“Good food is very often, even most often, simple food.” – Anthony Bourdain
Today, I want to take you along as I cook one of my family’s favorite dinner recipes. This recipe is a staple in my home. I always have it on hand in the freezer for those nights when I don’t want to cook but do want to put good, nourishing food on the table.
The first time I had this was at my Aunt Mary’s house, and we all loved it so much that I wrote it down on a piece of my Uncle Tom’s stationery. It is still the recipe I follow today. But because I shorthand wrote this recipe, it never turns out the same every time, and it never turns out as good as Aunt Mary’s.
When I reflect on my childhood and think about cooking and entertaining, I always think of my Aunt Mary’s house. Of me sitting at the counter watching her masterfully navigate her huge wolf range with the big red nobs while I sat at the counter licking the spoon (if I was lucky). She was always making something, whether dinner for the family or canning a big batch of something. And it is ALWAYS the best! So, it is no surprise to me that when I really started cooking, and even today, when I visit, I always write down a new recipe or scour her cookbooks for insight into how to be a great cook.
A few years ago, I was deep into a business plan for my own restaurant, and the first thing I put on my menu and cost out was this recipe. Unfortunately, the perfect building for my concept was bought by someone else, but maybe someday you can come and enjoy my version of my Aunt Mary’s Italian Gravy. But I promise it still won’t be as fantastic as hers.
She has always told me this recipe is from The Frugal Gourmet if you want exact step-by-step instructions, but I have never followed that recipe. Like most of my cooking, I intuitively cook this recipe; sometimes, I have everything the recipe calls for, and sometimes I don’t. It’s not fussy; it is so simple for how good it tastes, and it can be done in many ways. Just taste as you go and find out what you like. My favorite way to eat this is over creamy polenta, but on this night, we had pasta (because, apparently, no one sells actual polenta in this small town). Admittingly, I also have eaten it by just dunking bread in the gravy while standing over the sink. So yeah, not my finest moment, but it is that good. 😬
I hope you enjoy it!