An Italian Classic in a Flash

An Italian Classic

This is something I make when I want something fancy but I don't have 2-3 hours to spend in the kitchen. Its something you can easily prep in the morning, toss in the crockpot, and then later eat at dinner. It is an Italian stew with beef, tomatoes, and some wonderful red wine.

Ingredients:

• 2.25 lbs of beef - round roast of chuck roast work great!
• 2 carrots
• 2 celery stalks
• 1 onion - I personally prefer red onions
• 400 ml beef broth (about 1 2/3 cup)
• 400 ml Italian red wine (or any red wine really)
• 400 ml cubed tomatoes from a can
• salt
• pepper
• olive oil 
• (optional) fresh thyme, rosemary, basil and oregano

Step 7. 

Once you have all these items start by doing the following: 

1.  Cut the celery and carrots into approximately 1/4inch slices and dice the onions 
2.  Cut the beef into approximately 1 1/2 inch cubes
3.  Season the beef with salt and pepper and heat some olive oil in a large non stick pot
4.  When the olive oil is hot put in the beef and make sure to sear it on all sides
5.  Cook the meat until its cooked through and all the moisture is rendered down
6.  Add the celery, onions, and carrots and let them sweat so that the flavors can develop nicely 
7.  Add in the herbs, beef broth, wine, and tomatoes bring these to a boil
8.  Put in a warmed crock pot and let stand on high for 3 hours (this can be longer but do not surpass 5 hours).
9.  Pour over gnocchi or pasta 
10.  Enjoy! The meat will be falling apart in your mouth!

This dish goes great with ravioli's, and pasta but is meant to be served with potato gnocchi. There's many gluten free potato gnocchi's out there but if you live somewhere where it is not readily available (like me) it is very easy to make! In any gnocchi recipe you can replace regular flour with gluten free flower. There is a quick recipe below.

Buon appetito!

Final result on top of some home made gnocchi's

Quick gnocchi recipe!

Ingredients:

• 500 g of potatoes
• 2 medium eggs
• 100 g gluten free flour
• 100 g of shredded parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp. of salt 

1. Peel the potatoes and cut them into small pieces
2. Cook some water with some salt and put the pieces of potato in for about 25 minutes until completely cooked through
3. Let stand for 10 minutes in a strainer so they can soak out 
4. In a bowl mash the potatoes and let cool for 10 minutes
5. Split the eggs and add both yolks and one egg white in with the potatoes
6. Add the flour, cheese and salt as well and mix them with a fork 
7. Dust your hands and a work surface with gluten-free flour
8. Put the mixture on the work surface and knead it until its dough
9. Separate the the mixture into 4's
10. Roll a piece out to a 3/4 inch roll
11. Cut the roll into pieces of 3/4 of an inch
12. Press each piece lightly with a fork to create ribs in the gnocchi
13. Boil a pan with water and salt, drop the gnocchi and let them cook for 2 minutes or until they rise to the surface. lift them out and enjoy! 

Gnocchi's are really good with any sauce and any cheese, they go really well in the freezer as well both prepared and raw!