Gnocchi with Romesco and Italian Sausage

Sorry to say this is not what we had for dinner last night. You see, I'm on my own again dinner wise for most of the week, consequently I couldn't resist having another one of those turkey brie panini sandwiches along with a glass of wine. Better yet, since the Maxer dawg is recovering from his monthly seizure quota, I'd rather have a dog in my lap that underfoot in the kitchen anyway. Do you buy the excuses?

Do you ever stand open mouthed at the open door of your pantry or refrigerator on nights that cooking's the farthest thing from your mind? That's what happened in this case of this gnocchi we had a couple of weeks ago.

The plump little Italian pasta dumplings known far and wide as gnocchi are a perfect quick and easy dinner, particularly since they're available at your local market already prepared and ready for cooking as was the case with this particular potato version from Trader Joe's. They're lovely to hide in the pantry and haul out when you don't know what the heck you're going to cook. Gnocchi are normally served with a lighter sauce like pesto, a light tomato or sometimes just fried in butter with sage and all with good reason because they tend to be rather hearty little things; however, as you know in our case we gotta' have meat. I'm not sure we've ever complained about something being too hearty either!

Had it been up to just me, I would have been content to use the gnocchi as the perfect vehicle for the rest of the Romesco sauce we had previous on some chicken cutlets, and just leave it at that but if your resident carnivore is like mine, he'll crow with glee over the addition of Italian sausage. I simply added some sauteed onion and crumbled hot links to the pan before adding the rest of the romesco sauce, then mellowed it all out with a dab of white wine and a touch of cream (I know...I use the stuff a lot don't I). Topped with some shavings of Parmesan cheese and a salad on the side, dinner was done and would be a perfect calorie laden apres ski dinner if you need to carb load for another exercise heavy day on the slopes. Unfortunately for us skiing's non existent in Tucson at the moment but we enjoyed the combination just the same.

Next time you're stuck on what to cook, scope out the pantry and freezer shelves before you hit the market. You'd be amazed what's waiting! By the way, you know the crispy prosciutto we had originally with the romesco sauce? It would have been a great alternative to the Italian sausage...oh well, maybe next time, oh and hit the link for the recipe for the Romesco.

Comments

[Juliana]

Oh! I love gnocchi, and the idea of sausage in it sure looks terrific :-)

[Kristen]

they go fantastic under a fontina cheese sauce too :) Not that there are any less calories in that then what you made!! My last homemade batch turned into potato mush the min. those dumplings hit the water...grr those dang gnocchi gods definitely were not smiling down on me that day!!!

[June]

Thanks Juliana - it is quite a "hungry man" dish for those with a really good appetite.

Kristen - at least you made the gnocchi. Last time I made it you could have used the little suckers as sinkers on a fishing line, so I get the TJ's version now. Some day I might set myself up for failure and try'em again. LOL

[Nanan]

I have never made them - not sure if I ever will, but I do grow sage back in Louisiana - so I might have to buy some - HA! I never met a potato I didn't like - and those Italians sure did good making them into these darling little dumplings!

[June]

Lea - I couldn't agree with you more! I've never had a potato I didn't like either.