Ground Beef Ragu

Ragu Calzone
A ragu is an Italian sauce or stew, made with tomatoes, ground meat, vegetables, and wine, and cooked for a very long time.  Blognese sauce is a variation on a ragu that most of us are familiar with – though, in that case, a specific regional variation that is a bit heavier on tomato than most.

Ragus are frequently used with pasta, especially spaghetti.  But they can go on just about anything.  Or, in the case of this week’s Pie of the Week, in anything, or at least a calzone.  They are rich, hearty, and full of flavor!
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Pizza Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Pizza Stuffed Zucchini Boat

Pizza Stuffed Zucchini Boat

So, I wanted something a little different for the daily zucchini adventure today.  Something a bit more filling.  Something savory and rich.  And I enjoyed the squash and Italian Sausage flavor combination from my Rotini Tromboncini the other day.

Well, our main zucchini variety is Costata Romanesca, an Italian heirloom variety that we really love.  Italian zucchini, Italian sausage….  What could be more faux-Italian (yet really American) than pizza? Continue reading

Chad’s Pizza Crust

Pizza Crust

A partially-baked pizza crust, ready to top and freeze for homemade frozen pizza (if you were making fresh, you would’t pre-bake it)

This is the recipe I use to make homemade frozen pizzas.  Of course, it also works well for pizza made fresh!   Continue reading

Pizza Sauce

Pizza crust with sauce

Saucing a pizza

This is the sauce I used when I made homemade frozen pizza last week.  Yes, I’ll probably post the parts and pieces to make a frozen pizza recipe, but mostly, I’m experimenting with a new recipe format/features for this blog.  I’m hoping for feedback, either as comments here, or via email, Facebook, in person, whatever. Continue reading