Author: Chef Cloud Wine

Ingredients

1 eggplant, cut into 1 inch cubes
1/4 cup olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
5 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 cup Basmati rice
1 zucchini, cut into large chunks
1 large red bell pepper, chopped
3 fresh tomatoes, diced
1 cup Marsala wine
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 sprig fresh rosemary, chopped

Directions

Place eggplant in a colander and sprinkle with salt.

Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven or large pot. Rinse eggplant and pat dry. Saute until slightly browned. Stir in onion and saute until transparent. Stir in garlic and saute for 2 to 3 minutes.

Stir in rice, zucchini, red bell pepper, tomatoes, wine, water, salt and red pepper flakes. Cook over medium-high heat until mixture reaches a low boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.

Remove from heat and stir in basil, parsley and rosemary.

Ingredients

6 ounces chestnuts
3 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup chopped onions
1/2 cup chopped carrots
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups beef broth
1/2 bay leaf, crumbled
1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons Madeira wine
2 (6 ounce) venison steaks (about 1 1/4 inches thick)

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (200 degrees C). Slice the skin to allow steam to escape. Place the chestnuts in a baking pan, and bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Remove from oven, and cool. Peel off the shell, and chop. You should have about 1 cup chopped chestnuts.

Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring often, the onions and carrots in the butter until soft. Stir in the flour, and cook until the flour browns. Mix in the broth, and season with bay leaf, and salt and pepper. Simmer for 15 minutes.

Preheat broiler, and position a rack 5 inches below the broiler element. Place the venison steaks in a broiling pan. Cook 5 minutes on each side. Transfer to a hot platter.

Strain the solids from the broth, and return the broth to the pan. Stir in Madeira and chestnuts. Pour hot chestnut sauce over venison steaks, and serve.

Ingredients

50 fresh mussels, scrubbed and debearded
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup white wine
2 tablespoons margarine or butter
3 green onions, chopped
1 bunch fresh parsley, chopped
3 roma (plum) tomatoes, chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Place mussels in a large bowl with cold water to cover. Let them soak for about 20 minutes to remove any dirt or sand.

Heat olive oil in a large stockpot over medium-low heat. Add garlic, and saute for one minute, but do not brown. Add the chopped green onion and tomatoes, and cook until almost tender. Pour in the white wine, and stir in the parsley and butter. Bring to a boil, and allow to boil until the liquid has reduced by half, about 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Add the mussels to the pot, cover and allow to cook until the shells are opened, about 10 minutes. Transfer the mussels and sauce to a large serving bowl, discarding any unopened shells. Bon appetit!

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
4 slices bacon, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 large onion, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 pound lean ground beef
1/2 pound ground pork
1/2 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
2 carrots, shredded
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 (28 ounce) can Italian plum tomatoes
6 ounces tomato sauce
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
salt and pepper to taste
1 pound pasta

Directions

In a large skillet, warm oil over medium heat and saute bacon, onion and garlic until bacon is browned and crisp; set aside.

In large saucepan, brown beef and pork. Drain off excess fat. Stir in bacon mixture, mushrooms, carrots, celery, tomatoes, tomato sauce, wine, stock, basil, oregano, salt and pepper to saucepan. Cover, reduce heat and simmer one hour, stirring occasionally.

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.

Serve sauce over hot pasta.