Making gnocchi is boring

Ok, I started with all my best intentions and I was ready to make 4 pounds of gnocchi...but motivation faded rather soon and I got stuck with a couple pounds of riced potatoes.
Don't believe the overpaid tv and overly famous chefs when they tell you that making gnocchi is "fun" and "entertaining" for the whole family...it's not, it's tedious and boring, and repetitive and monotonous and...where was I'
Yes, the potatoes...

I added a couple tins of tuna in water (well drained), a couple eggs, s&p and half a cup of A.P.flour.
Mixed it up nicely and started rolling it out on a floured table top... and that's when I thought to start taking pics..

So, roll'em up, 1 inch diameter,cut it with a plastic spatula in 4 inch bits, roll in flour, then egg, then in bread crumbs...I don't use panko because I feel retarded using Japanese bread when I have bags of dry bread in the pantry.

Once your soon to be croquettes are breaded, fry them in a blend of butter and vegetable oil, till nice and golden on all sides.

Frying in butter and corn oil...

...till nicely golden on all side  : )

Take them out, roll them on a lenght of kitchen paper and serve them.

I served mine with a Mexican salsa verde, the raw one that, I think, has a little more zest than the cooked version...but you can use whatever you want; thinking about it a good spicy tomato sauce or a Puttanesca sauce would be quite good too...

Octopus meatballs with beet spaghetti

Great recipe for a week end dinner or a Sunday lunch with friends and family!

Spaghetti :
2 eggs
good splash of olive oil
pinch of salt
1 medium beet, roasted and peeled
2 cups of all purpose flour

Method:
Blend first 4 ingredients and pour into flour.
work it untill firm but elastic,adding a bit of water as needed.
Let rest in bowl, covered with film for 20 mins.
Roll out and cut in spaghetti (or any other shape you like...)

Meatballs:
1 lb Octopus (boiled with garlic,onion,bay,i dry chilly,s&p) and then chopped
1/3 lb bread crumbs.. real ones, not panko
1 egg
parsley,chopped,stem and all
splash red wine
splash olive oil
s&p
garlic and onion from the octopus boiling water

Method:
Toss all the ingredients in food processor and pulse untill a coarse paste forms.
Use reserve "stock" as needed to moisten

With oiled hands form meatballs, working the "paste" as little as possible...or they'll come out hard.
 
Quickly seared the meatballs in oil and add chopped tomatoes and some of the stok and simmer untill cooked through...10 to 15 mins.

Boil pasta, strain and toss in meatballs sauce.
Plate it ,put meatballs on top, sprinkle with fresh herbs (dill would be great...) and HOLD the cheese.
Glass of nice dry red, young, would fit the bill....Sangiovese?

Buon appetito