This is the kind of meal that will make the men in your life very, very happy. I can’t necessarily guarantee diamonds or a vacation to Fiji but if your men eat meat, it’s certainly worth a try!

It involves a lot of meat, that unmistakable slow-cooked flavor and I mentioned meat, right? Making this ragù also taught me about a sofrito. The term varies by culture, but typically consists of chopped onion and garlic and then other additions like carrots, celery, peppers, tomato, etc. My sofrito contained onions, leeks, carrots and shallots. (I was out of garlic – the horror!) Regardless of the sofrito you use, this dish is an incredibly filling and satisfying winter meal.

Lamb Ragù

• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 white onion, chopped
• 3 leeks, chopped
• 1 shallot, chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped
• salt & pepper
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp greek seasoning
• 1/8 tsp cinnamon
• 1 pound ground lamb
• 1 cup red wine
• 1/4 cup half & half
• 3 Tbsp tomato paste
• 1 bay leaf
• feta cheese

Heat oil in large pan. Add sofrito mix to pan (onion, leeks, shallot and carrots) and let vegetables sweat, stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes.

Add all spices and lamb, stirring to break up meat. When meat has browned, about 4-5 minutes, add wine, half & half, tomato paste and the bay leaf. Lower heat and simmer for 1-2 hours.

Serve over pasta and sprinkle with feta if desired.

In between bites the Taster said, “You can make this anytime you want.” And I just might do that. I’m still waiting on that trip to Fiji.

PS. Congratulations to Samantha, the winner of the bean pasta giveaway! Please email me your mailing address!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas (or long weekend if you don’t celebrate!) I had an amazing weekend with family and soon-to-be family. I ate a lot of delicious food (think scallop chowder, pork roll breakfast sandwiches, beef tenderloin and home made eggnog) and enjoyed every minute of it! Please tell me you did one thing from my Holiday Health: Enjoying the Holidays post! (Thank you all for the wonderful feedback on my list of what you should do over the Holidays – I’m so glad you enjoyed it!)

I also decided to extend the bean pasta giveaway another day because of the Holiday weekend, so I will choose the winner tonight!

What was the best thing you ate over the weekend?