bolognese

Classic bolognese — or pasta with meat sauce — can take hours to prepare. However, this updated rendition comes together in no time. Lean ground beef is cooked with onion before being tossed with a simple puree of tomatoes, red wine, and spices.

Black olives provide a salty kick, while chunks of mozzarella make this pasta comforting and delicious. Although the recipe calls for penne, feel free to use whatever thick pasta you have on hand. Look at the recipe when you read more

About a month ago, I got an intense craving for lasagna. I spent way too much time searching for the perfect recipe and I finally settled on Aida Mollenkamp's Italian sausage and three cheese variation.

While this lasagna was delicious, I found myself, a week later, reading the new Gourmet magazine devoted to Italian-American cooking. I turned the page and was shocked to see the most delicious looking lasagna! I felt embarrassed to have served my friends such a mediocre lasagna when a masterpiece of a lasagna like the one in Gourmet existed. I knew I had to make Gourmet's version immediately.

The recipe did not disappoint. This lasagna is complex, hearty, and comforting. The chunky beef sauce is rich, classic, and fragrant. Although the final result is a drier lasagna, its thick layers meld perfectly. The creamy, flecked-with-spinach ricotta mixture puffs up like a souffle. I highly recommend this dish. To check it out: read more

Bolognese is a classic, kid-friendly crowd pleaser. Who could resist a bowl of piping hot pasta coated in a chunky, flavorful meat and tomato sauce? It's also great because you throw all the ingredients into a large pot and forget about them until the sauce is done. This recipe calls for fettuccine, but you could serve the fragrant bolognese over any pasta you have on hand. Serve with a glass of Italian red wine and let the weekend begin! Sound scrumptious? Wait until you see the recipe, read more

Although I love fancy foods, sometimes a super simple, super tasty, home-style meal really hits the spot. This one uses up the bolognese sauce from yesterday and turns it into a hearty meal that will really please your taste buds and belly. The best part is it only takes one large skillet (ovenproof) and a bowl, which means cleanup is a snap. To check out a simple, delectable meal, read more

When I was a kid, my dad used to make this fantastic bolognese sauce (only back then I didn't know such things as "bolognese" - as far as I was concerned it was just plain "spaghetti sauce"). I remember he would start cooking in the morning and the pot would simmer all day long, permeating the house with an amazing smell. If we were good kids (meaning we didn't terrorize him and let him watch football in peace) we would often be treated to a tiny bowl of sauce (this was about hour 2 or 3) and a few crackers or bread. This was a divine snack and spaghetti sauce days are one of those memories that stick out from my childhood. Unfortunately I don't have my dad's recipe on me, I'll have to call him up and get it next time I'm there. However I've found one for you that sounds just as good. To make a long-simmering meaty bolognese sauce read more