Gnocchi and Ragu - An Italian Cooking Experience.

Last week I joined two of my lady friends to try our hands at some home cooked Italian food. Anna had gotten a recipe for gnocchi from the guy at her local salumeria (deli) and her neighbor had shared a homemade meat sauce recipe, too.

Steam grated carrot and onion and chopped celery for a few minutes before adding ground beef. Brown ground beef and cook until "dry."

Add passatta (tomato puree) and a touch of red wine.

...and a touch of olive oil.

Simmer on low for about an hour.

Gnocchi are a type of dumpling prepared with potatoes, flour, egg, and salt.

Once you get the dough to the right consistency, roll them on a floured surface and cut them to size.

Place dumplings in boiling water - they will rise to the top when they are done cooking.

Buonissimo!!