*  Exported from  MasterCook  *

                   POLENTA WITH BEEF AND SAUSAGE STEW

Recipe By     :
Serving Size  : 6    Preparation Time :0:00
Categories    : Meats                            Italian
               Alcohol

 Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
                       -JUDI M. PHELPS (G.PHELPS1)
  1 3/4   lb           Lean beef
    3/4   lb           Italian sweet sausage
  2                    Garlic cloves -- mashed
 10                    Parsley sprigs -- leaves only
    1/2   lb           Fresh mushrooms
  3       tb           Olive oil
    1/4   c            Butter
  2       oz           Salt pork -- diced
    1/2   lb           Onions -- peeled and diced
    1/4   ts           Freshly ground black pepper
  1                    Bay leaf -- crumbled
    1/2   c            Dry white wine
  2       tb           Celery -- minced
  2       tb           Carrot -- minced
  1       lg           Fresh tomato or
    1/2   c            Canned plum tomatoes -- chop
                       -fine
    1/2   c             -- hot water
          pn           Freshly grated nutmeg
                       Salt -- optional
                       Polenta -- freshly cooked (see
                       -separate recipe)

    Cut the beef into 1/2-inch cubes.  Remove casing from the sausage and
 cut the meat into 1-inch pieces.
  Chop garlic and parsley together until almost pureed.
  Cut the mushrooms into thin slices; or use 1/2 oz dried mushrooms and soak
 them in 1/2 cup lukewarm water for 15 minutes. Drain, saving the water, and
 chop the mushrooms.
    Combine olive oil, butter, and salt pork in a saucepan; heat. Add onions
 and saute slowly until medium brown. Add beef and sausage and brown for 10
 minutes.  Add garlic and parsley, black pepper and bay leaf. Stir and cook
 for 10 minutes.  Add wine, stir, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes. Add
 celery, carrot, tomatoes and mushrooms. Stir and cook for 10 minutes
 longer.  Add hot water and water from dried mushrooms if any. Stir, cover,
 and simmer for 40 minutes.
  Grate a little nutmeg over the top and simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes
 longer.  Test beef for doneness; taste for salt and add if necessary, but
 salt pork may have added enough.
    Divide the hot polenta among 4 to 6 warm plates.
  Serve the stew and gravy over polenta.  Enjoy a bottle of Valpolicella
 with it.
    Source:  Leone's Italian Cookbook.



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