Italian Night

We had big bowls of spaghetti with meat sauce for dinner tonight. I put the pot of sauce on to simmer early in the afternoon. Moe put in a request for my Gorgonzola Garlic Bread. I hadn't made it for him in awhile. We lived in Dunkirk, NY for a couple of years and we would go to Buffalo on a regular basis to shop, and when we did, we would have lunch at a little Italian restaurant that served this wonderful warm garlic breaded seasoned with Gorgonzola and Parmesan cheese. This is my copycat version.

Home Cookin Chapter: Recipes From Thibeault's Table

Bolognese Sauce
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My recipe. (updated February 27th, 2004)
Olive oil
1 1/2 pounds lean ground steak or use 1/2 lean beef and 1/2 ground pork
1 onion, chopped
2 stalks of celery, finely chopped
2 to 4 cloves garlic minced
2 to 3 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley - preferably the Italian Parsley
1 to 2 Tablespoon dried basil
1 tablespoon teaspoon dried oregano
Rosemary, and fennel seed (Optional) Pinch of hot red pepper flakes
1/2 cup white wine
1/2 cup cream or milk (Optional)
1 cup beef or chicken broth
2 to 3 large cans chopped tomatoes
salt and pepper

Optional: If you have a rind from a Parmesan cheese add it to the pot to simmer along with the sauce. Really enriches the sauce. Saute chopped onions and celery in olive oil until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the meat and saute until no longer pink. (Add cream/milk if using it and simmer until it has evaporated) Add 1/2 cup white wine and simmer until wine has evaporated. Add the dried herbs and fresh parsley. Coarsely puree tomatoes and add to the pot. Add chicken broth and simmer for at least 2 hours on low heat.

Serve over spaghetti with fresh grated Parmesan cheese.

Home Cookin Chapter: Recipes From Thibeault's Table

Italian Bread with Gorgonzola
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Long loaf of Italian Bread or long crusty rolls.

1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup Gorgonzola cheese
1 to 2 cloves garlic
parsley
salt
pepper
fresh grated Parmesan cheese

Optional: Basil or Oregano

Cream the butter with the Gorgonzola cheese.Mince garlic and add to cheese mixture. Add chopped parsley, and season with salt and pepper. If using the basil or the oregano add now as well. Leave loaf whole, but cut slices so that the loaf stays together. Spread cheese mixture in between each slice and reshape loaf. Sprinkle top of loaf with Parmesan cheese and wrap in foil. Place in 400°F oven for 10 or 15 minutes and serve hot.