One-pot Bucatini with Sausage and Bacon

I wasn't going to cook at all. Everyone else in the family was off doing their things, and I hate cooking for just myself. I didn't even feel like cooking, but I suddenly found myself in the kitchen peering into boxes. Oh... have I mentioned that we recently bought a house and moved? Yeah... hence the box-peering. Anyway, I started seeing things... like pasta and the two lonely pieces of bacon in he fridge and the breakfast sausage that was about to go south. The more things I found, the more they started telling me they wanted to be together. NEEDED to be together. Not only did I end up clearing out some room in the fridge and putting away a couple of boxes, I came out of the kitchen with this!-

It was deeeeeeeeelicious!!

One-pot Bucatini with Sausage and Bacon

2-3 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into 1/2" wide pieces

1 package breakfast sausage links, cut into 1/2" pieces (or bulk Italian sausage... or whatever ground meat you want to use)

3-4 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 large onion, chopped

1/2 C. red wine + 1/2 C. water

1/4 C. tomato paste

1 C. tomato sauce

1 14 oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained

2 C. chicken broth

1 6.5 oz. can sliced mushrooms, undrained

1 t. dried basil

1 t. dried oregano

pepper to taste

1 C. water

1 16 oz. package bucatini pasta, broken into 3-4" pieces (or whatever pasta you happen to have on hand... just remember to adjust the cooking time if you need to)

1/2 C. grated Parmesan cheese

In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, saute bacon until crisp. Remove and set aside to drain. Add sausage to remaining fat in pot. Saute until browned and cooked through. Remove and set aside with bacon. Drain all but 1 tablespoon of fat from pot. Saute onions and garlic until soft. Deglaze pot with wine/water mixture, scraping up browned bits from the bottom. Add next nine ingredients and bring to a boil. Add pasta and return to simmer. Cover and cook 5 minutes (or approximately 2/3 of the recommended cooking time for the pasta you're using), stirring occasionally. Turn off burner, add reserved meats and Parmesan cheese, stirring well. Cover and let stand about 3 minutes, or until most of sauce is absorbed. Serve with additional cheese, if desired.

Meaty Meaty Bolognese Sauce

My eldest stepson was over for dinner last night, I wanted to make something special, and I actually had all day to do it (which was a good thing, because this sauce took nearly 6 hours to make!). I'm sure this isn't completely traditional, but it was the best pasta sauce I've ever made!!! Buon appetito!!

Meaty Bolognese Sauce

1-6 oz. package prosciutto, cut into 1/2" pieces
1 T. olive oil
1 lb. extra lean ground beef
1 lb. Italian sausage (removed from casing, if links)
2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
2 large stalks celery, diced
1-8 oz. package sliced crimini mushrooms, coarsely chopped
1 medium onion, diced
1 T. minced garlic
1 C. red wine
1-6oz. can tomato paste
1-28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
2 C. beef broth
generous amount of fresh basil, sliced
Handful of freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Black pepper to taste

In a large, heavy pot over medium heat, saute prosciutto until just crispy. Remove and drain on paper towels, leaving fat in the pot. Slowly brown ground beef and sausage, seasoning with pepper, until cooked through. Add carrots, celery, mushrooms, onion, and garlic; continue cooking until vegetables are tender. Add wine and boil until almost completely evaporated. Add tomato paste and stir until completely incorporated. Add crushed tomatoes, beef broth, and reserved prosciutto. Reduce heat to low simmer, cover, and continue to cook for another 1-2 hours, adding water if it appears to be getting too thick. Just before serving, stir in basil and cheese.

Caprese Pasta Salad with Shrimp

It's been hot here in the greater Puget Sound area. Really hot. For a frightfully long time.

I figured it was time to come up with a new dinner salad! This would also be great for potlucks, picnics, and the occasional shindig.

Caprese Pasta Salad with Shrimp

1 - 12 oz. box farfalle (butterfly) pasta

1 lb. small cooked shrimp, shelled, deveined, and tails off

2 C. grape or cherry tomatoes, cut in half

1 C. prepared pesto 

fresh ground black pepper to taste

1/2 t. kosher salt

2 - 8 oz. packages fresh mozzarella pearls, separated 

1/3 C. fresh basil, chiffonade (cut into thin strips)

a few basil leaves reserved for garnish

Cook pasta according to package directions. If you're using frozen shrimp, dump it into the colander you plan to drain the pasta in. Pour cooked pasta over shrimp in colander, drain, then run under cold water until shrimp are thawed and pasta is cold. Drain again very well. 

In a large mixing bowl, combine pasta and shrimp mixture with remaining ingredients and stir until thoroughly combined. Garnish with reserved basil leaves if desired and serve immediately or refrigerate until desired.