My grandmother’s recipe for the tastiest dinner that can be prepared in about ten minutes

2. Brown the Meat (The Heartbeat)

“Fat is flavor—but grease is your enemy.”

Heat olive oil until smoking hot (not medium!).

Brown meat in single layer (never crowded!) → drain 90% fat (save 1 tbsp for sauce).

Add onion + garlic → sauté 5 mins until translucent (not browned!).

Stir in tomato sauce → simmer 3 mins (not longer—burns acidity). Critical: Scrape fond—this is flavor gold.

3. Make the Béchamel (The Soul)

“Sauce should sigh, not scream.”

Melt butter until foamy → whisk in sifted flour → cook 1 min until nutty (not pale—raw flour taste).

Gradually add hot milk → whisk constantly until smooth (not lumpy!).

Remove from heat → stir in nutmeg + ½ mozzarella (heat = grainy texture). Nonna’s rule: “Patience is the soul of the silk.”

4. Unite with Reverence (The Grand Finale)