Rachael Ray's Non-profit Organization Yum-o!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DISH TO MAKE WITH YOUR KIDS AS HELPERS?

We like to make pasta with Mom's Now and Later Red Sauce.

HOW DO THEY HELP?

Until Max is ready for Rach's kids' cutting tools, I'm doing the chopping and he mixes. We talk about the ingredients and spices we use and he has gotten pretty good at knowing what will work well together. He also helps sauté with a long-handled wooden spoon while I stand next to him making sure he keeps his little hands away from the heat. He loves when it all comes together in the pot because he gets to stir and TASTE!

CAN YOU GIVE THE MOM'S NOW AND LATER RED SAUCE RECIPE?

Yes, I’d love to share it! This makes enough for 6+ over pasta.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
• 1 onion
• 1-3 cloves garlic or one large shallot
• 1/4-1/2 pound ground beef
• 1/4-1/2 pound ground sausage
• 1/2-1 cup marsala wine
• 2 cans crushed tomatoes (28 ounces each)
• 1 can fire-roasted diced tomatoes (16 ounces)
• 1 can tomato paste (6 ounces)
• 1 handful fresh basil, chopped or 2 tablespoons dried basil
• 1 handful fresh oregano, chopped or 2 tablespoons dried oregano
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt and pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat the EVOO in the bottom of a stock pot. Cook the onion and the garlic or shallot in the EVOO until they are translucent.
2. Add the ground beef and sausage and cook until browned. Drain off the fat. Add the marsala to deglaze the bottom of the pot and reduce slightly. Add the crushed and diced tomatoes and cook over medium heat until hot. Add the tomato paste to thicken as needed (we like sauce that sticks to our pasta and bread!).
3. Add the herbs, salt and pepper and simmer for about 30 mins. Taste test and re-season as needed.

I prefer to let this sauce simmer all day, especially when school is cancelled because of snow. It's great for now – dipping bread in to "make sure it tastes ok" and dumping by the ladleful on top of hot pasta, using in lasagna, etc. – and there is usually plenty left over to stick in a freezer bag, freeze and save for later when a speedy meal is needed. This recipe, as far as measurements go, can be played with quite a bit to suit your taste, as I'm an "eyeballer," like Rachael!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DISH YOU REMEMBER EATING AS A CHILD?

I loved Memere's New England Boiled Dinner.

DO YOU HAVE THE RECIPE?

Yes, I’d love to share it! This serves 6+.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 4-6 pound beef pot roast
• 4 medium-large potatoes, peeled and cut in half
• 6-10 carrots, peeled and cut in half
• 8-10 pearl onions
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Gotta Have the Gravy:

• 2 cups broth from cooking roast
• Cornstarch
• Water
• 5 whole allspice
• Salt and pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS:

1. Season the meat with salt and pepper. Melt the butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Sear the meat in the Dutch oven on all sides, then turn the heat down to low. Add water to cover the meat in the pan, then cover and simmer for 2 1/2-3 hours.
2. Add the vegetables and cover and simmer for 1-2 more hours or until the veggies are ready. Remove the roast and veggies to a platter and cover with foil to keep warm.
3. To make the Gotta Have the Gravy: take 2 cups of juices from the Dutch oven and put in a saucepan. Add salt and pepper, about 5 whole allspice and cornstarch to thicken. Bring to a boil, stirring, about 1 minute. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper, as needed.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CHILDHOOD MEMORY INVOLVING COOKING AND EATING TOGETHER WITH YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS?

We didn't help out too much in the kitchen when I was a kid. I usually got to peel vegetables and stir and taste as things cooked. Whenever we had Sunday Dinner at Mem and Pep's house, Mem would always forget something on a burner and it was a race for who could get there to help out first as things boiled over. The same race took place when the kitchen buzzer went off to let us know it was time to eat!

WHAT TIPS OR ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR SOMEONE WHO IS NEW TO THE KITCHEN OR JUST GETTING THEIR KIDS INVOLVED IN THE KITCHEN?

Start with simple, healthy recipes and let the kids get their hands dirty! Wouldn't you rather they stick their hands in that ground beef than something else, at times...? And don't worry about the mess...a little soap and water erases the mess but never the experience or memories! Kid-friendly kitchen tools are also a must, as is discussing what you're doing so they can learn and retain what you've shared.