1 cup red wine
2 cups beef, chicken, or vegetable broth
1 bay leaf
5 to 6 black peppercorns

Cooking Recipe:

Remove roast from pan and pour off any fat. Place over high heat (use 2 burners if necessary) and deglaze pan with wine and broth, scraping any bits stuck to the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon or spatula (utensil with a flat surface, ideal for flipping or spreading) . Once these solids are dissolved, pour liquid into a saucepan and add the bay leaf and peppercorns. Reduce for 5 minutes over high heat or until reduced by 1/3.
At this point you (or they) basically have a jus which could be used to sauce your roast. To create a gravy, reduce the heat to medium and whisk in 2 tablespoons of white roux. Return to a simmer, whisking constantly. Continuing to cook once a simmer (cook slowly) has been reached will result in a smoother sauce, but not a thicker one.
Since all starch thickened sauces thicken as they cool, it's a good idea to make your gravy a little on the loose side.

5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium Spanish onion, cut into 1/8-inch dice
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
8 ounces fresh porcini or cremini mushrooms, sliced thin, plus 4 mushrooms, thinly sliced
Salt
Pici pasta, cooked al dente, reserving 1/2 cup cooking water, recipe follows
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
1/4 cup chopped Italian parsley leaves

Cooking Recipe:

Heat oil in a 12 to 14-inch saute pan, over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic and 8 ounces of sliced mushrooms and cook for 5 to 6 minutes. Add the salt and pasta with 1/2 cup pasta cooking water to the pan and toss quickly. Add the remaining 4 raw sliced mushrooms and toss again, off heat. Serve immediately, topped with the grated cheese.

Pici Pasta:
2 cups semolina flour
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 to 1 1/4 cups tepid water

Place both types of flour in a large mixing bowl and stir to mix well. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add the water a little at a time, stirring with your hands until a dough is formed. You may need more or less water, depending on the humidity in your kitchen.

Place the dough on a floured work surface and knead it like bread until smooth and elastic, about 8 to 10 minutes. Cover the dough and let it stand for 10 minutes at room temperature.

Roll the dough into long dowels about 1/4 to 1/2-inch thick. Place the pasta (always choose a good brand) strands between 2 hands and lightly roll back and forth to create a lightly spiraled, snake-like noodle. Place the pici on a sheet tray that has been dusted with semolina flour, cover the pasta with a clean dish towel, and set aside until ready to use. At this point, the pasta can be frozen for several months.

Yield: 4 servings
Prreparation time: 30 minutes