BALSAMIC BRAISED SHORT RIBS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Season all sides of the short ribs with a generous amount of pepper and salt.
• Brown ribs on all sides in a skillet drizzled with olive oil.
• While the ribs are browning, wash & slice tomatoes, peel and cube potatoes.
• Remove ribs from skillet and place in a Dutch oven or other oven proof deep dish with lid.
• Sauté mushrooms in skillet you just used to brown ribs for about 2 minutes.
• Using a slotted spoon put mushrooms into dish with ribs.
• Lightly drizzle olive oil over ribs and mushrooms.
• Pour one tablespoon of balsamic vinegar over each rib (one per rib).
• Sprinkle with salt & pepper.
• Place lid and bake in lower middle third of oven for 2 hours.
• While ribs are cooking, prepare mashed potatoes, green beans, & tomato compote.
• Place potatoes in cold water with salt and chopped garlic & boil till fork tender (they can stay in the pot until closer to finish time of ribs).
• Drain potatoes, place back in pot and mash well.
• Add butter and cream and continue to blend well, salt to taste (keep on low heat or warm).
• Using the same skillet you used for the beef short ribs and mushrooms - heat to medium high and cook tomatoes for about 7 minutes or until skins start to blister.
• Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and pinch of red pepper flakes.
• Add a couple of tablespoons balsamic vinegar and continue to cook about 3 minutes until reduced and tomatoes begin to break down (keep warm till ready to plate.
• Steam green beans & then transfer to hot skillet drizzled with olive oil, salt & pepper.
• Sauté for about 2 minutes until start to lightly brown.
• Plate serving of mashed potatoes on each plate followed by green beans, short ribs & mushrooms, & topped with tomatoes.
• Garnish if you'd like with freshly grated Grana Padano or Parmigiana and light drizzle of your finest olive oil.