Everyone needs a great Pasta Bolognese Recipe in the arsenal and this is the one! It's easy and the whole family will love it.

Bolognese Sauce Recipe – A Great Sunday Dinner

This Bolognese Sauce Recipe is perfect for Sunday dinner. Everyone needs a great Bolognese Recipe in their rotation and this one cannot be beat. I was craving a great Sunday Dinner, so I called my brother-in-law Ron for this recipe and he graciously shared it. It was actually my late father’s recipe, which I did not know. It does not get any better than that. I love nothing more than to make the recipes of the people I love. Food is love and memories and this checked all those boxes. My dad was a great cook and so is my brother-in-law, so this was a great Sunday Dinner.

When I started this recipe today, I could not find ground pork anywhere in the stores. I decided to use pork chops because I knew I could cook it low and slow to the point where the pork chops would shred. Great idea! This will be my new go-to method.

As you can see by my switching out the ground pork for pork chops, Bolognese Sauce is a very adaptable recipe. We leave out the carrots, because we have food allergies and use gluten free pasta for those of us who are gluten free. My new favorite gluten free pasta is Rummo. It is hard to find in stores, but worth it if you can find it. Red wine or white wine is fine. I prefer the red wine, but I have used the white and it was still fabulous.

I have started this recipe in a pot and transferred to a crock pot to finish cooking, but I am a big fan of the dutch oven cooking all day in the oven. Both ways are fabulous and all depend on how much time you have. Check out my other pages here on my Recipes page of my blog Sunday Chefs.

Sundays are for sauce and a great Bolognese Sauce cannot be beat.

-Lisa Leahy

Lisa Leahy

Bolognese Sauce – A Great Sunday Dinner

Sundays are for Sauce and a great Bolognese Sauce cannot be beat.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Servings: 6
Course: dinner, lunch
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients
  

  • 1/4 cup Olive Oil
  • 1 lb. Meat (version of pork and beef) I use 1/2 80/20 Ground Beef and 1/2 lb. of ground pork or pork chops.
  • 4 Garlic Cloves Minced
  • 1 small Onion Chopped
  • 1 Carrot (Optional) – diced We leave this out as we have food allergies and it is still wonderful.
  • 1 Tbsp. Dried Basil or 1/4 cup fresh basil, lightly packed.
  • 1 Tbsp. Dried Oregano
  • 2 tsp. Red Pepper Flakes
  • 1/4 tsp. Ground Nutmeg
  • 1 small can Tomato Paste
  • 1 1/4 cup Red or White Wine I prefer the red wine but have used the white and it is very good with version also.
  • 1 28 oz. can San Marzano tomatoes or Ground Peeled Tomatoes I prefer San Marzano but I use whatever I have on hand.
  • 1/2 cup Heavy Cream
  • 1 lb. Pasta I prefer substantial pasta like Pappardelle or Rigatoni.
  • 1/2 cup Freshly Grated Parmesan

Method
 

  1. Heat 2 Tablespoons of olive oil in a large heavy skillet or pot (I prefer my Dutch Oven for this) over medium – high heat.
  2. If using pork chops brown them and put them aside. Add the ground beef (and ground pork if that is your version). Cook until the meat is no longer pink (about 6 minutes), breaking it up as you go.
  3. I prefer to drain some of the fat off if there is a lot.
  4. Stir in the onion and sauté for a few minutes until soft and then add the garlic, oregano, red pepper flakes, and the dried basil if that is what you are using.
  5. Add the tomato paste and stir until well combined. Add the wine and cook for a few minutes more.
  6. Add the large can of tomatoes, about 1/2 tbsp. of salt and a tsp. of black pepper.
  7. If I am using pork chops instead of ground pork, this is where I would add them back in. Cutting them into smaller pieces before I do.
  8. If using the all-ground meat version, I would bring to a boil and then lower the temperature, and simmer for ten minutes.
  9. If using the version with the pork chops, I would bring to a boil and then lower to a simmer. This version I cook for a long time, a few hours until the pork breaks down and is easily shredded. It takes a long time but is worth it.
  10. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook pasta according to directions.
  11. While the pasta cooks, add the cream, nutmeg, remaining wine and simmer for another 8-10 minutes.
  12. For a nice presentation, combine sauce with pasta and parmesan cheese and toss well in a large serving bowl. Add some parsley or fresh basil for a pretty presentation.

Restaurant Recommendation – The Hershey Pantry, Hershey PA

Looking for a great breakfast place in Hershey, PA? If so, then The Hershey Pantry is a must see. I enjoy giving restaurant recommendations when I just loved the place. Located at 901 East Chocolate Avenue in Hershey, Pa, it was really easy to find and parking was not a problem despite it being crowded. This is an easy restaurant recommendation. It was the best breakfast I have had in a long time.

After two days of lacrosse at the Summer Genesis Tournament 2024 and wanting some more adventure, we were headed off to Hershey Park for the day and wanted a good cup of coffee and a great breakfast. I am a huge fan of breakfast places and I am very picky about my breakfasts. The concierge at the Courtyard by Marriott Hershey was a great resource and the restaurant recommendation she offered was just down the road. We were a bit intimidated by the crowd but put our name in anyway. But they were very efficient and got us seated quickly. The restaurant is adorable. We sat in the front and it was very eclectic with that old time diner feel but prettier. The back porch looked beautiful with lots of plants and pretty tables, I will sit out there next time. Very nice vibe.

The menu had everything. My first impression, it seemed a bit expensive, but for the amount of food you get it was cheap in the long run. The coffee was everything I needed it to be and the cute mugs were large so you didn’t have to keep asking for refills. It was my kind of place. My husband and daughter ordered the breakfast sampler. The version they ordered included scrambled eggs, hash browns, bacon and pancakes and it was about $15.00. The picture to the right is my daughters order! The pancakes alone would have been hard to finish, they were huge. My husband got blueberry pancakes and daughter got chocolate chip pancakes. I don’t tend to be a pancake person, but these were amazing. May I note here… the bacon was cooked perfectly. I always judge a breakfast place by that. Daughter went out of her way to say the scrambled eggs were amazing.

The menu included an entire section just for Eggs Benedict, there were five different versions. I got the traditional eggs benedict with hashbrowns. They were fantastic. I couldn’t finish the plate, but most likely because I kept sneaking pancakes from my daughter. I noticed the chicken and waffles looked amazing, as well as the cinnamon roll. The omelets and the biscuits and gravy caught my eye also. I noticed other patrons were ordering a cinnamon roll for the table, which was a clever idea.

The Hershey Pantry is located at 801 E. CHOCOLATE AVENUE, HERSHEY, PA 17033 just outside of Chocolate Town USA. If you would like to see some of my other recommendations, check out the Restaurant Review section of my blog Sunday Chefs. Happy Dining!

Beef Cubes in Sherry – Comfort Food Meal

Do you enjoy comfort food? Looking for a warm, comforting meal on a cold, rainy day? Then this Beef Cubes in Sherry over egg noodles recipe is the perfect choice. I was not a big meat eater back then (still not so much) but that gravy over the egg noodles alone is amazing. Putting it in the crock pot makes this meal even more appealing. It has been cooking all day and it is cold, rainy, and thundering out and this stew-like meal is going to be perfect.

 The stove is the shrine where I convene with my ancestors

-Unknown

With the price of groceries lately, this is a very economical meal. The stew beef has been very expensive lately, so I bought a London Broil steak that was on sale and it worked wonderfully. You need to be flexible these days. You can also use the store-bought Cooking Sherry instead of the original alcoholic version and it will still be wonderful. Leftovers the next day are just as excellent. With cold weather coming, comfort food is on the menu everyday if I have anything to say about it.

This was one of my late mother’s favorite meals to make and she made this all the time when I was a child. I’ve been thinking about her today, so off to the store I went. Because if you know me, you know that food is memories for me. I get emotional eating a meal that someone I love has made for me. I will leave these recipes here for my daughters and hopefully, they will make them someday for the people they love and think of me and those that came before me. 

This recipe would be great over rice or mashed potatoes. It can also be made gluten free, if you buy the gluten free option of the soup. The key is to cook it low and slow for a long time. So the crock pot is perfect for this, but a Dutch oven would work also.

If you are interested in more, check out the Recipes page of my blog Sunday Chefs.

Do you enjoy comfort food? Looking for a warm, comforting meal on a cold, rainy day? Then this Beef Cubes in Sherry over egg noodles recipe is the perfect choice.

Beef Cubes in Sherry

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Course: dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, British, spanish

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tbsp. Shortening I suppose butter, avocado oil or canola oil would work fine also.
  • 2 lbs. Stew Beef Cubed
  • 1 envelope Lipton Onion Soup Mix
  • 1 cup Sherry Wine Cooking version (non-alcoholic) will work here also.
  • 1 15oz can Cream of Mushroom Soup
  • 1 tsp. Garlic Powder
  • 8 oz. Package of white mushrooms sliced
  • Salt and Pepper to Taste
  • 1 lb. Bag of Egg Noodles Prepared

Method
 

  1. Heat shortening in a heavy pot or frying pan if you are using a crock pot.
  2. Brown the beef cubes on all sides.
  3. This is where you can transfer to the crock pot or leave in the heavy pot.
  4. Add remaining ingredients in order given and stir well. Cover pot and simmer mixture for at least an hour.
  5. Alternative: Add to crockpot and heat on low for 4-6 hours.
  6. Serve over egg noodles.

Lynwood Café – Bar Pizza Restaurant Review

Lynwood Café in Randolph, Ma is arguably THE best bar pizza in New England. Bar Pizza is a thing in here and everyone has their favorites. Lynwood Café is a small, neighborhood pizzeria that I began attending as a toddler with my parents and I now bring my grown children. There is a key to longevity with Lynwood Café and it is consistency, they know what works and they stick with it.

Lynwood Café opened in 1949 as a neighborhood bar and once they decided to start making bar pizza, they never looked back. When you walk in, you are walking back in time. The old time charm of the place with its old phone booth, which now houses an ATM (they are CASH ONLY, so this is quite useful) and the shuffleboard game that every child remembers forever.

Love Fades, Pizza is Forever

-unknown

We do not live local anymore, but recently we were in the area and went for the first time in about ten years and we were not disappointed. The warm and friendly atmosphere and the fantastic pizza is just to die for. My lifetime favorite has always been the pepperoni and green pepper, but the hamburg, which I would never order anywhere else is amazing too. My late father was a big fan of the Linguica pizza, which I have never seen in any other pizza place. I have always wanted to try the Boston Baked Bean but I haven’t taken the leap yet.

One tip: skip the bottled beer. I am not usually a draft beer person, but the draft beer at Lynwood Café is the coldest beer I have ever had and it always has been. Another tip: the draft beer comes in little glasses, so order two. Beer and pizza have never been so good.

When I met my husband I told him I was taking him to have the best pizza in Massachusetts and he thought I was crazy. We joke that after he had it was when he decided I was the one he wanted to marry.

REMEMBER: CASH ONLY!

I would highly recommend checking out Lynwood Café if you ever have the chance. If you want to see more restaurant reviews, check out my blog Sunday Chefs.

The Barnacle Restaurant, Marblehead Ma.

Looking for a quintessential New England seafood restaurant? Looking for a great restaurant in Marblehead, Ma? If so, The Barnacle Restaurant is just what you are looking for. I have been going to The Barnacle for too many years than I care to admit and it never disappoints. Located in old town Marblehead, Ma., overlooking Marblehead Harbor with stunning views of The Marblehead light and the beautiful Fort Sewall Park with all its amazing history.

The Barnacle is nothing fancy and it is close quarters but don’t let that scare you away. The drinks are cold and the food is fresh and fabulous. The deck has wonderful views on a beautiful day but sitting inside on a rainy, windy day watching the waves might almost be better.

Everyone in my family has their favorites. I can never decide between the fish and chips or the crab cakes. Hubby and daughter love the fried shrimp and the fisherman’s platter. But all of us love the chowder and shrimp cocktail! So lets just say we order it all and share.

I would usually say this is a summer destination, but The Barnacle is fantastic all year round, no matter the weather. And after you have filled your stomach to excess, go for a walk around old town and check out the sights.

To me, food is as much about the moment, the occasion, the location and the company as it is about the taste.

Heston Blumenthal

The Barnacle Restaurant is located at 141 Front Street in Marblehead, MA and is open 7 days a week. Next time you are in the area be sure to check it out. For more like this, check out my Restaurant Reviews page on my blog Sunday Chefs.

Rintintin – Eclectic dining in New York’s Nolita neighborhood.

Looking for a great restaurant in New York? Maybe some eclectic dining in New York’s Nolita neighborhood? Rintintin located at 14 Spring Street in the Nolita section of New York City is an adorable little eclectic spot that will not disappoint. A short walk from Sara D. Roosevelt Park and the Elizabeth Street Garden. They are open every day for Lunch, Brunch, Dinner, Late Night and Drinks.

Every meal should be a small celebration

-Fannie Farmer

Our family is so happy that our oldest has moved to New York and is living her best life. We are thoroughly enjoying learning our way around and finding lots of little exciting dining spots to explore. This one day, we spent a long day walking and exploring on a beautiful Saturday in New York City. We were looking for a place to sit, rest and have some drinks, my daughter mentioned that Rintintin was a place she always wanted to try. But as a poor New York twenty something she never did. But with mom and dad there it was perfect timing. Safe to say, she was thrilled when we very quickly agreed.

We were lucky that it was beautiful out and a table was just opening on their pretty little outdoor dining area. I have to say, I love all the outdoor dining leftover from COVID. I hope that restaurants keep it up.

We ordered a hummus platter that came with veggies, warm pitta bread, olives, pickles and three kinds of hummus. We also tried the fig crostini. Warm bread with goat cheese and fresh figs all drizzled with honey was truly to die for. I have dreams about it. Even the fresh basket of hand cut french fries was amazing. We just got appetizers, but next time we will be doing the brunch as the the customers at the next table said that it was fantastic.

I hope you go out and try Rintintin in Nolita the next time you are in the area. I love nothing more than sharing great restaurants and recipes on my blog Sunday Chefs. I will be returning to Rintintin again.

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream – My new favorite

I have a daughter who moved to New York City last year and we love nothing more than to visit and wander the city exploring any food establishments that catch our eye. It is a great way to find new and exciting places you may have missed. The little mom and pop shop or a fancy new bistro, it’s the excitement of the unknown that is so great. We have had some amazing meals and thank god we are walking so much to burn it all off! We have not been disappointed yet.

It does help that my daughter is a foodie and knows some great spots!

Ice Cream is cheaper than therapy

Unknown

Recently on a very hot, summer weekend, we ventured out to see what we could find. It was late and we were wrapping it up for the evening and walked past Van Leeuwen Ice Cream and Vegan Ice Cream at 172 Ludlow Street on the Lower East Side. Vegan Ice Cream? Who knew? Let’s give it a shot! We had eaten so much that day but as my husband says, “The dessert tank is a different tank, the meal tank may be full but the dessert tank is still empty.” There is always room for dessert!

A LIFE WITHOUT ANYTHING GOOD IS BAD

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream Shoppe

What a cute little spot! The problem now is what to order. They all look amazing. Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Ice Cream? I wish I had tried that. Earl Gray Tea? Vegan Churros and Fudge? Vegan Bourbon Vanilla Apple Crisp? Oat Milk Brown Sugar Crunch? Marion Berry Cheesecake? With the decision finally made, we ordered. The choices were a hot fudge sundae made with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream for the youngest, a cup of Sicilian Pistachio for hubby and for me? I got the Vegan Peanut Butter Brownie Honeycomb.

The ice cream was so rich we could barely finish it all. I do believe, the decision was unanimous and it was the best Ice Cream we have ever had. I took a risk with the Vegan Peanut Butter Brownie Honeycomb, but it was amazing. Van Leeuwen Ice Cream and Vegan Ice Cream makes their vegan ice cream with Coconut Milk or Oat Milk apparently and I would have never known. If you are concerned that vegan ice cream may be a little weird, it is not. If I had not ordered it myself, I would have thought it was regular milk based ice cream.

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream and Vegan Ice Cream has locations all over the city. Nineteen in fact, with locations also in California, Texas, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. New locations coming soon in Connecticut and Colorado. I do believe Massachusetts should be next on the list. If you are an ice cream fan, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream and Vegan Ice Cream is a must see!

Restaurant Review – Luciano’s, Wrentham MA

Restaurants in Wrentham, Ma. appear to be on my list of favorites lately. Luciano’s is one of them. My husband and I recently celebrated our wedding anniversary. Where to go? Saw a Facebook post from Luciano’s in Wrentham, MA with a picture of their baked stuffed lobster and I was sold. We have been to Luciano’s before, but not since before Covid, so this was going to be a treat.

Established in 1991, Luciano’s is hidden away in a very unassuming location on Rte. 1 in Wrentham, MA. When you enter you are brought back to a classic Italian steak house of old. Great bar with weekend entertainment and a classic, sophisticated ambiance. This was just the “lets get dressed up and celebrate” location that we were looking for.

As we were being seated it occurred to me, “What if the baked stuffed lobster was a special that night and not available tonight…. I should have called first!”

Our waiter was wonderful and told us the long and complicated list of specials (Baked stuffed lobster was there!!). Explaining them all perfectly. I ordered a chardonnay and my husband got the house red wine. I don’t usually go for red wine, but the waiter’s recommendation was fantastic. The waiter noticed me stealing sips and brought a glass for me, so my husband could be left in peace with his drink. This is the kind of service and attention to detail that Luciano’s is famous for. We started our meal with the focaccia and Italian bread with olive oil for dipping. I could have had this for my meal alone it was so good.

For the appetizer we got the classic shrimp cocktail to share. It was prepared perfectly and served ice cold. For something so simple it is so easy to get wrong. They did not get this wrong. It was wonderful. We knew we were getting big meals, so we did not want to fill up on appetizers.

Ordering for me was easy and I told the waiter it was the Facebook post that got me here. He let me know that I would not be disappointed. He was correct. I cannot even remember how long it has been since I had a baked stuffed lobster. A very classic dish that isn’t on a lot of menus these days. It was my late mother’s favorite and I cannot help but have fond memories of this wonderful woman while I am eating it. Anyone who knows me knows that I feel food is love and food is memories and this meal checked off quite a few of those boxes.

The lobster came and to say I was speechless was an understatement. A two and a half pound lobster, prepared and stuffed to perfection. I actually couldn’t even finish it. The waiter chuckled at my reaction. I brought the leftovers home and my college student, home for the summer, finished it in a flash.

My husband got the Veal Saltimbocca Alla Romana and was thrilled with it. I am not a huge fan of veal normally, but I would order this. It was an amazing dish. I had every intention of getting dessert because it was a special occasion but I was just too full to get anything else.

Going to Luciano’s was the perfect choice for this special occasion. The waiter even noticed the breast cancer pin on my purse and asked if I was a survivor. I am and this year will be five years since my diagnosis and we had a very sincere chat and I appreciated his thoughtfulness. As we were waiting for the check, there were a few elderly ladies sitting across from us having a grand celebration of some sort. One woman had a walker and was tired and was having a hard time using the walker on the carpet. This wonderful man that was our waiter (I wish I could remember his name), had her sit in a chair and he slid the chair across the rug until she was in a place to use the walker more easily. He was charming and made her feel special and she had a great smile on her face throughout the whole adventure.

I cannot recommend Luciano’s in Wrentham, MA any more highly. It is the perfect special occasion restaurant. But let’s be honest, life is short, every day should be a special occasion.

Cafe Assisi cover pic

Café Assisi, Wrentham MA – Restaurant Review

Now that life is getting back to normal (Crossing my fingers here, that we keep on a positive trend) it is time to start to returning to our favorite restaurants. As a recent cancer patient, I think we have held out a little longer than most. But we are active take-out customers. One of our favorite haunts, that was our regular Friday night destination before Covid hit, is this cute little, local, Italian restaurant in Wrentham, MA called Café Assisi. It is so important to support our local businesses, they have struggled so much and for the ones that made and survived we need to make sure they thrive. These are our friends and neighbors, the ones that make donations for school fundraisers and pour their heart and soul into their business and make this our community. For a couple that loves nothing more than going into the North End of Boston for dinner, this hidden gem in Wrentham, MA is a godsend and most likely responsible for some extra pounds I have been trying to get rid of.

When you support a small business, you support a dream.

-Unknown

Café Assisi is a little Italian bistro hidden in a corner of Wrentham, Ma, right around the corner from the Wrentham Outlet Malls. It could be very easy to drive by unless you knew it was there. The owners have committed themselves to doing it right and it is working! I have never had a bad meal there. Café Assisi does a vibrant take out business and the pizza is fantastic.

A few years ago, we had them cater our daughters’ Confirmation and everyone raved about the food. We called last minute and had multiple food allergies to deal with. They pulled it all together, it was reasonably priced and a lot more food than we anticipated. People are still talking about how good it was. I am very loyal to restaurants that are open to helping with food allergies and they have always been very respectful and upfront about what they could and could not do and I completely respect that.

It’s important to support people who put their heart, soul, and last dollar into something they believe in.

-Unknown

On the spur of the moment we decided to try and get a table and completely forgot that they recommended reservations. Luck was on our side and we got a parking spot right in front and they were crowded but said they could seat us outside. Over COVID, they built a beautiful outdoor seating area with heaters, lights and plants. It is very beautiful and romantic.

We got the shrimp and pasta in a red sauce special, which my husband adored and could barely finish because there was so much food. There was lots of shrimp and it was fresh and cooked perfectly. I got the Cod in spicy, tomato sauce over sauteed spinach which was fantastic.

I am not one to get dessert, but the craving for anything lemon lately has been overwhelming. Walking in to get a table I spied the dessert case and that limoncello cake was calling to me and it did not disappoint. It was out of this world!

I cannot recommend Café Assisi any more highly. So much so that I am afraid to post this as it may get busier and I will never get a table…..but they deserve all the business they can get.

Simple Mango Salsa

Simple Mango Salsa is the perfection addition to your summer menu. The versatility is endless. Add something here or subtract something there. It is all wonderful. Spring is here …. despite the 40 degree weather. And it is time to break out all the spring and summer recipes. This Simple Mango Salsa is the first one that I thought of. It is so wonderful and versatile. I first made this salsa years ago and it has been on regular rotation ever since. It is simple to make and elevates anything you put it on …. grilled chicken or fish, tacos, salad, chips or in any bowl now a days. This is especially good on my Crazy Good Fish Tacos.

We have some food allergies here, so sometimes I leave out the beans and add the red peppers. Some like it spicy, so I add more jalapeno. You really cannot go wrong here. Chop all the ingredients and combine in a bowl. Good luck cutting the mango. I think mangos are my least favorite thing to deal with. I make a huge mess trying to cut them, but it is worth it. Well worth it.

My advice is to let the salsa sit in the fridge for a few hours, but if you don’t the time, feel free to eat immediately.

Life without Mexican food is like no life at all.

-Unknown

Simple Mango Salsa

This mango salsa is great as an appetizer, condiment, side dish. Great on fish or chicken. Perfect to bring to a party as chips and dip also. So easy and fun to eat.
Course: Appetizer, condiment, dinner, Main Course, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: Mexican

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Fresh Mango Peel, sliced and diced
  • 1 cup Black Beans Rinsed
  • 1/2 Red onion Diced
  • 1 Red Pepper Diced
  • 1/3 cup orange juice
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tbsp Fresh cilantro Chopped fine
  • Salt To taste
  • 1 Jalapeno De-seeded and diced fine. This is optional and you can add as little or as much as you want to.

Method
 

  1. Peel and dice the mango into small pieces.
  2. Chopped the red onion fine and add to mangoes.
  3. Rinse the black beans and add.
  4. Chopped the Cilantro fine.
  5. Combine all the ingredients along with cumin and orange juice.
  6. Refrigerate for at least an hour.

Notes

This mango salsa is the perfect addition to any meal. It goes great as an appetizer or snack combined with tortilla chips as a chip and dip recipe. You can also serve on top of grilled chicken or fish or a side dish. 
This fruity salsa is healthy and kid friendly. Mango salsa is also allergy friendly. 
Allergens: Contains black beans which are a legume. DAIRY FREE, TREE NUT FREE, PEANUT FREE, EGG FREE, GLUTEN FREE, SOY FREE

If you are looking for some other great recipes, check out the recipes page of my Sunday Chefs blog.