David's Favorite Recipes

  • Breakfast
    • Breakfast Home
    • Heather’s Famous Cinnamon Rolls
    • Sunday Sour Cream Blueberry Pancakes
    • Sarah Hooker’s Family Olympics Breakfast Casserole
    • My Bermudian Mother’s Caramelized Bananas and Bacon
  • Appetizers
    • Appetizers Home
    • Ollie’s Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail With Two Sauces
    • Mike Gilbert’s Roasted Beet Hummus
    • Spring Vegetable Platter With Rolling Rock Dip
    • St. James Clam’s Casino
    • Jeanne Cook’s Hot Artichoke Dip
    • Smoked Salmon With Shallot & Dill Cream Cheese
    • Lobster Cocktail Marie Rose
    • Maine Crab Cocktail Dip
  • Soups
    • Soups Home
    • The Essential Homemade Chicken Stock
    • Dick Viall’s Chilled Melon Soup
    • Summer Gazpacho With Ripe Red Cherries
    • Homemade Tomato Basil Soup
    • Chef King’s Crab Bisque
    • New England Jumbo Shrimp Chowder
    • Hearty Lentil Soup With Cream Sherry
    • The Ultimate Chicken Noodle Soup
    • Broccoli Cheddar Soup
    • Ruthie’s Maine Fish Chowder
    • Barbara Wickwire’s Chilled Pea Soup
  • Salads
    • Salads Home
    • Mediterranean Salad With Sculley House Vinaigrette
    • David’s Special Albacore Tuna Salad
    • Spinach and Bacon Salad With Soy Ginger Dressing
    • Bob Smith’s Signature Tableside Caeser Salad
    • Curried Chicken Salad With Chutney Mayonnaise
    • Jane West’s Famous Bermuda Chicken Salad
    • Howard’s Goat Cheese & Pear Salad
    • Teriyaki Strip Steak Salad
    • Jumbo Shrimp Salad With Pineapple Vinaigrette
  • Sandwiches
    • Sandwiches Home
    • Grilled Buffalo Chicken Sandwich with Asian Slaw
    • Grilled Honey Lime Chicken Fajita
    • Asian Minced Pork and Lettuce Flatbread Wrap
    • Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwich “Croque Monsieur”
    • Ground Lamb Flatbread Gyro with Tzatziki Sauce
    • Lobster Cocktail Marie Rose
    • Margot’s Pulled Pork Sandwich With Two Sauces
  • Main Dishes
    • Main Dishes Home
    • Swedish Meatballs With Buttered Egg Noodles
    • Sweet Sausage Chili
    • D. Sculley’s Perfect Filet Mignon
    • Jeb’s Juicy Gourmet Meatloaf
    • Port Wine Braised Beef Pot Pie
    • Bunny’s Football Pool Jose Dinner Casserole
    • Susan’s Slow Roasted Leg of Lamb
    • Emerson’s Grilled Butterflied Lamb
    • Sylvia’s Sauteed Quail With Dates
    • Reedy Family Barbecued Spare Ribs
    • Peter Soderberg’s Grilled Brined Pork Chops
    • David’s Chicken Pot Pie
    • Honey Glazed Chicken Thighs
    • Jessica’s Famous Chicken
    • John Pelkan’s Grilled Butterflied Cornish Game Hens
    • Eric’s Chicken Enchilada Casserole
    • Heather’s Butter Poached Chicken
    • Margot’s Buttermilk and Thyme Marinated Chicken Thigh
    • Jonathan’s Middle Eastern Chicken Kabobs
    • Fiona’s Yummy Bermuda Baked Chicken
    • Classic Roast Chicken With White Wine Pan Sauce
    • Wolfgang Puck’s Chicken Marsala With Mushrooms
    • Asian Sesame Chicken Stir Fry
    • The World’s Best Cheese Souffle
    • Grilled Oregano, Lemon & Garlic Chicken Thighs
    • Sauteed Chicken Piccata
  • Seafood
    • Seafood Home
    • Sauteed Sea Scallops With White Wine Cream Sauce
    • Crispy Jumbo Shrimp Scampi
    • Rosemary Shrimp With Parmesan Risotto
    • Shrimp Linguine With Marinara Cream Sauce
    • Mike McGrath’s Cod Provencal
    • David’s Baked Fish Fillets With Buttered Bread Crumbs
    • Lemon Butter Salmon In Foil Packs With Dill Sauce
    • Nantucket Bay Scallops
  • Pizza/Pasta
    • Pizza & Pasta Home
    • Sour Cream Flatbread Pepperoni Pizza
    • David’s Famous Italian Ragu
    • Dinner Party Lasagna
    • Fettuccine Parmesan With Shallots, Pine Nuts & Sun Dried Tomatoes
    • Christa’s Ricotta Gnocchi With Parmesan Cream Sauce
    • Barbara South’s Pappardelle With Fennel, Sausage & Ricotta
    • Norman’s Signature Pesto Sauce on Open Faced Lasagna
  • Side Dishes
    • Side Dishes Home
    • Sweet Summer Corn With Leek & Shallot Butter
    • Baked Summer Tomatoes Au Gratin
    • Grilled Summer Vegetables With Balsamic Glaze
    • Honey Glazed Carrots With Parsley
    • David’s Creamed Spinach
    • David’s Wild Rice With Toasted Pecans & Cranberries
    • Brad’s Cauliflower Bake
    • Vermouth Braised Fennel With Parmesan
    • Potato & Leek Gratin
    • Elsa’s Leek & Gruyere Bread Pudding
    • Pan Seared Brussel Sprouts
    • Homemade Rice Pilaf
    • Heather’s Sauteed Green Beans With Honey Butter & Ginger
  • Bakery
    • Bakery Home
    • Parmesan Thyme Shortbread Biscuits
    • Heather’s Rosemary Focaccia Bread
    • David Genter’s Homemade Olive Bread
    • Sheila Gosling’s Bermuda Banana Bread
    • Clare’s Harvest Spice Muffins
  • Desserts
    • Desserts Home
    • Heather’s Signature Apple Crostata
    • Vienna Squares
    • Christa’s Outrageous Brownies
    • Paula’s Fabulous Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Christa’s Pavlova With Raspberry Coulis
    • Elise’s Ricotta Cheesecake
    • The Duquesne Club’s Famous Macaroons
  • Holiday
    • Holiday Home
    • Thanksgiving Friday Turkey Tetrazzini
    • Paula’s Christmas Eve Manicotti
    • Christmas Hownie Cookies
    • Christa’s Holiday Beef Tenderloin With Bearnaise Sauce
    • Theresa’s Easter Bunny Cake
Menu
  • Breakfast
    • Breakfast Home
    • Heather’s Famous Cinnamon Rolls
    • Sunday Sour Cream Blueberry Pancakes
    • Sarah Hooker’s Family Olympics Breakfast Casserole
    • My Bermudian Mother’s Caramelized Bananas and Bacon
  • Appetizers
    • Appetizers Home
    • Ollie’s Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail With Two Sauces
    • Mike Gilbert’s Roasted Beet Hummus
    • Spring Vegetable Platter With Rolling Rock Dip
    • St. James Clam’s Casino
    • Jeanne Cook’s Hot Artichoke Dip
    • Smoked Salmon With Shallot & Dill Cream Cheese
    • Lobster Cocktail Marie Rose
    • Maine Crab Cocktail Dip
  • Soups
    • Soups Home
    • The Essential Homemade Chicken Stock
    • Dick Viall’s Chilled Melon Soup
    • Summer Gazpacho With Ripe Red Cherries
    • Homemade Tomato Basil Soup
    • Chef King’s Crab Bisque
    • New England Jumbo Shrimp Chowder
    • Hearty Lentil Soup With Cream Sherry
    • The Ultimate Chicken Noodle Soup
    • Broccoli Cheddar Soup
    • Ruthie’s Maine Fish Chowder
    • Barbara Wickwire’s Chilled Pea Soup
  • Salads
    • Salads Home
    • Mediterranean Salad With Sculley House Vinaigrette
    • David’s Special Albacore Tuna Salad
    • Spinach and Bacon Salad With Soy Ginger Dressing
    • Bob Smith’s Signature Tableside Caeser Salad
    • Curried Chicken Salad With Chutney Mayonnaise
    • Jane West’s Famous Bermuda Chicken Salad
    • Howard’s Goat Cheese & Pear Salad
    • Teriyaki Strip Steak Salad
    • Jumbo Shrimp Salad With Pineapple Vinaigrette
  • Sandwiches
    • Sandwiches Home
    • Grilled Buffalo Chicken Sandwich with Asian Slaw
    • Grilled Honey Lime Chicken Fajita
    • Asian Minced Pork and Lettuce Flatbread Wrap
    • Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwich “Croque Monsieur”
    • Ground Lamb Flatbread Gyro with Tzatziki Sauce
    • Lobster Cocktail Marie Rose
    • Margot’s Pulled Pork Sandwich With Two Sauces
  • Main Dishes
    • Main Dishes Home
    • Swedish Meatballs With Buttered Egg Noodles
    • Sweet Sausage Chili
    • D. Sculley’s Perfect Filet Mignon
    • Jeb’s Juicy Gourmet Meatloaf
    • Port Wine Braised Beef Pot Pie
    • Bunny’s Football Pool Jose Dinner Casserole
    • Susan’s Slow Roasted Leg of Lamb
    • Emerson’s Grilled Butterflied Lamb
    • Sylvia’s Sauteed Quail With Dates
    • Reedy Family Barbecued Spare Ribs
    • Peter Soderberg’s Grilled Brined Pork Chops
    • David’s Chicken Pot Pie
    • Honey Glazed Chicken Thighs
    • Jessica’s Famous Chicken
    • John Pelkan’s Grilled Butterflied Cornish Game Hens
    • Eric’s Chicken Enchilada Casserole
    • Heather’s Butter Poached Chicken
    • Margot’s Buttermilk and Thyme Marinated Chicken Thigh
    • Jonathan’s Middle Eastern Chicken Kabobs
    • Fiona’s Yummy Bermuda Baked Chicken
    • Classic Roast Chicken With White Wine Pan Sauce
    • Wolfgang Puck’s Chicken Marsala With Mushrooms
    • Asian Sesame Chicken Stir Fry
    • The World’s Best Cheese Souffle
    • Grilled Oregano, Lemon & Garlic Chicken Thighs
    • Sauteed Chicken Piccata
  • Seafood
    • Seafood Home
    • Sauteed Sea Scallops With White Wine Cream Sauce
    • Crispy Jumbo Shrimp Scampi
    • Rosemary Shrimp With Parmesan Risotto
    • Shrimp Linguine With Marinara Cream Sauce
    • Mike McGrath’s Cod Provencal
    • David’s Baked Fish Fillets With Buttered Bread Crumbs
    • Lemon Butter Salmon In Foil Packs With Dill Sauce
    • Nantucket Bay Scallops
  • Pizza/Pasta
    • Pizza & Pasta Home
    • Sour Cream Flatbread Pepperoni Pizza
    • David’s Famous Italian Ragu
    • Dinner Party Lasagna
    • Fettuccine Parmesan With Shallots, Pine Nuts & Sun Dried Tomatoes
    • Christa’s Ricotta Gnocchi With Parmesan Cream Sauce
    • Barbara South’s Pappardelle With Fennel, Sausage & Ricotta
    • Norman’s Signature Pesto Sauce on Open Faced Lasagna
  • Side Dishes
    • Side Dishes Home
    • Sweet Summer Corn With Leek & Shallot Butter
    • Baked Summer Tomatoes Au Gratin
    • Grilled Summer Vegetables With Balsamic Glaze
    • Honey Glazed Carrots With Parsley
    • David’s Creamed Spinach
    • David’s Wild Rice With Toasted Pecans & Cranberries
    • Brad’s Cauliflower Bake
    • Vermouth Braised Fennel With Parmesan
    • Potato & Leek Gratin
    • Elsa’s Leek & Gruyere Bread Pudding
    • Pan Seared Brussel Sprouts
    • Homemade Rice Pilaf
    • Heather’s Sauteed Green Beans With Honey Butter & Ginger
  • Bakery
    • Bakery Home
    • Parmesan Thyme Shortbread Biscuits
    • Heather’s Rosemary Focaccia Bread
    • David Genter’s Homemade Olive Bread
    • Sheila Gosling’s Bermuda Banana Bread
    • Clare’s Harvest Spice Muffins
  • Desserts
    • Desserts Home
    • Heather’s Signature Apple Crostata
    • Vienna Squares
    • Christa’s Outrageous Brownies
    • Paula’s Fabulous Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Christa’s Pavlova With Raspberry Coulis
    • Elise’s Ricotta Cheesecake
    • The Duquesne Club’s Famous Macaroons
  • Holiday
    • Holiday Home
    • Thanksgiving Friday Turkey Tetrazzini
    • Paula’s Christmas Eve Manicotti
    • Christmas Hownie Cookies
    • Christa’s Holiday Beef Tenderloin With Bearnaise Sauce
    • Theresa’s Easter Bunny Cake

David’s Famous Italian Ragu

SERVES 8

Directions

Separate the raw ground beef into 3 equal portions and pat dry thoroughly with paper towels. Heat 2 to 3 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat; add 1 portion of the meat and sauté, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until thoroughly browned, 5 to 7 minutes; and then, with a slotted spoon, transfer the browned meat to a large mixing bowl. A batch at a time, using the fat already in the pan, brown the remaining beef in the same way.

Add the remaining olive oil to a large stockpot over medium heat and sauté the onions and carrots until soft, about 10 minutes, covering the pot for the last 2 minutes. Uncover the pot cover and add the garlic, sautéing for 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the cooked beef and oregano. Stir in the milk and simmer until no excess liquid remains, about 10 minutes. Add 1 cup of the port wine simmer until no excess liquid remains, about 7 minutes.

Thoroughly stir in the marinara, sugar, and bay leaves. Reduce the heat to low, add the remaining port, and simmer for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and leave briefly to cool; then, skim off any fat from the surface. Discard the bay leaves and use serve immediately over cooked pasta, garnishing with chopped fresh basil and, if you like, small basil sprigs. Refrigerate overnight and reheat the next day for even better flavor.

I’ve been making this Italian Bolognese sauce for years. It is the dish that my kids insist I prepare whenever they come home to Sewickley, Pennsylvania, or when we go to Maine in the summer. It’s important to brown the ground beef well. In the Italian way, I add milk to the recipe. But the key ingredient is port wine, which gives the dish a much better flavor than red wine. I also use this sauce as the base for our Dinner Party Lasagna.

Ingredients

2 pounds ground beef
2 large yellow onions, chopped
2 cups finely diced carrots
3 garlic cloves, minced
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1½ cups whole milk
1½ cups port wine
2 (24-ounce) jars good-quality bottled marinara sauce, such as Classico Riserva brand
2 tablespoons sugar
4 tablespoons dried oregano
3 bay leaves
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Fresh basil leaves, for garnish