Recipe - Mushroom Ragout

1 ounce Dried porcini mushrooms (see
Note)
2 tablespoon Diluted balsamic vinegar
1 lg Red onion, finely minced
2 small Garlic cloves, finely
Minced
1 pound Fresh brown mushrooms, such
As cremini or
Portobello, wellcleaned
And cut or sliced up
3 4 small ripe plum tomatoes,
Chopped
1 tablespoon Chopped flat leaf parsley
Salt
Freshly ground pepper

Soak dried mushrooms in warm water to cover for at least 45 minutes or
until softened. Remove from liquid carefully and rinse well under cold
running water to remove any sand clinging.

Chop mushrooms roughly and drain thoroughly. Strain soaking liquid at least
twice through a sieve lined with cheesecloth and reserve.

Heat a couple of teaspoons of reserved mushroom liquid and diluted balsamic
vinegar in a heavy skillet and saute onion until translucent and tender,
1015 minutes. Use additional mushroom liquid if onions start to stick. Add
garlic and all mushrooms, turn heat to low and cook, stirring
intermittently, for up to 20 minutes, until tender. Add tomatoes, parsley,
salt and pepper to taste. Continue cooking another 5 minutes.

Serve over slices of polenta.

Note: the dried porcini are expensive but integral. They have an incredible
woodsy flavor and odor.

From Gemini's MASSIVE MealMaster collection at www.synapse.com/~gemini