Tag: Italian

Fig-Honey Gelato

BeckieLeave a comment

1 lb. fresh figs, quartered
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon orange liqueur
1/3 cup mascarpone
1 1/2 cups milk
Pinch salt

In a saucepan, heat the figs over medium-high heat with the sugar, stirring roughly so they break apart. Cook, stirring, until the figs have mostly melted and begin to bubble, about 5 minutes.

Remove from the heat and stir in the honey, orange liqueur, mascarpone, milk and salt.

Chill well, about 30 minutes in the refrigerator; then freeze according to ice cream maker’s instructions.

Makes 1 quart.

Cuisinart Pure Indulgence 2-Quart Automatic Frozen Yogurt, Sorbet, and Ice Cream Maker

Osso Buco

BeckieLeave a comment

3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons salt
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
4 veal shanks, tied to secure meat to bone
1 cup dried porcini mushrooms
1 dried bay leaf
1 sprig fresh rosemary
2 sprigs fresh thyme
3 fresh sage leaves
3 sprigs fresh flat leaf parsley
1/2 lemon zested (zest cut into long strips, pith removed)
10 whole black peppercorns
2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped into 1/4-inch pieces
1 stalk celery, chopped into 1/4-inch pieces
1 medium onion, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
2 canned plum tomatoes, crushed
1 1/4 cups dry white wine
1 1/2 cups homemade beef stock

Heat oven to 275 degrees F. In a 7-quart flameproof casserole or Dutch oven over medium to medium-low heat, heat vegetable oil until hot but not smoking. In medium bowl, combine flour, salt, and pepper. Coat each veal shank well with flour; tap off excess. Working in batches if necessary to keep veal shanks from touching at all, add shanks (they should sizzle the moment they hit the pan). Cook until well browned on all sides, 10 to 15 minutes; do not rush. Remove the veal shanks from the casserole, and set aside.

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, bring 2 cups water to a boil. Remove from heat, add dried mushrooms, and let stand until softened, about 20 minutes. Strain mushrooms, reserving 1/2 cup soaking liquid.

Prepare bouquet garni: Tie bay leaf, rosemary, thyme, sage, parsley, lemon zest, and peppercorns together in a piece of cheesecloth. Add carrots, celery, and onion to casserole; cook until softened and lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Add tomatoes, wine, stock, mushrooms with soaking liquid, and bouquet garni.

Return browned shanks to casserole; stir gently to combine. Bring to a simmer, cover, and place in the oven; cook until meat is very tender, about 2 1/2 hours. Check occasionally to ensure a gentle simmer; adjust heat or height of rack as needed.

Transfer shanks to a platter, and cover with foil to keep warm. Set casserole over medium heat; simmer until sauce is thickened, about 15 minutes. Return shanks to casserole just to heat and coat with sauce.

Serve hot.

Yield: 4 servings

Please Note: Nutritional values listed may vary from final results depending on actual measurements and brands used to prepare the recipe.
Per Serving

Calories: 707 kcal
Carbohydrates: 32 g
Dietary Fiber: 8 g
Fat: 24 g
Protein: 74 g
Sugars: 7 g

Crock Pot Artisan Enameled Cast Iron 7-Quart Round Dutch Oven, Sapphire Blue

Italian Seasoned Chicken and Fettuccine

BeckieLeave a comment

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic
3/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
4 (about 1 1/4 pounds total) boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1 package (9 ounces) Buitoni Refrigerated Fettuccine

Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease 13 x 9-inch baking dish.

Combine oil, garlic and Italian seasoning in large bowl. Add chicken; turn to coat. Marinate in refrigerator for 15 to 30 minutes. Remove chicken from marinade and place in prepared dish. Discard marinade.

Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in center.

Prepare pasta according to package directions. Serve chicken over pasta.

Serving Size: 4

Pyrex 3-Cup Rectangle Food Storage (Pack of 4 Containers)

Italian Cauliflower and Broccoli Salad

BeckieLeave a comment

Salad
4-5 cups cauliflower (stem removed and broken into flowerets)
4-5 cups broccoli (stem removed and broken into flowerets)
1-2 ounce prosciutto, 1 cup diced (cooked till crisp)
2 ounces sun-dried tomatoes, 1/2 cup diced
1/4 lb provolone cheese, diced small (sharp aged 7 months)

Green Dressing
1 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Grey Poupon mustard, coarse ground
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
2-3 garlic cloves
1 cup scallions (1 cup chopped)
1/2 cup basil leaves
1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup white vinegar

Place all salad ingredients into a large bowl.

Place all dressing ingredients in a blander and blend till smooth.

Pour over salad and toss till will coated.

Chill till ready to use.

Serves 14

Cooking with Basil

Cooking with Basil

Tomato Mozzarella Salad

BeckieLeave a comment

3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 large clove garlic, minced
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Generous pinch hot red pepper flakes
1/2 medium red onion, cut into 1/4-inch dice
1 tablespoon currants
Salt to taste
2 tightly-packed tablespoons fresh basil, torn
7 tablespoons toasted pine nuts

Tomatoes and Mozzarella:
6 medium-sized ripe tomatoes, sliced vertically about 1/2-inch thick
3/4 pound fresh mozzarella, packed in liquid, sliced 1/2-inch thick
About 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

In a small bowl, combine lemon juice, garlic, the two peppers, onion, currants and salt to taste. Let stand 20 to 30 minutes.

Just before assembling the dish, stir in the basil, and all but 1/2 teaspoon or so of the pine nuts.

Alternate slices of tomato and cheese on a plate, lightly seasoning each tomato slice with a little salt. Sprinkle each mozzarella slice with a teaspoon or so of the onion mixture and sprinkle it with about 1/2 teaspoon pine nuts.

Sprinkle the entire dish with the olive oil, and any leftover pine nuts and onion mixture.

Serve at room temperature.

Serves 6 to 8 as antipasto; 4 as a main dish

Cooking with Basil

Cooking with Basil

Olive Oil Cake (2)

BeckieLeave a comment

Also known as Pissota con l’Oio

1 tablespoon butter
3 cups plus 2 tablespoon all purpose flour
4 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon lemon zest
3/4 cup quality extra-virgin olive oil
2/3 cup milk
3 tablespoons Grand Marnier or other sweet citrus-flavored liqueur
2 tablespoons baking powder

Preheat oven to 325° F. Grease a 3″ deep round 9″ cake pan and the outside of a heavy 3″ deep 3″ ovenproof ramekin or bowl with butter, then dust with 2 tablespoons of the flour, tapping out excess. Put ramekin or bowl upside down in center of prepared pan. Alternatively, grease an 11-cup bundt pan with butter and dust with flour. Set prepared pan aside.

Beat eggs and sugar together in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until pale yellow, about 1 minute. Add remaining 3 cups flour, lemon zest, oil, milk, and liqueur and stir with a wooden spoon until well combined. Add baking powder and stir until thoroughly combined.

Holding ramekin or bowl firmly in place, spoon batter into prepared pan around ramekin or bowl or spoon batter into bundt pan, if using, and smooth out top with the back of the spoon. Bake until cake is deep golden brown and a wooden skewer inserted in center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Transfer cake to a wire rack to let cool completely, in its pan.

Makes 1 9″ Cake

Bellemain 4 oz. Porcelain Ramekins, Set of 6

Old-Fashioned Italian Meat Sauce with Pasta

BeckieLeave a comment

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 bone-in pork chops, 1-1/2 inches thick (6 ounces each)
1 pound Eckrich® Fresh Italian Sausage, casings removed
4 cans (14.5 ounce each) Hunt’s® Diced Tomatoes with Roasted Garlic, undrained
1 can (12 ounces) Hunt’s® Tomato Paste
1 quart (4 cups) water
1 tablespoon dried basil leaves
16 ounces dry pasta, uncooked

Heat oil in large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add chops; cook 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until browned on both sides. Remove from pan; cover to keep warm. Brown sausage in same pan, stirring occasionally to crumble sausage; drain. Return to pan.

Add chops, diced tomatoes with their liquid, the tomato paste, water and basil; mix well.

Reduce heat to low; simmer 2-1/2 to 3 hours, or until sauce is thickened and meat is falling off the bones, stirring occasionally. Remove and discard bones.

Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Serve topped with the sauce.

Cooking with Basil

Cooking with Basil

Italian Cream Cake

BeckieLeave a comment

1 (18 1/4 ounce) white cake mix
1 (3 1/2 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding
1 1/2 cups water
4 eggs
1/2 cup canola oil
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts, etc
2 cups flaked coconut

Frosting
3 tablespoons butter, softened
6 ounces cream cheese, softened
1-2 tablespoon cream
2 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 1/2 cups flaked coconut

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large mixer bowl add the cake mix, vanilla pudding, water, eggs and oil. With electric mixer, beat for 2 minutes at medium speed. Fold in the chopped nuts and coconut.

Pour the batter into a 9 x 13 inch pan that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray or lightly greased and floured. Bake for 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted off center comes out clean.

Cool completely before frosting.

In a medium sized mixer bowl, blend the butter and cream cheese. Add the confectioners’ sugar and enough cream to make it a smooth spreading consistency.

Frost cake with frosting and sprinkle with coconut.

Cooking with Walnuts: 51 Recipes using Walnuts

Italian Focaccia Onion Bread

BeckieLeave a comment

2 packages dry yeast dissolved in 1 cup lukewarm water
3 cups unbleached flour
olive oil
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1 yellow onion — peeled and chopped
6 green onions — chopped
1 clove garlic — crushed
fresh-cracked pepper

Place the water and yeast in a mixing bowl.

Add half the flour, 1/4 cup olive oil, the sugar and salt, and mix with an electric mixer until smooth.

Add the remaining flour, and blend in by hand.

Place the dough on floured board, and knead for 5 minutes.

Place the dough on a Formica countertop or on plastic wrap, and cover with a large metal bowl.

Allow to rise about one hour or until doubled in bulk.

When it is doubled, punch the dough down, and knead it for 1 to 2 minutes.

Roll the dough out to fit a greased 9 x 13 inch shallow pan, and place the dough in the pan.

Let the dough rise until doubled in bulk, and then punch holes all over it using a fork.

Brush the top of the dough with some olive oil and then the tomato paste.

Mix together the yellow onion, green onion, and garlic: use to sprinkle top of dough. Sprinkle with the pepper.

Preheat oven and bake at 375 for about 25 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls by Finedine (Set of 6) Polished Mirror Finish Nesting Bowls, ¾ – 1.5 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 8 Quart – Cooking Supplies

Chicken Thighs Cacciatore

BeckieLeave a comment

8 chicken thighs — skinned, if desired
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil — divided
1 small onion — chopped
2 garlic cloves — minced
1/2 cup dry red wine or beef broth
2 cans Italian-style diced tomatoes — (14-1/2-ounce) undrained

Season chicken with salt and pepper. In a large deep skillet, cook chicken in 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat for 3 minutes per side, or until
lightly browned. Remove from skillet and set aside.

Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil to skillet then saute onion and garlic until tender.

Return chicken to skillet; add wine and tomatoes, and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 10 minutes. Uncover and simmer 10 more minutes then serve topped with sauce.

Serving Size: 4

T-fal Specialty Nonstick Oven Safe Jumbo Cooker Saute Pan with Glass Lid Cookware, 5-Quart, Black