Spaghetti Sauce

Tomatoes growing in the greenhouse.

                Since it is a cold, windy day and my brother-in-law gave me some Italian sausage (Thanks, Bill), I decided it would be a great day to make spaghetti. I searched the trusty Internet, and found a tried and true Olive Garden recipe posted by “mojolah” at http://www.food.com/recipe/the-actual-olive-garden-bolognese-sauce-recipe-spaghetti-sauce-354164  who states that it is the actual Olive Garden recipe, not a replica.  I used Apothic Red wine, a gift from friends (Thanks, Larry and Ellen), a jar of heirloom tomatoes Blaine grew from seed and harvested from the summer of 2011, from seed harvested in 2010, from seed harvested the year in 2009, from seed…you get the idea.  The recipe calls for fresh rosemary and sage, which I happen to have growing in a tub out my back door. Due to the mild weather, the plants were still alive, so I brought some leaves in and chopped them into little pieces. The red sauce simmered for over an hour and filled the house with its rich garlicky aroma. Sourdough bread baked today and a side salad went well with it. I lit a candle and we ate at the dining table. (You may notice I did not iron the tablecloth.)  I could say romantic music was playing in the background, but actually it was Sports Center. Because I love my husband, I had strategically placed his plate and chair so he could watch for updates from the Mizzou game while we ate. Maybe that was more romantic after all.

 

Here is the recipe:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion , finely chopped
• 1 carrot , finely chopped
• 1 celery , finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves , finely chopped
• ½ lb ground beef
• 6 ounces Italian sausage , skinned
• 1 cup red wine
• 28 ounces crushed tomatoes , chopped
• 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary , chopped (or 1/4 tsp dry)
• 1 teaspoon fresh sage , chopped (or 1/4 tsp dry)
• salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a large pan. Add celery, carrot, onion, and garlic and cook about 5 minutes.
2. Add meat and cook 10 minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
3. Deglaze pan with wine, let it reduce.
4. Add tomatoes and remaining ingredients and stir, simmer for about 1 hour.
5. Serve over fresh, hot pasta.

Sweet Potato Rolls

I made Sweet Potato Pull-Apart Rolls yesterday from my Better Homes and Gardens: The Complete Guide to Bread Machine Baking cookbook. They are so good and easy! Adding to the flavor is the knowledge that Blaine grew the sweet potato in our garden last summer from plants purchased from a barefoot woman in a long, dark blue dress who runs the Amish store by LaPlata.  I also remember helping him dig up the orange beauties and marveling at the huge orange treasures hidden under the dried vines last fall.  We ate these rolls with a bowl of beef stew.  Here is the recipe:

Sweet Potato Pull-Apart Rolls

¾ cup sweet potato, mashed

½ cup milk

1 egg

2 tablespoons margarine or butter, cut up

2 ½ cups bread flour

½ cup wheat flour

1 tablespoon brown sugar

¾ teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon active dry yeast or bread machine yeast

Put the ingredients in the bread machine in the order listed. Select the dough cycle. When the cycle is complete, remove dough and shape into rolls. Let rise another 30 minutes or until nearly double in size. If you like, beat egg white and a tablespoon of water together to brush over the rolls before baking. This makes them shiny. Bake at 375 degrees for about 18 minutes or until lightly browned.  

Enjoy!