Wednesday 23 June 2010

Italian Heaven

Football fever is all over my world, even though I had never watched a game before this month. I am now an expert and as most armchair players, I have opinions on every aspect, from team choices to coaching styles. I am so proud of Bafana Bafana, even though they lost, I think South Africa is the ultimate winner.

So the competition continues without us and I am turning my attention to the remaining teams. To honour a previous host country I made a traditional Italian dish, which will hopefully inspire them to play well in their last pool game and console them for their loss in the rugby last weekend (and the up coming rugby game on Saturday). If Italy don't win tomorrow, they'll too be going home with nothing other than the t-shirt!


Penne Ragu

1kg Beef Shin ( bone removed and meat cut into cubes)
750ml Tomato pasata
30ml Tomato paste
30ml Balsamic Vinegar
500ml Beef Stock
2 large Onions sliced
3 Bay leaves
15ml sugar
15ml Chopped fresh Thyme
Olive oil
Salt and pepper

Pre-heat your oven to 180°C
Fry the onions and the meat (in an pot which can be used in the oven too) until browned in a little olive oil.
Add the rest of the ingredients and allow to come to the boil.
Place the pot in the oven for 2-3 hours until the meat is very tender and the sauce has thickened.
Remove from the oven, check seasoning and adjust to taste.
Using a fork to shred the meat.
Cook the penne until al dente and mix with the meat sauce - serve.

6 comments:

Madmom said...

Oh yes - that does look like a tasty recipe.

Adele @ WillworkforBiltong said...

The Aussies HATE the Italians, because it's the Italians that beat Australia last World Cup with a very contreversial penalty. Of course, the Aussies never make any mistake like that!

Homemade Heaven said...

Madmom - It's a great dish to make while watching a game or two!

Adele - Really? So now the Irish hate the French and the Aussie's hate the Italians and El Salvador and Honduras went to war over a soccer game - this is certainly a game which doesn't make friends!

polkadotcupcake said...

What a delicious-looking ragu! Can't wait to try this one...

Nina Timm said...

Shin is such a perfect cut of beef...cheap, packed with flavor from the bone and marrow and it makes a beautiful ragu!!

Adele @ WillworkforBiltong said...

I know, it's incredible! Definitely not just a game. I once heard about a player that got killed because he scored an own goal. As for the Aussies, you'd think four years is enough to get over it, but obviously this grudge is sticking.

Jeremiah 17: 7-8

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water."

It is not your business to succeed, but to do what is right : when you have done so, the rest lies with God.
C.S. Lewis

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