Gnocchi My Night Away

Ingredients:

• 4 oz. bacon sliced and diced
• 1/2 lb ground beef
• 4 garlic cloves pressed
• EVOO
• 1 cup of carrots diced
• 1 stalk of celery diced
• 2 tbsp red wine or brandy
• 1 cup chicken stock
• Salt and pepper
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 15 ounce can plum tomatoes
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 package (1 lb) gnocchi

What to do:

1. Heat the EVOO in a medium skillet, add the bacon and garlic and cook until brown.  Add the ground beef, cook while stirring 3 minutes.  
2. Next add the red wine, carrots, celery, tomato paste and cook veggies until soft-about 4 minutes.  Season with salt & pepper.
3. Add tomatoes into the pan including the juices.  Stir in the broth and bay leaf.  Bring to a simmer and lower the heat; cover and cook for 20 minutes. Uncover, increase the heat and bring to a boil to thicken the sauce.
4. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.  Just before serving, boil the gnocchi until one floats to the top, about 1 minute.  Drain immediately or gnocchi will become mushy.  Toss the gnocchi with the sauce.  Serve in a shallow bowl. Enjoy!

Recipe from: Holly