BEST LUNCH IN SACRAMENTO RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Season chuck roast liberally with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper. Heat duck fat in dutch oven and brown chuck thoroughly on all sides. Remove meat from pot and set aside.
• Add all vegetables and garlic to remaining hot fat in pot and saute until tender. Add herbs and red wine scraping bottom of pot to remove all browned flavor bits from bottom. Reduce 10 minutes. Add veal stock. Paint chuck roast with tomato paste and add roast to braising liquid so that liquid reaches about halfway up the side of meat. (Add more stock if needed)
• Cover and braise for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until meat fork slides into meat easily.
• Remove meat from hot pot, cool, cover and refrigerate for 24 hours. Strain braising liquid pushing it through strainer with back of spoon--reserving all possible liquid. Cool, cover and refrigerate for 24 hours. (Keep it separate from meat)
• After 24 hours, remove meat and liquid from fridge. Remove fat from liquid and heat liquid in sauce pan until hot.
• In small sauce pan, make a roux with 1 1/2 tablespoons flour and 1 1/2 tablespoons butter. Cook over low heat from 5 minutes. Add roux to hot liquid, stir and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. This is your gravy.
• Slice meat 1/2-inch thick and arrange slices in oven-proof dish. Moisten with some of the gravy, cover and heat until meat is hot enough to eat.
• Serve with mashed potatoes or polenta and roasted seasonal root vegetables. Serve gravy on side.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Toast pine nuts on a rimmed baking sheet (or quarter sheet pan), tossing once halfway through, until golden brown, 5–7 minutes. Transfer to a food processor and let cool. Add cheese and garlic and pulse until finely ground, about 1 minute. Add basil and place the top back on. With the motor running, add oil in a slow and steady stream until pesto is mostly smooth, with just a few flecks of green, about 1 minute. Season with salt. Do Ahead: Pesto can be made 1 day ahead. Top with ½" oil to prevent browning. Store in a covered container (an extra drizzle of oil on top will help prevent oxidation) and chill.
• If you want to use this with pasta, cook 12 oz. dried pasta (we prefer long pasta for pesto) in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Drain, reserving ½ cup pasta cooking liquid.
• Place pesto and 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into pieces, in a large bowl. Add pasta and ¼ cup pasta cooking liquid. Using tongs, toss vigorously, adding more pasta cooking liquid if needed, until pasta is glossy and well coated with sauce. Season with salt.
• Divide pasta among bowls. Top with finely grated Parmesan.