Grandmas Dandelion Sauce Recipes

DANDELION SYRUP

Steps:

• Pick dandelion petals off the stems. Wear gloves to avoid staining your hands. Measure 5 1/2 ounces of petals and discard the stems and leaves.
• Transfer dandelion petals to a container and cover completely with water. Cover and steep in a cool, dark place, up to 24 hours.
• Drain through a fine-mesh sieve into a saucepan, squeezing petals as dry as possible with your hands. Stir in sugar and lemon juice and bring to a boil over medium heat. Simmer uncovered until a thin syrup forms, about 45 minutes. Cool until syrup thickens slightly.
• Pour into a bottle and place in the refrigerator.

GREAT GRANDMA'S PASTA SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large stockpot, saute garlic until soft and fragrant in 2 tbsp. of olive oil, about 2 minutes.
• Throw your meat in with the garlic and brown until meat has been thoroughly cooked through, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Pour in the tomato paste, tomato puree, and seasoning, including the fresh basil and sugar. Stir to mix well. With the 6 oz. can from the tomato paste, fill that with water and pour it in the stockpot as well.
• Let mixture simmer, uncovered, for 2 or more hours (the longer the better, but minimum 2 hours), stirring occasionally.
• Serve hot over fresh pasta.

GRANDMA'S DANDELION SAUCE

Steps:

• 1. Fry bacon crisp, remove bacon from skillet drain on paper towels, crumble bacon and set aside.
• 2. In a small bowl mix together remaining ingredients, except bacon. Slowly pour into bacon drippings in the skillet, stirring constantly over medium heat. Just before serving add crumbled bacon.
• 3. Note: If sauce seems to thick add a little cream or milk.

DANDELION DRESSING

Steps:

• Fry bacon in a large skillet set over medium heat until crisp. Remove from the pan and drain on paper towels. Reserve about 3 tablespoons of the drippings in the skillet.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, salt, mayonnaise, and cider vinegar. Set aside. Heat the bacon grease in the skillet over medium heat. Whisk in the flour until smooth. Cook, stirring constantly, until the flour is browned, about 10 minutes.
• Gradually whisk in the milk so that no lumps form and bring to a boil while stirring constantly. Pour a little hot milk into the egg mixture, whisking constantly; transfer egg mixture to the skillet. Crumble the bacon into the skillet and add the dandelion greens. Cook and stir just until the greens are wilted and heated through.

GRANDMA'S SUNDAY SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a pot and cook pork ribs until browned, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Cook sausages until browned, about 5 minutes. Transfer to the same plate as the ribs.
• Drain off some of the excess fat. Reduce heat to medium-low and pour in remaining olive oil. Add onion and 1/2 teaspoon salt; cook and stir until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute; make sure not to burn. Pour in 1/2 of the red wine and scrape up any browned bits off the bottom of the pan.
• Add tomato paste, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Stir until paste starts to darken, about 2 minutes. Stir in remaining red wine and water.
• Add tomatoes and their juices, crushing by hand as you add them to the pot. Season with basil, remaining salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to a low simmer. Taste and add sugar if sauce is too acidic.
• Return ribs to the pot. Simmer, partially covered, adding more liquid if needed, for at least 2 hours. Add sausages back to the pot for the last 45 minutes of cooking. Add fresh basil during the last 15 minutes of cooking. Discard bones before serving.

MARINARA SAUCE AKA "GRANDMA'S SAUCE"

Steps:

• Brown sausage in separate pan.
• Garlic press the garlic (or mince) and brown in the olive oil in a large pot. When brown, add sliced onion and cook until slightly translucent.
• Add tomatoe paste to onion mixture and mix thoroughly. Add crushed tomatoes, basil, salt, pepper and water and stir well.
• Finally, add sausage (and/or meatballs--see my other recipe) and bring to light boil.
• Once boiling, decrease heat to simmer and cover . Cook on simmer for 3-4 hours stirring occassionly.
• If you can't wait the full 3-4 hours add a dash of sugar and it equals about 1 hour of cooking time.
• Add red wine during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
• Suggestion: Serve over pasta with grated parmesan, salad, and bread -- .

SALMON WITH DANDELION SAUCE

Steps:

• Rinse the dandelion greens and discard any tough stems. Drain, shred finely and set aside.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the butter and vinegar in a saucepan until the butter melts. Add the dandelion greens and cover. Cook, stirring occasionally, until wilted, about 30 seconds. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, put the broth into a saucepan and cook down over relatively high heat until reduced to about 1/2 cup. Add the cream and return to a boil. Let cook over moderately high heat about 5 minutes. Swirl in the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and remove from the heat. Add salt and pepper to taste. Blend the sauce with the dandelion mixture.
• Heat the clarified butter in a skillet large enough to hold the salmon pieces in one layer without crowding. When quite hot, cook salmon pieces about 1 1/2 minutes over fairly high heat on one side. Turn carefully and cook for about 1 1/2 minutes on the second side.
• Spoon equal portions of the dandelion sauce onto the middle of six hot plates. Put one salmon piece in the center of each serving. Top each salmon piece with a teaspoon of caviar and serve.