Pioneer Cooking

Yeah, so I read the Pioneer Woman blog (I only read the articles. mmmm...that's right. Just the recipes). Okay, kill me now.

Anyway, she sprung for some tattooed preacher to cook for her. I'm thinking he needs to come to my house. I need a cook and a housekeeper and a lawn man and a pool boy. So, I don't have a pool....and your point is?

He made a Bolonese Sauce. Oh, sure he had all the ingredients, he had all the kitchen tools, he had heaps of admirers. The real challenge would be to make this sauce without all the brouhaha. Do not give me a challenge. It's like leaving me alone with the band. No good can come of it.

This was my Bolonese Sauce made with one five quart stock pot (a Big Lots buy) one 10 inch fry pan, a set of Kitchen Aid utensils (oh Costco how I love thee) and a knife.

Another thing my sauce doesn't have besides the accouterments is the meat. The Boys have been on a meat orgy for the last six weeks. I'm determined to purge their systems.


Veggie Bolongese

1 cup onion, chopped
1 cup zucchini, chopped
1 cup mushrooms, chopped
5 cloves garlic, chopped
1 cup carrot, grated
1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped
1/4 cup olive oil
1-15 ounce can diced tomatoes, the stuff with oregano, garlic, and whatever
1 small can tomato paste
1 cup red wine

Fire up the fry pan ( you may want to use a stock pot but why be a pussy; use a fry pan.) with half the olive oil on medium high heat. Toss in the carrots and cook until they are just a little bit softened. When they are done throw in the onion, zucchini, and mushrooms. Give it a couple of minutes. Add the rest of the olive oil and the bit of salt. Let cook until soft. Add the red wine. Poor yourself a glass while your at it. You deserve it. It is inspiration juice. Let the wine cook down just a little. Add the tomato paste. Melt it a bit then add the diced tomatoes. Cook over low heat.

Cook your pasta as directed. This is usually al dente but JR likes his soft. Did I mention he was a freak? No. Well, he is. I used whole wheat pasta because that is what I had on hand and it's good for you and because Costco is my friend. You use whatever makes you happy. I won't judge. At the very last minute chuck the basil into the sauce. It needs to wilt before you serve it.

Spoon over hot pasta. Top with Parmesan cheese. Eat like there is no tomorrow.

So there you have it. Real Pioneer Cooking. Anything else is just hype.

Love,
M

P.S. I like to steal recipes off other sites just for inspiration. This is not the first one I've taken from the Pioneer Woman site and made into my own. But just like Norm Abram from PBS she has all the cool shit and well...I don't.