This recipe for Pasta Bolognese is from a chef at the Culinary Institute of America, the world’s premiere culinary college. It’s rich, hearty, meaty and a perfect pasta dish for these cool, autumn evenings.

The recipe calls for 6 ounces of pancetta but my container only had 4 oz., so that’s what I used…I didn’t want to spend another $4 dollars for a few more ounces. Also, I used 1 lb. ground beef instead of a mixture of pork, beef and veal. Next time I’ll add sauteed mushrooms to the sauce, which would be a delicious addition. Serve with a big green salad or your favorite veggies and you’ve got yourself a meal. Enjoy!

Pasta Bolognese Epicurious
-recipe from Epicurious.com

This recipe was shared with Epicurious by Chef Joseph W. DiPerri of The Culinary Institute of America.

Yield: Makes 6 servings

2 (28-ounce) cans whole tomatoes with juice or crushed tomatoes
3 tablespoons olive oil
6 ounces pancetta or 6 slices bacon, finely chopped

1/4 pound ground pork (not lean)
1/4 pound ground beef chuck (not lean)
1/4 pound ground veal
1 small onion, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
1 carrot, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
1 cup dry red wine
1 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pound small pasta such as orecchiette or rotini

Garnish: Freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

If using whole tomatoes, in blender or food processor, purée tomatoes with juice. Set aside.

In large, heavy pot over moderate heat, heat oil until hot but not smoking. Add pancetta and sauté until golden brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Add beef, pork, and veal and sauté, breaking up meat with back of spoon, until browned, 7 to 8 minutes. Add onion and carrot and sauté until vegetables are tender, 5 to 6 minutes.

Stir in red wine and simmer, scraping up browned bits stuck to bottom of pan, until liquid is reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, cream, salt, and pepper. Reduce heat to moderately low and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until sauce is thickened and brick-red in color, approximately 30 minutes.

In large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until almost tender. Drain well and toss with sauce. Serve with grated cheese.

Tags: Beef, carrot, heavy cream, Italian, meat sauce, onion, orecchiette, pancetta, pasta bolognese, pork, Quick Cooking, red wine, rotini, tomato sauce

If you’re ever in that What To Do With The Leftover Turkey quandary then you must make Turkey Chowder with Wild Rice, Crimini and Pancetta. After consuming several bowls of this hearty, satisfying chowder, Husband remarked,” This soup is awesome! It’s like an entire turkey dinner in a bowl.” My mom even declared it to be the best turkey soup she’s ever eaten. Well then, how do you top that?

Sweet corn, earthy mushrooms and wild rice give this soup loads of flavor. I cut down on the butter, substituted chopped onions for shallots, added a little Marsala wine, and used only 1/4 cup of heavy cream. I also used about 1 cup of leftover gravy, too. To save some money, I used only one 4-oz. package of pancetta because because they were almost $4 a package. To be honest, I really couldn’t taste the pancetta in the soup (maybe using the full amount would make a difference). Next time, I’d skip the pancetta all together or try using regular bacon in place of the pancetta (bacon is less expensive than pancetta). If you don’t have turkey, use leftover roast chicken. Enjoy!

Turkey Chowder with Wild Rice, Crimini, and Pancetta
-recipe from epicurious.com

For extra flavor, add leftover (plain) gravy or stuffing to the soup. If using stuffing, stir in one to two cups half an hour before the end of the cooking time. If using gravy, add it just before the soup’s done. Makes 8 main-course servings.

2 1/2 cups water
3/4 cup wild rice (about 5 ounces), rinsed, drained
1/4 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 3-ounce packages sliced pancetta (Italian bacon), diced
12 ounces crimini (baby bella) mushrooms, sliced (about 5 1/2 cups)
1/4 cup ( 1/2 stick) butter
2 carrots, diced
2 celery stalks, chopped
1/2 cup chopped shallots
1/3 cup all purpose flour
10 cups Turkey Stock (recipe below)
1 teaspoon dried crushed rosemary
2 to 4 cups chopped cooked turkey meat (reserved from carcass)
1 1/2 cups frozen corn kernels
1 cup heavy whipping cream

Chopped fresh Italian parsley

Bring 2 1/2 cups water, rice, and 1/4 teaspoon salt to boil in medium saucepan. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until rice is tender but still firm to bite, 45 to 60 minutes (time will vary depending on variety of rice). Drain; set aside.

Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add pancetta and cook until browned, stirring often, about 8 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer pancetta to paper towels to drain. Add mushrooms to pot and cook until beginning to brown, about 8 minutes. Transfer to medium bowl. Add butter to same pot. Add carrots and celery. Cover; cook until vegetables begin to soften, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Add shallots; stir until soft, about 2 minutes. Sprinkle flour over and stir 1 minute. Return mushrooms to pot. Mix in Turkey Stock and rosemary; bring to boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium-low, partially cover, and simmer 15 minutes.

Add rice, pancetta, turkey meat, and corn to soup. Simmer to blend flavors, about 10 minutes. Stir in cream. Season to taste with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 3 days ahead. Cool slightly. Chill uncovered until cool. Cover and keep chilled. Rewarm over medium heat before serving.

Divide soup among bowls, sprinkle with parsley, and serve.
 
Turkey Stock
This excellent, all-purpose broth can be made three days ahead; keep it covered and chilled. Makes 10 cups.

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 large carrot, chopped
1 celery stalk with leaves, chopped
1 carcass with skin from one 12- to 15-pound turkey; meat removed and reserved, carcass broken into pieces
4 quarts (about) cold water
4 fresh Italian parsley sprigs
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
1 bay leaf

Heat oil in large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, and celery. Cover; cook until vegetables begin to soften, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes.

Place turkey carcass pieces in pot and add enough cold water to cover bones (about 4 quarts).

Bring mixture to boil and skim any foam from the surface.

Add parsley, thyme, peppercorns, and bay leaf. Reduce heat to low, cover with lid slightly ajar, and simmer 3 hours.

Strain stock into large bowl, pressing on solids in strainer; discard solids. Let stock stand 10 minutes; skim off fat. Boil to reduce to 10 cups or add water to measure 10 cups. Season with salt and pepper.

Tags: chowder, cimini mushrooms, holiday meal, holidays, leftover turkey, pancetta, soup, turkey, wild rice