We have had some super weird weather this winter. Just a couple weeks ago we had a huge winter weather advisory and had 2 feet of snow dumped on us in less than 2 days.
Then just a few days after that it got into the 60°s and all the snow melted and it rained for 2 days straight.
Then it dipped back down into the 30°s – 40°s and has been off-and-on raining and snowing.
Today it’s about 40° and it’s supposed to snow.
Ugh… I am so ready for spring weather.
I have come to love living here in Michigan but I am still not a fan of the winters. And I can’t quite say yet that the spring, summer, fall combo makes up for it.
I don’t think I would mind it so much if it just didn’t last so long or have the random days where it just dumped snow on us or if it was just a little bit sunnier outside instead of so gloomy all the time during the winter.
Anyway, it’s not forever and we are planning on moving… we just don’t know when. Originally it was supposed to be this summer but with the new baby it’s been pushed back a year.
I think we’re both just ready for warmer weather year-round again and done with the snow.
So, since it did get colder and might be snowing outside soon I decided that some short rib ragu would be a perfect comfort food for the weekend.
Gnocchi is one of my favorite things and even though I can’t eat a ton of it right now, I can still have a little. But the star of this dish are the slow cooked short ribs. They are cooked with bacon and kale until fork-tender and then served with the soft gnocchi.
It definitely makes the perfect comfort dish when snuggling on the couch and binge watching your favorite shows.
Short Rib Ragu
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 lbs boneless short ribs cut into cubes
- 1/2 lb bacon diced
- 1 medium yellow onion finely diced
- 1 medium carrot sliced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup red wine
- 2 cups beef stock
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1 cup kale stemmed and sliced
- 12 oz gnocchi fresh or frozen
- grated Parmesan cheese for topping
Instructions
- In a large stockpot, heat the oil over medium heat. Season the short ribs with salt and pepper, to taste, and place in hot stockpot.
- Cook, turning often, until browned on all sides. Remove from pot.
- Add diced bacon to pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and slightly crispy. Add diced onion, carrot, and garlic. Finish cooking until vegetables soften; about 5 minutes.
- Add wine and cook, stirring occasionally until reduced by about half; about 5 minutes. Pour in beef stock and tomatoes then bring to boil.
- Add short ribs back to pot, cover, and cook over low heat for about 2 hours until meat is fork-tender.
- Once meat is cooked, shred with two forks and stir in kale. Let cook additional 5 minutes, or so, until kale is wilted.
- While kale is cooking, use a medium saucepan to cook gnocchi according to package directions. Drain then stir into stockpot with short ribs.
- Serve immediately topped with fresh grated parmesan cheese, if desired.
