Not your Grandma’s Sunday Gravy — Or is it?

I am not an Italian Grandmother, but sometimes I channel one when I go into the kitchen. Every family’s pasta sauces and marinara a bit different, some recipes handed down for generations, some with a modern twist, and some just because that’s the way Gramma always did it.

A recent dinner request for roast beef and spaghetti drove me to the archives for a perfect Sunday Gravy. This dish is not part of my standard repertoire.  Sunday What? My Dad made pretty spectacular spaghetti sauce, flavors embedded in his memory from his Mama and passed down.  Grandmother Delores was no slouch in the kitchen either,  how could she be with seven children? In the family album is a Santa Cruz newspaper article from the 1930’s describing in detail her recipe for spaghetti including ground beef and fresh herbs. The author veritably gushed in praise of Mrs. Hayford’s cooking prowess.  I couldn’t help but smile reading it — hey, that’s like my Dad’s! The images vividly rush to my mind of the bustling dining table in the big red house on the hill.  The six boys and single daughter round the lace covered table each having played a part in dinner’s preparation. A bowl of black olives and red wine from the Italian neighbors within easy reach on the sideboard for Grandpa Tom.

Like most, I am generally much to impatient or just lack the time to go completely old school and spend all day for a single meal’s preparation.  Those indulgences are generally scheduled for major holidays.  So when I reflect on the time honored family tradition of Sunday Gravy my respect grows for all those generations of Nonas in their kitchens. So, today,  a wild creative challenge motives me to set aside the time to become an Italian Grandma! Grab your apron and red wine, let’s get cooking!

Antipasti, Salata Caprese, Sunday Gravy

1. Mix and divide freshly chopped herbs in half.
2. In large 7 qt dutch oven or heavy pot add olive oil over medium high heat.
3. When oil is hot, sear/brown beef roast on all sides. Remove from oil and set aside. In remaining oil, brown sausages on all sides, remove to cool and set aside with meatballs in refrigerator. Drain excess oils from pot leaving about 1 ½ tablespoons.
4. Turn down heat and add garlic and onions, cook to soften only — not brown cook for about 3 minutes.
5. Add mushrooms and continue cooking for 5 minutes more until mushrooms have soften and absorbed the flavor of the onions and garlic.
6. Add red wine to deglaze bottom, gently scraping up all the good bits.
7. Add beef stock, tomatoes, tomato paste and half of the fresh herb mixture.
8. Add in beef roast and turn up heat to bring gravy up to a boil. Boil for a couple of minutes and then turn down to gentle simmer. Cook partially covered at this temperature for 3-4 hours.  Check occasionally to stir.  
9. Last hour add back in about 24 meatballs and Italian Sausage to gravy.  
10. Put on large pot of water to boil and cook pasta al dente.
11. Drain pasta and mix good portion of gravy and half remaining herbs to coat evenly

Remove meat from gravy and serve with pasta on large platter or bowl sprinkle with last bit of herbs and Parmesan cheese.  Pass around extra gravy and cheese. Buon Appetito!

Cook’s Tips
The meatballs can be cooked ahead and frozen to be used in spaghetti, meatball sandwiches or Sunday Gravy.

Links:
Sbragia Vineyards www.sbragia.com/