If you have a few hours, make a Bolognese Sauce

Just like many areas in the country, it has been a super cold and snowy 2010 on Cape Cod. I was really excited when I got my Kitchen Aid mixer pasta attachment. These two factors inspired me to make an authentic Bolognese Sauce and I have to say it was fabulous!! It took most of the day, but once you get the hang of it, its every easy.

My inspirations was Marcella Hazan "Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking".  When I bought this book, I was trying to decide between this one and the "Silver Spoon Italian Cookbook". I decided on the "Essentials of Italian Cooking" because it was more basic and looked really easy to follow. Many of the recipes are time consuming, but easy, t and clear. Everything I have made from this book is fantastic This is one of my favorite books. On a snowy day I like to make something to simmer on the stove all day. I think my version may have taken longer than the Hazan version because I doubled it.

Here is my version is pretty much the same as Marcella Hazon, but I doubled it and used pork and beef instead of only beef.

Bolognese Sauce

printable recipe

Based on the recipe by Marella Hazon from " Essentials of Italian Cooking"

3 tbs. of butter

2 tbs. of oil

1 cup chopped onion

1 1/2 cup chopped carrots

2/3 cup chopped celery

1 lb ground beef

1 lb ground pork

pinch of nutmeg

2 cups of milk

2 cups white wine

1 28 oz. tomatoes

salt and pepper to taste

1. Melt butter with oil in a stock pot.

2. Add onions and cook until soft, then add carrots and celery and cook until soft.

3. Add beef, pork and nutmeg and brown meat.

4. Once browned add the milk and bring to a simmer.  Leave on a very slow simmer until all of the milk has simmered away, about 30-45 minutes. Stiring occasionally.

5. Add wine and simmer slowly until all of the wine has simmered away about 30-45 minutes. Stiring occasionally

6. Chop tomatoes and add to sauce along with juices.  Bring to a simmer and simmer for no less then 3 hours.

I served it on homemade fettuccine and it was great! Sorry the picture is not so great and you do not need a lot of sauce for the pasta. I froze the left overs and they were a good weeknight meal.