California Girl's Osso Bucco

A little Italiano comfort food. Rich, delicious and satisfying. 

Ingredients:
3 to 4 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup flour, for dredging

6 beef veal shanks or oxtails
1 large onion, diced medium

4 ribs celery, diced
3 to 4 carrots, sliced into 1/4 inch thick coins
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 bay leaves
1 tablespoon Italian herbs
1 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes

1/2 teaspoon each, Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper or course ground pepper
1 cup good red wine
1 to 1 1/2 cups beef stock
a good handful fresh parsley leaves, chopped

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a Dutch oven or heavy bottom stock pot, add olive oil and heat until very hot.

In a plate combine the flour with salt and pepper. Dredge the shanks in the flour and shake off to remove any excess flour. Add shanks to the Dutch oven or pot and brown on all sides. This should take 5 to 6 minutes. When meat is browned, remove from pot and set aside.

Next add the onions, celery and carrots to the pot and cook until tender.

Add garlic and Italian seasoning and continue to cook for about 2 minutes.

Deglaze the pot with red wine, scraping up any bits from the bottom.  Add the stock and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, add the meat back, the can of crushed tomatoes, stir and cover with the lid and place into the oven.
Cook for 2 to 2 1/2 hours, or until the meat is tender. Add cornstarch, a bit at a time and stir to thicken to desired consistency. Sprinkle parsley.

Serve hot over buttery polenta, grits or creamy mashed potatoes.

Cajun Shrimp & Sausage with Cheesy Grits

Is there anything better than comfort food on a cold winters day? One of my all time favorites is creamy grits  and Cajun shrimp and sausage. Tummy warming and delicious!  This is my quick version of traditional Cajun dish. Enjoy!

1 cup of instant grits
1 cups water
3 cups milk
4 tablespoons butter, divided
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper or to taste
1 cup cheddar cheese
1 to 1 1/2 pounds precooked, shelled frozen medium to large shrimp (leave tails on)
10 ounces smoked sausage, your choice, sliced  medium thin and diagonally 
6 sliced thick applewood smoked bacon, diced
2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning or to taste
4 scallions, sliced thinly

For the Grits:
Bring water, milk, 2 tablespoons butter, salt and pepper to a boil. Slowly stir in instant grits and reduce heat to medium. Cook 6 to 7 minutes, stirring constantly. When grits have thickened, stir in cheese until melted, remove from heat and set aside. If grits are too thick, add milk. Too thin, continue to cook until the mixture thickens.

Directions:
Add diced bacon to a skillet. Fry crisp, remove and drain on paper towels. Drain off most of the bacon fat. add sausage and  garlic. Fry until sausages are browned and garlic is tender.  Add shrimp and cook until pink or 3 to 4 minutes. Add seasoning and remaining butter. Stir to incorporate. Add bacon to pan and toss. Spoon over grits and sprinkle with sliced scallions.