Every male, on his night to cook has gone with the simple spag-type thing…
Yeah, it’s simple and you can get it mostly ready before she shows up and you will eventually have shown an effort.
I applaud that!
But…
The act of cooking should be observed…the creation of aromas from your kitchen should be experienced…
This! Is the core of cooking for a loved one (or a hopeful bedmate)
So, never have the sauce ready, build it!
It takes a few minutes but it has to simmer for a while which of course gives you time to poot forth all those other virtues you have…if any…besides, cooking together is a way of communication…
Jeffrey’s Wine Sauce and Pasta
All of these steps are crucial and should not be skipped by amatuers…
Your Shopping List
1 lb hot italian sausage
1 lb sweet italian
1 large red onion – chopped
1 pod of garlic – chopped
1 bottle of a good red wine – open and drinkable
2 14 oz cans of whole tomatoes w/oregano/garlic/basil
1 lb. Baby Bella Mushrooms
1 bunch of basil
1 slab of asiago cheese
That’s it really, this is so freakin easy…but it is the layers that matter!
Now lets get busy!
DO NOT crumble your sausages, slice the ‘chub’ into 1″ blocks set them aside.
In a cast iron pot (or large pot but cast iron is best), add 2 tbsp of olive oil set on a medium heat, and working in batches, sear the crap out of them. I need to see burn marks! Don’t worry about the gunk stickin to the bottom, we will solve that later, but don’t be an idiot, stir often…
This will take about 15-20 minutes per batch…Coltrane works for me and she will have at least 1 glass of wine (ya feel me?)
Pull all of the meat out, and set aside for a few
Add onion and add 2 pinches of Kosher salt (this brings out the moisture from the onion and aids in de-glazing the bottom of the pot)
stir up all of the ‘fun’ stuff at the bottom and get ready for garlic.
You are not going to get it all up but add the garlic and stir for a few and then add 1 cup of wine…
This is where you really deglaze the pan and all of your flavors to gather together to create the base.
Once the bottom of the pan is de-glazed, lower the heat and let simmer until the wine has been reduced.
(another glass of wine)
Once it has reduced…
Then add the tomatoes and raise the heat again to a low boil for about 5 minutes and add the sausage that was set aside, juices and all.
Stir it up, bring to a rumbling simmer…
Leave the lid off and go enjoy her company, let the aromas you just built simmer.
Do not be stupid, check it and stir…should have about 3 glasses of wine by now…
Once thick, add mushrooms and start your pasta…
Optional: cut sprigs of basil that you grow yourself and ask her to shred them, them smell of basil on yer fingers is freakin awesome and, well, in my opinion, sexy.
This basil will be used after you drain the pasta.
I add 2 ladle amounts of sauce to the empty pot with the basil and butter and then mix the cooked pasta into the same pot.
You are pretty much ready to go…
If you wanna show off, add some olive oil, oregano and garlic to a saute pan…get it a bit hot and throw some fresh bread into it, repeat for both sides…
But guys…do not make her prepare her own plate!
Simply take out one fork full of pasta, spiral it down on the plate and top it with one ladle of sauce…grate the cheese for her and get her another glass of wine…
This all seems like a lot of work but trust me, if you practice, this is a most awesome impression…
