Pomodori e Vino ~ Cacciatora

Can you believe we are more than half way through our cooking adventure? We started in March of 2009 and have been cooking our way through 'The Essentials of Italian Cooking'. If you are looking for a Christmas gift... this cookbook is it!

My recipe this week is Beef Cacciatora with wonderful Porcini mushrooms. Start with the dried porcini mushrooms, and soak them in warm water for about 30 minutes... the perfect time for a nice glass of wine on the patio.

Porcini mushrooms are easy to find in the dried form... it is the closest we can get to that wonderful 'woodsy' flavor. Back to the kitchen... Thinly slice an onion and cook in Olive Oil until they are translucent. Flour both sides of the beef steaks and brown them in the same pan. After about one minute on each side, remove from the pan and set them on a warm plate.

After the mushrooms have softened, cut them up and add to the onions. Add the 'broth' that the mushrooms soaked in. Cook at medium heat until the liquid is reduced. Add wine (another glass at this point is a good idea) Tomatoes with salt and pepper to taste, and cook for another 15 minutes.

Just before serving, return the thin steaks to the pan and turn several times to coat well with the tomatoes, mushrooms and onions.

I have served this with some creamy polenta.

Another wonderful recipe from Marcella!

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Ciao Y'all,

Sandi