Making Your Own Sausage

My husband has wanted to make his own sausage for as long as he can remember. A neighbor recently gave him a meat grinder and he was set.

He ground pork shoulder.

Added spices and other ingredients

and fried up the patties. It actually wasn't too difficult.

Here are the additives for 3 lbs pork:

3 Tbs red wine vinegar

1 Tbs salt

1 Tbs black pepper

1 1/4 Tbs dried parsely

1 Tbs garlic powder

1 Tbs onion powder

1 Tbs dried basil

2 tsp paprika

2 tsp red pepper flake

3/4 tsp ground fennel seeds

1/4 tsp brown sugar

1/8 tsp dried oregano

1/8 tsp dried thyme

The sausage was very spicy and I think he used 2 tablespoon red pepper flake instead of 2 teaspoon.



2016 04 17

Thursday Night Dinner

Another great dinner at Flavor Bistro. All this still for only $24.95.

Gamberoni Con Couscous--Grilled Jumbo Prawns Served with Arugula, Sweet Red Pepper Couscous & Warm Shallot-Herb Salsa, paired with 2014 Tenuta Sant'Antonio Scaia Garganega/Chardonnay I.G.T., Veneto, Italy

Ravioli Di Zucca--Homemade Butternut Ravioli, Crispy Sage Butter, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Topped with Roasted Mushrooms & Walnut Gremolata, 2014 Sean Minor Wines Pinot Noir, Central Coast

Bistecca Alla Griglia--Grilled Flat Iron Steak Garnished with Organic Fingerling Potatoes, Roasted Garlic-Lavender Tomatoes, Onion Confit& Escarole in Barolo Wine Sauce, paired with 2013 Chappellet Winery Mountain Cuvée, Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
Napa Valley

Tiramisù E Tartufi Di Cioccolato--Espresso Lady Fingers Layered with Rum Flavored Mascarpone Cream Garnished with Homemade Chocolate Truffles, paired with 2012 Bonterra Vineyards Late Harvest Muscat, Bartolucci Vineyard (Organic), Lake County

2016 04 28

SRJC Bakery & Cafe

The Santa Rosa Junior College has a culinary program and they showcase their skills at their Bakery & Cafe. The cafe is located at 1670 Mendocino Avenue and is open for lunch Wed-Fri when school is in session. The restaurant is in a beautiful bright space with an open kitchen.

Bread basket with focaccia, rustic grain bread and a delicious cheese bread.

Curried Thai Carrot Soup--$5. This was a huge bowl. It was thick and creamy.

Wilted Dino Kale, Shiitake Mushrooms, Roasted Beets, Fried Egg and Sherry Vinaigrette--$5. This was a good salad. The egg would''ve been better poached so the yolk can run all over the salad.

Pork Stew with Ginger, Cilantro, Lemongrass, Chilies, Coconut Milk, Basmati Rice--$10. This was a huge portion and pretty tasty.

Seafood Pasta with White Shrimp, Calamari, Smoked Tuna, Red Spring Onions, White Wine and Cream--$11.50. The bucatini was perfectly cooked al dente but the smoked tuna was a little overpowering.

Passion Fruit Pudding Cake, Roasted Pineapple, Cocoa Almond Tuile--$6. It also came with passion fruit sorbet. The whole dish was delicious and beautifully presented.

2016 04 27

Thursday Night Dinner

Here's last night's dinner at Flavor Bistro. Still $24.95 for 4 courses with 4 wine pairings.

Calamari E Fagioli--Local Calamari & Cannellini Beans Served in Brodetto Di Vino Bianco Flavored with Garlic, Sweet Basil, Toy Box Tomatoes & Extra Virgin Olive Oil, paired with 2013 Seka Hills Viognier, Capay Valley

Risotto Al Savor--Arborio Rice Cooked with Homemade Pork Sausage, Organic Spinach, Ricotta & Parmigiano-Reggiano Topped with Walnut Gremolata, paired with 2013 De Loach Vineyards Pinot Noir, California

Agnello Alla Griglia--Grilled Lavender-Marinated Lamb Loin Chop Garnished with Slow Cooked Sweet Red Pepper Ragù & Creamy Black Olive Polenta Topped with Garlic-Herb Pesto, paired with 2013 St. Francis Winery & Vineyards Old Vines Zinfandel, Sonoma

Bomba--Italian Style Ice Cream Float, Vanilla & Chocolate Gelato, Espresso, Sweet Cream & Toasted Almonds, paired with 2015 Centorri Moscato di Pavia I.G.T., Italy

2016 04 21

Penne with Sausage & Broccoli

This is my go-to pasta recipe--so easy.

Penne with Sausage & Broccoli

1 lb Italian sausage
1 package frozen chopped broccoli, defrosted
1 tsp red chile flakes
1 lb penne pasta

Cook pasta according to package instructions in boiling salted water and drain. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water.

Brown the Italian sausage and drain the oil. Add the broccoli and red chile flakes. Add the pasta and the pasta water and that's it!



2016 04

Balletto Vineyards

Last week was the pickup party at Balletto Vineyards.

They served Italian meatloaf with creamy polenta. Our allotment this time was Sexton Hill Chardonnay, which I liked a lot better than their Teresa's Unoaked. 

2016 04 10

Thursday Night Dinner

Here's this week's Thursday Night dinner at Flavor Bistro.

Asparagi Alla Griglia--Local Organic Grilled Asparagus Garnished with Warm Cheese Brûlée & Shallot-Herb Salsa, paired with Moma Spumante Brut D.O.C., Emilia-Romagna, Italy

Risotto Con Funghi--Arborio Rice Cooked with Mushroom Pesto, Treviso & Fontina Cheese, paired with 2013 Di Majo Norante Sangiovese, Terre Degli Osci I.G.T., Molise, Italy

Anatra Al Forno--Stone Oven Roasted Duck Breast Garnished with Homemade Butternut Ravioli, Crispy Sage Butter, Parmigiano-Reggiano & Organic Alba Mushrooms, paired with 2012 La Posta Angel Paulucci Malbec, Ugarteche Vineyards, Mendoza, Argentina

Crostata Di Mele--Organic Apple Tart Served with Mascarpone Vanilla Custard, paired with 2014 Vietti Winery Moscato d'Asti, Cascinetta D.O.C.G., Italy

2016 04 14