Papaya Mom

and it was a hit! Even Jake, who likes jarred Ragu sauce, liked it better! No one was able to guess the “secret” ingredient…Milk!

I got the recipe from my favorite, cooksillustrated.com, but had to make a few changes (no pancetta at our grocery and no wine in this house).

1/2 ounce dried porcini mushrooms
1 1/4 cups chicken broth
1/2 small carrot , peeled and chopped into rough 1/2-inch pieces (about 1/4 cup)
1/2 small onion , chopped into rough 1/2-inch pieces (about 1/3 cup)
1 can (28 ounces) whole tomatoes with juice
1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 small clove garlic , minced or pressed through garlic press (about 1/2 teaspoon)
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1 1/4 pounds meatloaf mix (or equal amounts 80 percent lean ground beef, ground veal, and ground pork)
1 1/2 cups whole milk
2 tablespoons tomato paste
table salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 pound pasta
grated Parmesan cheese , for serving

1.Cover porcini mushrooms with 1/2 cup water in small microwave-safe bowl; cover bowl with plastic wrap, cut a few steam vents with paring knife, and microwave on high power for 30 seconds. Let stand until mushrooms have softened, about 5 minutes. Using fork, lift porcini from liquid and transfer to second small bowl; pour soaking liquid through paper towel-lined mesh strainer. Set porcini and strained liquid aside.

2. Bring broth to simmer in 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat; reduce heat to low and simmer until broth is reduced to 2 tablespoons, about 20 minutes. Set reduced broth aside.

3. Meanwhile, pulse carrot in food processor until broken down into rough 1/4-inch pieces, about 10 one-second pulses. Add onion; pulse until vegetables are broken down to 1/8-inch pieces, about 10 one-second pulses. Transfer vegetables to small bowl. Process softened porcini until well-ground, about 15 seconds, scraping down bowl if necessary. Transfer porcini to bowl with onions and carrots. Pulse tomatoes with juice until chopped fine, 6 to 8 one-second pulses.

4. Heat butter in 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat; when foaming subsidesadd carrot, onion, and porcini; cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables are softened but not browned, about 4 minutes. Add garlic and sugar; cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add ground meats, breaking meat into 1-inch pieces with wooden spoon, about 1 minute. Add milk and stir to break meat into 1/2-inch bits; bring to simmer, reduce heat to medium, and continue to simmer, stirring to break up meat into small pieces, until most liquid has evaporated and meat begins to sizzle, 18 to 20 minutes. Stir in tomato paste and cook until combined, about 1 minute. Add tomatoes, reserved porcini soaking liquid, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper; bring to simmer over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to medium and simmer until liquid is reduced and sauce is thickened but still moist, 12 to 15 minutes. Stir in reduced broth and simmer to blend flavors, about 5 minutes.

5. Meanwhile, bring 4 quarts water to rolling boil, covered, in stockpot. Add 1-tablespoon salt and pasta, stir to separate, and cook until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/4 cup pasta cooking water, and return pasta to stockpot. Add 2 cups sauce and 2 tablespoons pasta water to pasta; toss well, adding remaining pasta water, if necessary, to help distribute sauce. Divide pasta among individual bowls and top each portion with about 1/4 cup remaining sauce. Serve immediately, passing Parmesan separately.

Popularity: 12% [?]

So I thought it might work, we’d all sleep. Papaya slept, a bit, but neither Adventure Dad nor I got much sleep. The Jet Blue seats were bigger, but barely reclined. So, both our necks hurt and we ended up trading baby and sleeping hunched over a backpack on the tray table. Did I mention we NEVER plan to do this again!?!?!

So we made it to JFK, but had forgotten what an awful old airport it was. The Jet Blue terminal seemed old, the carpet was awful and it was stuffed with people. We were semi-happy to get on another plane just to get it all over with. We all passed out on the 45 minute hop and were on our way….to wait again at the car rental terminal. We finally hit the road towards the Petzoldt Farm at 11:50 a.m. EST, a nine hour treck of sore muscles and more!

Arriving was wonderful; Grandma and Grandpa hurried over to meet Papaya who had slept the entire two hour drive home. Although sleepy, she allowed Grandma to hold her and play and even let out small smiles. She was held and loved by Auntie Niki and Auntie Katy and then settled in for some milk. We went over to see Great Grandmother Petzoldt. The big surprise - the Petzoldts had begun construction of the new wing of the house. Grandpa Petzoldt now says “if you build it, they will come.” He loves his boys and the grandchildren and wives they bring, and he’s showing it by building a great new wing to the house…with a BATHROOM!!!!!

We’ve all bathed and showered, now we await the return of Grandparents from the barn. We’ll have a wonderful dinner and set in for a LONG night’s sleep.

Popularity: 13% [?]