Sunday Night Special - Short Ribs

Well, the weekend is officially coming to a close which can only mean one thing, back to work. After a long and somewhat tough week, I prepare for the new week ahead with comfort! The kind of rich, meaty, creamy garlicky goodness meal that just makes life a whole lot better, even if only during dinner!

It has been quite a while since I have had short ribs and I just bought some from the butcher. So the planning began, what else could go with short ribs? My first thought was mashed potatoes, but I really did not feel like cooking them from scratch. As I scrounged through our cupboard, I stumbled on my first side, of course gnocchi! It fit my potato fix just right!

Now the meal would not be complete without some sort of vegetable. Today, I went for a double dose with a steamed artichoke and oven roasted asparagus. Very simple to make and even easier to eat! I have been a huge fan of both since I was a child so you know there will be comfort there!

The short ribs were cooked slowly, very slowly! The first 3 hours were spent in the slow cooker with no seasoning and no liquid. At the 3 hour mark, I put some water in to start braising. I seasoned the meat with a mix of salt, pepper, garlic powder and mustard. Then I went to bed and when I got up the ribs looked beautiful swimming in a nice beefy sauce. I took the ribs out of the sauce and put both in the refrigerator to cool off.

As dinner time approaches, it is time to get to work. All in all, total cooking time excluding prep was about 45 minutes. I steamed the artichokes and roasted the asparagus with just a bit of oil and salt. I love the way the outside of the asparagus gets crispy and the inside stays tender. They shrank quite a bit but I would not have made them differently.

As the gnocchi finished cooking, I tossed it with a blend of parmesan and goat cheese and mixed in garlic and herbs. Then to finish, a little butter for good measure! Throw in some pepper and we are good to go. Nothing says comfort like gnocchi and goat cheese. I learned that from Italians(well, sort of).

Finally, the leftover liquidy goodness from the ribs was made into a smoky sauce you see lightly drizzled over everything. If you are not hungry after seeing these pictures, see a doctor!

So now I am full, ready to relax before bed. It doesn't get much more comforting than that, unless you were enjoying it in a La-Z-Boy recliner. Bring on the next week, I am ready!