Sunday Gravy
by Leanne Smoliak
The holiday season is a distant memory, and all thoughts of dieting are down the drain. The Smos are anxious to see friends and put a heart-warming dinner in their bellies. Are we the only ones that feel this way?
Sunday gravy is our version of the classic Italian Sunday meal—pasta (or gnocchi, Brad is a whiz at gnocchi) followed by meats cooked low and slow in tomatoes and wine, with some vegetables (contorni) and salad (insalata) on the side. We like to do a braised beef (something like a blade roast) with pork side ribs and sausage meatballs.
We use processed tomatoes from our backyard vines, the garlic is from the Benjestorf’s pandemic farm, and the herbs are our own that we grow under lights in the winter.
While the gnocchi are being rolled and the meats are bubbling away in the big ’ol orange Creuset, wine is poured, olives and cheese nibbled and laughs doled out in abundance.
We serve the gnocchi with the tomato sauce the meats were cooked in. The beef is sliced and piled on a platter with the ribs and meatballs; the vegetables and salad in bowls alongside.
Sunday is the day of the week that I never ever say no to dessert (dolce). It could be as simple as affogato—ice cream topped with hot espresso.
Take it from the Smos. Invite some friends into the kitchen and cook together. It sure makes the cold days a whole lot warmer.
Brad’s Sausage Meatballs
| 1 lb | lean ground beef |
| 1 lb | Fuge Italian sausages, taken out of the casing and broken up (any good-quality Italian sausage will work.) |
| 2 | eggs |
| 1 c | grated pecorino cheese |
| 2 T | fresh parsley, chopped |
| 1 c | breadcrumbs |
| ½ c | cold water |
Mix the beef, sausage, eggs, cheese and parsley until well combined. Add the breadcrumbs then slowly add the water. The mixture will be quite moist. Form into 2” balls and bake on a parchment-lined sheet for 20 minutes in preheated 325ºF oven. These can be added to Sunday gravy, served with pasta or polenta or made into a meatball sub. They freeze very well.
Makes about 24 meatballs.