Classic bolognese sauce

I’m a simple cook, I don’t really do many “fancy” meals with my kids because they normally won’t eat it, so to save myself the frustration and disappointment we go simple when Daddy isn’t home.

I am lucky to have a husband that is an excellent chef and when he is home, he normally does the cooking and I’ll do the wine drinking and clean up- it’s a perfect match.  Mr. Pea is especially great at making Italian dishes, being a General Manager at a well-known chain of Italian restaurants.  Here’s a clue to where he works:

So, when we’re home…we’re family too 😉

Today I am sharing one of Mr. Pea’s FAVORITE recipes to make: a Classic Bolognene sauce.  So delicious….seriously delicious.  Please note that this recipe takes hours to make.  It’s not a quick dinner option, but two benefits 1) you can make lots extra, freeze and reheat the leftovers for a busy night and 2) the recipe requires some wine, but not a whole bottle, so feel free to drink the leftovers while it’s cooking!

Ingredients:

2 T olive oil

4 T butter

1 med yellow onion, diced

2 celery stalks, diced

3 carrots, diced

1/2 shallot, diced

1 garlic clove, diced

2 strips bacon, chopped

1 lb ground beef

1 lb ground pork

1 28 oz. San Marizano whole tomatoes, pureed

2 T tomato paste

1 1/2 c. dry red wine

3 c. water

3 bay leaves

1 t. ground clove

salt and pepper to taste

1 c milk

– In a large pot, melt butter and olive oil together

– Add in onions, carrots, celery and shallots; cook over medium heat for 10 mins.

– Add in garlic; cook for 5 minutes

– Add in chopped bacon; cook for 8 minutes until brown

– Add in ground pork and beef and cook until all browned and cooked throughout; about 12-15 minutes

– Deglaze the pan with the wine.  Bring to a boil and cook until the wine is reduced by half, about 5 minutes

– Puree the whole, canned tomatoes and add to the pot along with the water, bay leaves and tomato paste.

– Bring the sauce to a boil and then turn down the heat and let simmer 3-4 hours, adding salt and pepper to taste as it cooks.  Add more a bit more water, as needed while the sauce is cooking and allowing it to reduce.

Mr. Pea tending to his sauce baby.

– Before serving, stir in milk and serve over your favorite pasta.

This sauce is so incredibly delicious, I’m not even kidding.  It makes a perfect lazy weekend meal when you don’t have errands to run and are hanging out at home.  The longer it cooks, the better it is.  This recipe made enough for all 5 of us to have two meals from it.

 Disclosure: Mr. Pea was paid in love for exchange for his secret recipe 😉