Salsa Bruna

Doesn't that sound better than Brown Sauce?  It's delicious and nutritious and I made it for dinner in my pressure cooker.  My parents made this for the first time way back in the eighties when they were experimenting with Italian food.  I googled it, and found a recipe for Salsa Bruna, but it was written in Italian.  Looked the same to me.  This is one of my husband's favorite dinners, and the kids like it too. 

Salsa Bruna

Separately in a food processor, pulse until finely chopped (dump in the crockpot or pan as you go):

1/2 pound ham

1 large carrot or a handful of baby carrots

1 stalk celery

1 small onion

1 can mushrooms

2 cloves garlic

Now add to it:

1 small can tomato paste

1 cup of dry red wine

1 cup of beef broth

Some thyme and a bay leaf

Salt and pepper

Cook on low in the crock pot until all is tender.  Blend with a stick blender until smooth.  Okay, this next part always seems strange to me, but I do it.  Toss a few tablespoons of flour in a dry skillet over medium-high heat.  Keep the flour moving until it is brown.  Add the flour to the sauce and bring it to a boil for a few minutes.  Toss with hot pasta and plenty of grated parmesan cheese.