ziti into a casserole dish.
• Spread the ricotta over the top of the ziti.
• Sprinkle with the mozzarella and rest of grated cheese.
• Pour on 1 cup of sauce.
• Top with remaining ziti and rest of sauce (it will be almost overflowing) sprinkle with more grated cheese.
• Bake covered with foil for 45 minutes and then uncovered for 15 minutes.
• Let stand 15 minutes.
• Tell me immediately how it was!

EASY BRACIOLE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 300.
• 2. Make the stuffing per package directions. When the stuffing is moistened in the pan, cover & let sit for 5 minutes.
• 3. Meanwhile, lay out the Braciole steaks. Grab your pot of stuffing and place 2-3 Tablespoons (or more) of stuffing in the center.
• 4. Wrap the steak securely around the stuffing, overlapping the ends on top. Secure with a toothpick. (It doesn't have to be actually 'rolled', but enough to hold in the stuffing)
• 5. Place the Braciole rolls on a baking pan, very lightly sprayed with non-stick spray.
• 6. Bake for about 15 minutes, or until just done. You don't want the meat to get too dry.
• 7. Top each Braciole roll with some beef gravy.
• 8. Add a green vegetable and you're done!

CHEF JOHN'S BEEF BRACIOLE

Steps:

• Place steaks between 2 pieces of heavy plastic; pound meat about 1/4-inch thick using a meat pounder. If a piece of meat breaks off, use it to patch a thinner area.
• Place bread crumbs into a mixing bowl and stir in garlic, 2 tablespoons olive oil, raisins, Parmesan cheese, salt, black pepper, oregano, and egg until thoroughly combined.
• Season steak with salt and pepper; place half the bread crumb stuffing onto the bottom 2/3 of a steak, leaving the top third of the steak without stuffing. Lightly press the stuffing onto the meat and roll the steak up into a tight roll, starting from the stuffed end. Tie 3 to 4 pieces of kitchen string around the roll to hold it together. Trim ends of string. Repeat with remaining steak and stuffing.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Pan-fry the steak rolls in the hot oil until well browned on all sides, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Pour in water and dissolve pan juices and browned bits of food in the water.
• Season steak rolls with salt and pepper; add red pepper flakes and bay leaf to the water. Spread tomato sauce onto rolls. Pan liquid should cover the rolls about halfway up.
• Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes; turn rolls over and cook covered about 10 more minutes. An instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the center of the stuffing should read at least 145 degrees F (65 degrees C). Remove from pan, transfer to a platter, and let them rest for 10 minutes.
• Raise heat to medium, bring sauce to a boil, and cook, stirring often, until sauce has reduced by half, about 10 minutes. Slice the rolls crosswise. Serve arranged on a little sauce and drizzle more sauce on top.