Scicolone advises—“Short ribs are ideal for company since you can make them several days in advance. They reheat perfectly.” The polenta can be prepared “almost effortlessly” while the ribs reheat.

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Pat the ribs dry and sprinkle them all over with the salt and pepper. In a large Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the ribs in batches being careful not to crowd the pan. Cook until the ribs are nicely browned on all sides. Remove the ribs from the sauté pan to a plate as they are done.

When done browning, pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the drippings. Add the carrots, celery, and onion and stir well. Cook for 10 minutes or until golden. Stir in the garlic and cook 5 minutes more. Add the wine, broth, tomatoes, and rosemary. Bring the liquid to a simmer scraping the bottom of the pan. Return the ribs to the pan.

Cover the pot and place it in the oven. Cook for 2 hours checking occasionally to see that the liquid is just simmering. Remove the cover and cook for 1 hour more or until the meat is very tender and coming away from the bone. With tongs, transfer the ribs to cutting board and let cool.

Degrease the cooking liquid per box, being sure to dispose of the greasy cooked vegetables and rosemary twigs. Return the degreased liquid to the pot and bring it to a simmer. Cook until thickened to taste. With a sharp knife, trim the ribs and discard any loosened bones. Add the ribs to the pot. At this point, the mixture can be refrigerated and stored for several days. When ready to serve, prepare the Rosemary Polenta. While it bakes, reheat the ribs in their sauce on top of the stove. Taste for seasoning and serve hot with the polenta.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. In a 9- by 13-inch baking dish, whisk together the water, milk, cornmeal, and salt. Bake, uncovered, for 60 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and whisk the polenta. Stir in the butter, half of the cheese, and the rosemary. Smooth the top and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Place the pan back in the oven and bake 10 minutes more until the cheese is melted and the top is lightly browned. Serve immediately.

Definitely Italian: Chianti Classico Reserva or a Super Tuscan (both Sangiovese based). Try the Bastianich Aragone (available at Central Market).

The short ribs with polenta pair well with Roasted Brussels Sprouts in fall and winter and with Basic Wilted Greens most any time of year. Begin with an Extra Easy Starter and a first course of cured meat. Lemon Cranberry Pecan Biscotti is an appropriately Italian dessert for this meal.