Old Hippie Chef: Valentine's Day,Turkey Bolognese & Potato Gnocchi

Note: If this is the your first time logging onto my blog to get up to speed return to the blog dated 12-17-12 titled Chronicles of a Food Junkie.

I really haven't eaten any red meat since I started the "change" as I now call it. I've had pork , but no beef in 3 months. Most of the beef raised in this country is corn fed, and anyone with a lick of common sense would know that cows eat GRASS, not corn. Of course there are a lot of people in this country that haven't got any fucking sense at all, let alone a lick of sense.The city of Oakland is full of them.

Most of the corn that is grown worldwide is from Monsanto seed stock, and it is genetically modified. We have no idea what the effects of this modification has on our health or nature.

The logic Monsanto would like us all to believe is that their seed stock is resistant to pests, but nature adapts, just like we do. Because cows stomachs cannot digest corn, they become ill from eating it. When they become ill they are given antibiotics. The majority of the beef these days contains traces of antibiotics, and these antibiotics are being absorbed into our bodies. Because we are literally bombarded with these antibiotics our bodies are less resistant to colds, flu's, and viruses. We get sick, go to the doctor, the doctor prescribed more friggin antibiotics, and we don't get better.

Also, decades ago ranchers found out that when they gave cattle small amounts of antibiotics the cattle gained weight. In an industry where weight means the difference between a profit or a loss, this process became standard practice. We don't know exactly how much antibiotics are being given to cattle, but it's estimated that between 15 and 17 million pounds of antibiotics are administered to cattle yearly in the US alone.

The European Union and Canada have outlawed this practice, but the US continues to approve the use of antibiotics to stimulate weight gain. The World Health Organization urges all countries where this practice is common to terminate or rapidly phase out antibiotics for growth promotion.

Where the hell is all this leading? I'm making this bolognese with free range turkey, not beef, and no pork as a starter. I'm getting back to my Ginnie roots. Italians do not eat a lot of beef. Cows were used primarily for milk and cheese production. Cows were expensive, and dishes such as veal piccata were a luxury for the average Italian. Pigs, chicken, goat, and sheep are the main meats Italians eat. I do miss my cheese burgers, and I'm not saying I'll never eat beef again, because I most likely will. That would be tantamount to saying something stupid like, because I got a dose of the clap back in 1970 I'm never going to have sex again.

Besides the reasons I stated above Geraldine doesn't eat beef, at all. When we first started our life together we would go out and eat cheese burgers all over San Francisco, looking for the best burger in the city, but she quit eating red meat. So, if I make it with turkey she'll eat it. Everything I do, I do for Geri. If she was your old lady you would too.

And that leads us to Valentine's Day. To the love of my life Geraldine Marie Haslett, this gnocchi is for you girl. Love you kid.

So, this recipe is made with turkey, and my gnocchi, well, it's to die for.

Peace,

Make Food/Not War

Food Consumption: 2-14-13

Breakfast: cereal w/soy milk and banana, orange juice, lemon yogart

Lunch: 2 chicken legs, a little salmon

Dinner: Gnocchi w/turkey bolognese, salad w/my vinaigrette, black olive, mustard greens, cucumber, radishes, steamed and sauteed brussel sprouts w/s & p.

Dessert: Chocolate truffles by Godiva, Martinelli's sparkling cider.

Exercise: 6 miles walking

Gnocchi Recipe: Serves 6 as entree'

Ingredients:
3 pounds Idaho Russet potatoes
1 tea spoon nutmeg
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon white pepper
1 cup all purpose organic flour and more to work with
3 eggs beaten

1) Bake potatoes in the oven at 450 degree till done. Put aside and let cool. Remove the skins and run through a potato press.
2) In a large mixing bowl add the nutmeg, white pepper, salt and mix till throughly incorporated.
3) Punch a hole in the center and pour the egg mix into it. Mix the egg and the potato completely together.
4) With a large spoon Mix in the flour and the potato/egg mix in batches. Incorporating the flour into the dough, ensuring there are no lumps.
5) Take a large handful of dough and on a floured surface gently roll out the dough with both hand. With a knife or dough scraper cut the gnocchi into your desired size. Repeat this will all the dough has been rolled out and the gnocchi is made. Place on floured pans until ready to cook.
6) In a large pot of hot salted boiling water place the gnocchi and cook till till they rise to the surface. Remove with a slotted spoon and add the bolognese.

Hopefully the photos below will give you an idea of the process. It very easy actually. A little messy, but easy. If you'll notice I score the gnocchi with a folk. This allows some of the bolognese to get trapped in those little grooves.