Back to the food theme – recipe time!

Pasta Bolognese! Since I got home too late on Sunday to have a Dream Dinner thawed out and ready for Monday night, I knew I would have to cook on my own. That worked out fine since I typically crave pasta after I travel for whatever reason! Now, everyone has their own opinion on bolognese. The sauce I had at the WhisknLadle was very beef oriented, a completely brown, brothy kind of sauce with no tomato/veggie flavor at all. It was yummy, just not what *I* personally refer to as bolognese. I prefer mine more like what you see above (not one I took last night, just one I found on the web which closely resembles what I make). So here is the version I make which I really love:

• 1lb ground beef
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 1 carrot, diced
• 4oz smoked ham (should not be maple or brown sugar glazed as that will be too much sugar), chopped into small chunks
• 1 cup water
• 3-4…or maybe 6-8 if it’s plum…canned whole tomatoes OR 3 tbsp tomato puree
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp salt
• dash of black pepper
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1/3 cup white win or chicken broth (I’ve made it with both and they are equally good)

Brown beef in a skillet in 1tbsp oil until pink is gone and transfer to large pot. Saute onion, celery, carrot and ham with remaining 1 tbsp oil in skillet until onion is soft. Transfer to pot with ground meat and combine. Add water, tomatoes, garlic, salt, pepper and thyme. Cover and cook for 20 mins on med/low heat. Add wine/chicken broth and cook for 5 more minutes. Done! Serve over cooked pasta.