Pork Ragu with Pappardelle 

Old recipe + new pasta = Happy Family

Pork Ragu with Pappardelle

Ingredients

1 large Pork Butt
1 onion, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 celery ribs, chopped (feel free to add any more veggies…mushrooms, peppers, etc…)
2 cloves garlic, crushed and chopped
3 tablespoons tomato paste
4 tablespoons Worschestire Sauce
1 glass of red wine
1 large can tomato sauce
1 large can crushed tomatoes
1/2 container of beef broth
1 tablespoon sugar
salt and pepper to taste
fresh herbs, chopped- whatever you have- use dried herbs if you don’t have fresh…tablespoons of whatever, don’t be scared to add herbs…sage, oregano, rosemary, marjoram, thyme, parsley, etc.
1 pound of Bucatini- I have also used polenta, egg noodles, couscous, mashed potatoes etc. Use a sturdy pasta/grain/potato

Directions

Salt and pepper each side of your Butt. Make sure you heat your large Dutch oven on high.

Brown your meat on all sides. Give each large side a good 8-10 minutes. Each small side gets a good 4-5 minutes. There probably will be a lot of smoke. This is normal.
While browning all sides, cut up all your veggies.
Once all sides are brown, take the meat out.
Add your veggies and cook down for 6 minutes. Add your garlic. Add your tomato paste. Cook together for about 4 minutes or so. Add the wine and worcestershire; reduce to half, about 8 minutes. Mix well.
Add the tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes.
Add in your beef broth. Mix Well.
Add back in your pork.
Cook for at least 4 hours. Turn every 1/2 hour.
Cook your pasta. Add your sauce to the pasta. AMAZING!

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Gigantic french loaf that barely fit in the oven.
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I found these at Sprouts today. New favorite!
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Hello, Gorgeous!

Chicken Sausage and Veggie Lasagna

Evening guys! I made this meal the other night for me and the girls. My husband hates ricotta and is not a fan of chicken sausage, so he was working late and I knew it was time to get a little ricotta in our lives =)

This is pretty much just like a lot of the other weeknight lasagnas I make like this one. Using no boil noodles is the key for fast lasagna. I did use a small can of diced tomatoes that I added to a jar of pasta sauce with some sauteed onions, garlic, and spinach. Since the girls are not big fans of spinach or chucks of tomato, I blended them together with the jar of pasta sauce. I don’t usually have to trick my kids in to eating veggies, but I am not opposed to it at all.

I usually use ground beef or pork, but I found these chicken sausages on sale that I took out of the casing and browned. Shhhhh!!! They had kale in them, which they never noticed because of all the layers of pasta and cheese!!!!!  😉

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Stuffed Shells and an Amazing Appetizer

When you are a food blogger, making an amazingly easy stuffed shells with beef cooked with salt and pepper, topped with cheese and tomato sauce, you kinda feel like such a fraud. But then you make a killer appetizer that validates your conscience. 4 chopped tomatoes, 5 crushed minced garlic heads, a bunch of basil that came in to the mix with melted mozzarella with toasted bread added with olive oil on its base. You have to be crazy not to love this bruschetta 😍

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Beefy Mushroom Mozzarella Lasagna

Just an ordinary Monday using my fridge and cabinet without going to the store on the way home…

Ingredients- No boil lasagna noodles, 1 pound ground beef, 1 container of sliced mushrooms, 1 large can of Italian diced tomatoes, 1 jar marinara, 1 mozzarella ball shredded, 1 bag of Italian cheese blend, and seasonings…

Directions-  Brown the ground beef and mushrooms with salt and pepper and a few shakes of Worcestershire.  8 minutes. Add the can of diced tomatoes (with Italian seasoning) and jarred marinara.

In a large casserole dish sprayed with cooking oil, and a bit of sauce,  layer your noodles, beef mixture, cheese. Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes.

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Cheesy Chili Mac

Thursday Night. Cheer Practice. Garlic Bread. One Pan Plan. Easy Dinner. Clean plates.

Cheesy Chili Mac

Ingredients

1 pound noodles (I used Corkscrew)
1 pound ground beef
1 28 oz. can of tomatoes sauce
1 12 oz. can of diced tomatoes
1 tablespoon cumin
1/2 tablespoon of onion powder, garlic powder, and chili powder
red chili flakes to taste
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup of water
1/2 container of mascarpone/cream cheese
1 small container of shredded Mexican cheese mix

Directions

Brown your meat. Add in spices.
Add in canned tomatoes. Mix well.
Add in pasta and water. Cook about 8 minutes. Stir pasta at the 4 minute mark. If it looks thick, add in a bit more water. Stir well. After 4 more minutes, check pasta. It should still have a bite to it. Add in your mascarpone and cheese and cook until mixed together. img_9245