Braised Braciole - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 cups cubed day-old Italian bread
1 cup milk
1/2 cup chopped Italian parsley
1/2 cup grated romano cheese
4 garlic cloves, slivered
1/2 lb capicola, diced
1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted
1/2 cup raisins, soaked in warm water to rehydrate then drained
salt & freshly ground black pepper
olive oil
4 lbs veal, breast (alternatively may use beef top round)
4 hard-boiled eggs, shelled and quartered
1 cup red wine, for braising (optional)
tomato sauce, for braising (optional)

Preparation

Prepare the bread stuffing by soaking the bread in milk for 5 minutes. Squeeze out the excess milk with your hands then put the bread in a clean mixing bowl. Add parsley, cheese, garlic, copacola, pine nuts, and raisins. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Drizzle with olive oil to moisten and mix thoroughly.
Set the veal on a piece of plastic wrap. Make a deep slice along the veal breast and fan open like a book. Lay another piece of plastic wrap on top. Using the smooth side of a mallet, gently flatten the veal until it's about 1/2-inch thick; take care not to tear. Discard the top sheet of plastic wrap; rub the surface with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Spread the stuffing evenly over the meat, leaving a 1-inch border all around. Place the eggs lengthwise down the center of the meat and roll up like a jellyroll log, using the plastic wrap as support. Tie the roll with kitchen string to secure.
Heat olive oil over medium heat in a Dutch oven or roasting pan. Brown the stuffed veal roast well on all sides. Cover with foil and bake in a preheated 375 degree F oven for 1 hour.
Alternatively, deglaze with red wine, then pour tomato sauce on top to cover the braciole. Cover the pan and gently simmer for about 1 hour until tender.
To serve, remove the strings from the veal bundle and cut into 1-inch slices. Arrange on a serving platter, with or without sauce.