ManCave Test Kitchen

We’ve got some great recipes on this site, but we’ve never really dealt with what to do when there’s leftovers.  Let’s face it, as much as living on meatloaf sounds awesome…it will get boring.  Recipes like this were used for “family meals” in restaurants I’ve been in , and sometimes, they ever ran as  featured menu item (I mean c’mon ravioli are awesome).  This recipe is simple and uses things you keep around your kitchen anyway.  It’s a great way to stretch out even one left over portion to feed 4 or 5 people.

• 1 lb. of your favorite pasta, cooked
• 1/2 c. small diced onion
• 1/2 c. small diced carrot
• 1/2 c. small diced celery
• 2 cloves chopped garlic
• 1/2 c. red wine
• 1 c. tomato sauce
• 1/4 c. parmesan Cheese (the good stuff, not the crap in the flip-top can)
• 1/4 c. mascrapone cheese (use heavy cream if you cant’ find mascarpone)
• 1-2 portions left ove meatloaf or meatballs (no it doesn’t have to be from this blog)
• 1 tbsp. fresh chopped basil
• 1 tbsp. fresh chopped parsely

1. In a food processor, or by hand, chop the meatballs into small bits.  If you use the food processor, make sure to pulse the device.  You dont’ want a puree here.
2. In a sauce pot, add 1 tbsp of Olive oil and bring it up to about a medium heat.  Add your vegetables.  Sweat them slowly for about 5 minutes, stirring every minute.
3. Add your garlic and sweat for another few minutes.  Add your red wine and herbs and allow the wine to reduce by half
4. Add the tomato sauce.  Cook this for about 4 minutes.
5. Add your mascarpone (or cream) and let the sauce simmer for 5-10 minutes.  Now add your parmesan and stir until it’s completely dissolved.
6. Serve this over your favorite pasta.

Now the recipe says serve this over your favorite pasta, you could always just eat it with a spoon like we do in my house.  it also goes vey well with polenta, and is excellent to do scarpetta with (for those of you non-italians, that means scoop the sauce up with some nice crusty bread).  You can even use this as a filling fo lasagna if you mix it with some ricotta cheese.

Happy Eating,

-The Doctor