1.

small small carrot carrot, peeled and chopped

Salt and and black pepper black pepper .

pound pound bulk hot sausage bulk hot sausage .

pound pound bulk sweet sausage bulk sweet sausage .

pound pound ground beef ground beef

1.

egg egg .

cup cup bread crumbs bread crumbs (3 generous handfuls), Italian or plain (3 generous handfuls), Italian or plain .

cup grated cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano Parmigiano-Reggiano or Pecorino Romano cheese (a couple of handfuls) or Pecorino Romano cheese (a couple of handfuls)

pound pound pancetta pancetta (4 slices), chopped (4 slices), chopped

3.

garlic cloves garlic cloves, chopped .

cup cup beef stock beef stock

1.

can can petite-diced tomatoes petite-diced tomatoes or stewed tomatoes or stewed tomatoes

1.

tablespoon tablespoon Worcestershire sauce Worcestershire sauce

2.

teaspoons teaspoons hot sauce hot sauce

6.

cups cups mixed greens mixed greens

Preheat the oven to 425F.

Heat a small skillet over medium heat with 2 tablespoons of the EVOO. When the oil is hot, add the red bell pepper, half the onion, celery, and carrots and saute together for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, then remove to a plate to cool.

Combine the sausage and ground beef with the egg, bread crumbs, cheese, and cooled sauteed vegetables, mixing well. Form 4 large oval-shaped patties no more than 1 inches thick and arrange them on a cookie sheet. Drizzle the patties with EVOO and bake for 17 to 18 minutes, until cooked through.

Heat a medium saucepot over medium high heat. Add a drizzle of EVOO to the pan, and add then the pancetta. Let the pancetta crisp up a bit and render its fat, then add the remaining chopped onion and the garlic and cook until tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the beef stock and tomatoes and season the sauce heavily with coarsely ground black pepper. Add the Worcestershire and hot sauce and reduce the heat to low.

Serve the meatloaf patties topped with the Italian barbecue sauce and a green salad alongside.

EXPRESS LANE SHOPPING LIST.

- [image]1 red bell pepper bell pepper - [image] pound bulk hot sausage bulk hot sausage - [image] pound bulk sweet sausage bulk sweet sausage - [image] pound ground beef ground beef - [image]4 slices pancetta pancetta, about pound - [image]1 sack mixed salad greens mixed salad greens And make sure you have the following On Hand: - EVOO - Onion - Celery - Carrot - Salt and black pepper - Egg - Dry bread crumbs, Italian or plain - Parmigiano-Reggiano or Pecorino Romano cheese - Garlic - Beef stock - Canned diced tomatoes - Worcestershire - Hot sauce

BRING IT ON! (BUT, BE GENTLE.).

Even after taping four shows in one day there are nights I cannot wait to get home to my family and my stove-I really do love love to cook. Cooking centers me and oftentimes the busier I am the more the act of preparing a meal helps me focus and figure out that day's piece of my big picture. The meals in this section are elaborate only in presentation. You may be called upon to watch more than one pot, but in less than 30 minutes and with fewer than 10 ingredients (in addition to some ingredients from your On Hand list) you will revel in one mean meal. Try my favorites, the Drunken Tuscan Pasta or my wedding meal, the Montalcino Chicken with Figs and Buttered Gnocchi with Nutmeg. Your friends will say bring it on! to cook. Cooking centers me and oftentimes the busier I am the more the act of preparing a meal helps me focus and figure out that day's piece of my big picture. The meals in this section are elaborate only in presentation. You may be called upon to watch more than one pot, but in less than 30 minutes and with fewer than 10 ingredients (in addition to some ingredients from your On Hand list) you will revel in one mean meal. Try my favorites, the Drunken Tuscan Pasta or my wedding meal, the Montalcino Chicken with Figs and Buttered Gnocchi with Nutmeg. Your friends will say bring it on!

Good Fennels Pasta I make this one when I watch GoodFellas. GoodFellas. Shave the garlic nice and thin, like Paulie would, but don't use a razor blade like he does in the movie. A sharp knife is fine. Shave the garlic nice and thin, like Paulie would, but don't use a razor blade like he does in the movie. A sharp knife is fine.

4 SERVINGS.

Salt

1.

pound pound bucatini bucatini (hollow fat spaghetti) or other long-cut pasta (hollow fat spaghetti) or other long-cut pasta

3.

tablespoons tablespoons EVOO EVOO (extra-virgin olive oil) (extra-virgin olive oil)

1.

pound pound bulk sweet Italian sausage bulk sweet Italian sausage

4.

garlic cloves garlic cloves, very thinly sliced

1.

medium medium onion onion, very thinly sliced

1.

fennel bulb fennel bulb, trimmed, quartered, cored, and very thinly sliced

2.

cubanelle peppers cubanelle peppers, seeded and very thinly sliced

Black pepper