Friday, December 23, 2011

Leftovers: Pasta with Sausage and Sauce

Whenever I make my highly desired Braised Shortribs recipe, I always have so much leftover sauce.  Since the sauce is just too good to waste, I always save the sauce for future recipes.  Here is one recipe that I make with this succulent sauce.

Pasta with Sausage and Leftover Sauce
Original Recipe by Kitchen Groovy

1 box of whole wheat rotini pasta
2 carrots, diced
1 lb. sweet italian sausage, sliced (regular or turkey would work great)
2 1/2 C leftover sauce from Braised Shortribs, hot

Over medium high heat, cook sliced italian sausage on a frying pan until fully cooked.  Set aside on a plate lined with a paper towel to absorb any fat.

Cook pasta according to package directions.  Add diced carrots to the noodles in the boiling water about 1-2 minutes before the noodles are done cooking. 

Drain noodles and carrots.  In large serving bowl, combine pasta, carrots and sausage.  Add in the heated leftover sauce and combine until well mixed.

Chef's Note: feel free to add what you like to this dish - it's leftovers!  I encourage you to add what you like and what you are craving!  Brocolli would be a GREAT addition!  I only added what was left in my refrigerator!  :-)



Delicious!!!  It was so good, the family was begging for me to make more Shortribs, so they can get these leftovers again!  Ha!  WIN-WIN!

Please click here for a printable version of this recipe - Kitchen Groovy

Enjoy and live with gusto!

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Braised Shortribs

I can't believe I haven't posted this recipe yet - this Braised Shortribs recipe is up there in my Top 10 favorite recipes of all time. If you are not sure about trying recipes from random places you find online - this one is an exception for you!  This is a must try, must make, must eat and must share type of recipe.  Invite your neighbors, invite your friends, family, strangers.  It's that good. 

I saw this recipe prepared on our local television Saturday morning show by a chef at a local restaurant called "Wildfire".  At first, I wasn't paying too close attention to what was being made, but as I watched, I remember thinking - "wow, that looks really, really good" and "I think I can make that, too".  My husband was sitting with me and he said "yeah, you should totally make that".  Deal. 

And the rest is history.  It's a great go-to, Sunday night, warm your bones on a cold winter's night kind of meal. 

Oh, and stay tuned for a follow up recipe on how I use leftovers!

Braised Shortribs
Original recipe by Wildfire Steaks, Chops & Seafood

4 - 12 oz cut rectangles of cleaned, boneless short ribs
1 Tbsp kosher salt
1 tsp fresh ground black pepper
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 lb peeled carrots, sliced ½" thick
1 lb cubed onions, 1" square
12 oz sliced celery, ½" thick
¼ cup sliced garlic cloves, 1/8" thick
2 tsp minced, fresh rosemary
2 tsp minced, fresh thyme
2 ea bay leaves
2 cups red wine
1 cup balsamic vinegar
3 cups chicken stock
3 cups beef stock
1 cup diced tomatoes in juice


Make sure short ribs are cleaned of excess fat and silver skin. Season with salt and pepper on both sides.

Place large sauce pan on high heat on stove. Add olive oil and brown meat on both sides. Remove short ribs from pan and add vegetables.

Caramelize vegetables, then add garlic and herbs and cook for two more minutes.

Pour in red wine and balsamic vinegar and cook down until half the liquid has evaporated. Then add chicken and beef stocks and tomatoes. Bring to a boil.

Add short ribs back to pan. Place parchment paper over short ribs, then cover with aluminum foil or pan lid and place in a 370 convention oven. Cook in the oven for two hours, 40 minutes.

Remove pan from the oven and let sit for a half an hour. Remove short ribs from pan and cover with foil to keep warm. Strain sauce. Season with salt and pepper, if needed. Add short rib pieces to sauce, and heat until hot.


My Personal Chef's Note: I take the leftover sauce and vegetables, place it in a food processor and make a gravy.  It is an absolute must do!  Salvage as much of the sauce as possible, as the sauce makes for great leftover meals! 

Serve with roasted root vegetables and mashed potatoes (with sauce, too!). Sprinkle with chopped parsley.


 served on mashed potatoes. . .


What do you think?  No meal screams "H-O-M-E" like a good old meat and potatoes kind of meal.

For a printable version of this recipe, please click here - Kitchen Groovy

Enjoy and live with gusto!