Johnny Rigate (organic beef)

Another variation on one of our families’ favorite dishes referred to as Johnny Marzetti.  This one is much closer to the original Johnny Orecchiette utilizing locally produced “Missouri Legacy Beef” organic ground beef and uses a simple home style tomato sauce with a little touch of some special ground peppers. 

Ingredients 16  Oz. Ground Beef (85-15 Organic)
 12 Oz. Penne Rigate Macaroni
 6 Large Green Onions, diced
 1 ½ Tsp. Pasilla Ground Dried Chiles (Paul Prudhomme’s Magic all natural Pasilla Chile)
 1 Large Fresh Red Bell Pepper, diced
 1 Tbsp. Roasted Garlic (ground)
 1½ - 2 Cups, finely shredded Parmesan cheese
 EVOO
 Tomato sauce
     o 1 – 14.5 0z. Can, Petite Cut Diced Tomatoes
     o 1 - 22 Oz. Tomato Sauce (14 Oz and 8 Oz can)
     o 1 Tsp. Dried ground Basil
     o 1 Tsp. Paul Prudhomme’s Vegetable Magic Seasoning

Directions1. Fire up the Egg to Full Flame with Grid in place
2. Boil water in a medium sized Emily Henry Stew Pot and add macaroni (with a heaping tablespoon of coarse sea salt and a small drizzle of EVOO), stir frequently until tender (approximately 10 minutes); remove from heat and drain in colander then set aside.
3. Drizzle EVOO into a large Emile Henry Flame Top Cassoulet and add ground beef and brown while adding in all of the spices and vegetables stirring frequently.
4. When beef is done add in the tomato sauce and the cooked Penne Rigate and simmer for 10 minutes (covered).  Remove the lid, stir in the shredded parmesan cheese and serve hot. 

Spinach Gnocchi and Sausage in Tomato Sauce

Ingredients

€        1 Lb. Spicy Stadium Sausage (pork)

€        1 Tbls. EVOO (extra-virgin olive oil)

€        2 Small Shallots, finely chopped

€        4 cloves Garlic, minced

€        1/4 Cup Dry white wine

€        1 Can (28 ounces) whole plum tomatoes with juice, crushed by hand

€        1 can (14 1/2 ounces) tomato sauce

€        1 Tsp. of Ground Basil

€        ½ Tsp. crushed Red Pepper flakes

€        Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

€        Spinach Gnocchi

€        Thinly shaved parmesan cheese, for serving           

Directions

1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat until hot but not smoking. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Add wine; cook until most liquid has evaporated. Add tomatoes and juice, tomato sauce, basil, and red pepper flakes. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer until slightly thick, about 30 minutes. Season with black pepper. Remove from heat; cover to keep warm.
2. Bring large pot of salted water to a boil; add the gnocchi and when they rise to the top (after about 2 minutes), continue to cook until tender, one minute.  Drain in colander or transfer gnocchi with a slotted spoon to pan with sauce. Simmer for 10-15 minutes.  



Halloween Dinner - Garlic Sausage Gnocchi

Garlic Sausage Gnocchi II is a revision of my original Sausage Gnocchi uses Garlic Sausage and FRESH Organic Tomatoes to create the tomato sauce and adds a touch of Mozzarella cheese. It’s quick and easy and tasty…serves 3-4.
Ingredients
1 Lb. Pkg. Potato Gnocchi
3 Medium Diced Tomatoes
1 – 1 ¼ Lb. Garlic Seasoned Italian Sausage (4 links)
½ chopped large Sweet Onion

Italian seasoning (A strong Tsp each of basil, oregano, cumin)
Water
½ Tsp. Fresh Ground Sea Salt
1 Tsp. Granulated Sugar
1 ½ Tsp. Parsley
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
Grated Romano/Parmesan cheese (for topping)

Preparation
1. Fire up the Egg to FULL FLAME on extended ring with Grid.
2. In a 4 Qt. Pot bring lightly salted water to boil for Gnocchi and boil until it all floats, remove and drain, set aside.
3. Dribble a splash of water into the 4 Qt. pot and cook onions until they are transparent.
4. Add the tomatoes and 8 oz. of Tomato Sauce, stir in the spices and bring to boil, stirring frequently.

5. Remove from heat and cover for 10 minutes then add Gnocchi to tomato sauce and recover pot.

6. In a Cast Iron Skillet heat EVOO over high heat and the sausage (links rolled into approximately 1 tablespoon in size and cook until browned throughout.

7. Dump the tomato sauce/gnocchi into the skillet and stir constantly. Bring skillet contents to a boil.

8. Add mozzarella cheese and stir until melted the remove from heat and let set for 5 minutes.

9. Dump into a service dish or Paella pan, sprinkle lightly with Parmesan cheese and serve immediately.

Penne Paella

A variation on my Penne with Sausage and Peas that included substituting Mild Italian Sausage (for Andouille) and 8 oz. of Tomato sauce for the chicken broth in the original recipe.  Probably more of a Marzette than a Paella actually.


Ingredients
• 8-10 Oz. Penne Pasta, uncooked
• EVOO
• ¾ Lb. Mild Italian Sausage
• 3 large Cloves of Fresh Garlic (minced)
• 1 Large Tomato, chopped
• ¼ Tsp. Salt
• 1 -2 Tsp. Paul Prudhomme’s Seasoning Magic Pork and Veil Magic
• 8 Oz. can Tomato Sauce
• 1 Cup, Frozen peas, thawed
• 1 Cup, Fresh Grated Parmesan cheese

Directions
1. Fire up BGE to full flame and heat a large pot (a CI double broiler or Emile Henry 4-5 qt. pot will work fine) of lightly salted water to boiling; Add pasta and cook until tender then drain and set aside.
2. Close off the bottom damper on the BGE to and place large paella pan on grid.
3. Drizzle EVOO in bottom of paella pan then add the garlic and sausage, sprinkle on the Pork Magic and cook until browned (turn/stir occasionally).
4. Add the tomatoes and salt and cook for 2-3 minutes.
5. Add the pasta and the peas and stir well.
6. When hot, add the cheese and toss until melted. (Option: Add Cheese as a garnish instead of melting with the pasta).
7. Remove from heat and serve right from the Paella pan.

Nothing like cooking the entire dinner on the egg once again, no heat in the kitchen.  Here are the 'RAWS' (most of them anyway).

Chicken, Andouille & Tasso Jambalaya

…or Jumbled-laya
Building on my love of Paul Prudhomme’s spices this recipe is loosely based (for this particular cook we have substituted most of the meats called for with things we already had in the refrigerator or freezer, but it works just fine), thus the JUMBLE. This Jambalaya dish serves 6 as a main dish or 10-12 as an appetizer.


 Ingredients
• 2 Tbsp. Chef Paul Prudhomme’s Magic Seasoning (you pick from Poultry, Meat or Pork & Veal magic)
• 3 Tbsp. Butter (unsalted)
• 4 Ounces Tasso (or sub chunks of ham)
• 4 Ounces Andouille (or sub Chorizo or Spicy Italian or Polish sausage/Kielbasa) Sausage, diced
• ¾ Lb. Boneless Chicken (thighs or breast) – Bite Size
• 2 Bay Leaves
• 1 Cup Chopped Sweet Onions
• 1 Cup Chopped Celery (optional)
• 1 Cup Green Bell Pepper (chopped (and ANY color will do))
• 1 Tbsp. Garlic (fresh minced)
• ½ Cup Canned Tomato Sauce
• 1 Cup Peeled and Chopped Fresh Tomatoes (or substitute 1 14 oz. can of diced tomatoes)
• 2 ½ Cups Chicken Broth (stock or water substitute)
• 1 ½ Cups Instant Rice

Preparation
1. Fire up the BGE (and 2” raised grid) and when it reaches high heat, melt the butter in a double broiler (5-6 quart).
2. Add the Andouille and Tasso; cook until meat starts to brown, about 4-5 minutes; stirring frequently.
3. Sprinkle in a little EVOO and add the Chicken; continue cooking until brown (again stirring frequently).
4. Stir in the Bay leaves, Magic Seasoning, and ½ cup each of the onions, celery (optional) the bell pepper and garlic and cook until the vegetables are tender; stirring frequently and keeping the bottom of the pan from sticking ingredients.
5. Stir in the remaining ½ cup each of the Onions, Celery (optional) and bell pepper, the tomatoes and tomato sauce.
6. Stir in the stock and rice, mixing well and allow the mixture to come to a boil, stirring occasionally. Cover the double broiler and shut down the Big Green Egg completely. When the rice is tender and the stock has cooked down (approximately 8-10 minutes) remove from egg.
7. Stir well and remove Bay leaves and let sit for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Beef Stew on the Big Green Egg

Tagine Style Beef Stew - Beef and veggies cooked up in a Tagine for a flavorful one dish dinner. Ready from start to finish in 90 minutes (fire up the grill; prepare ingredients and 60 minute cook).

Ingredients5 Carrots - Medium carrots, peeled and sliced ¾ Lb. Top Sirloin cut into larger but bite size pieces
2-3 Medium potatoes peeled and chopped
4-5 oz. Cocktail Onions
5 Stalks of Celery, sliced into bite size pieces
4 Roma Tomatoes cut into 3/8” slices
2 Medium Turnips, cut into bite size pieces
5 oz. Tomato Sauce
15 oz. Beef Broth (low salt variety)2 Tbsp. Ground garlic and parsley
2 Tbsp. Fresh ground parsley
EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)

Preparation and Cooking1. Pour 5 tbsp of EVOO on the bottom of the tagine and begin layering ingredients evenly, starting with carrots then going in the order they appear above (keeps meat from sticking).
2. Sprinkle all of the spices evenly over the top the vegetables (between layers is best)
3. Close your Tagine and the EGG. Cooking time will be about 90 minutes. Check the Tagine about 45 minutes in to assure that you still have liquid (actually it should be boiling around the hour mark). Remove after 60 minutes and let the tagine rest for 10 minutes and then serve.