-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The appetizer is a blend of oven-baked smoked mozzarella, provolone, Parmesan and Romano cheeses, and is served with fresh Tuscan bread.
Sullivan Street Bakery makes a really fine bread which you can buy at Whole Foods, Zabar's, Dean & DeLuca and Murray's on Bleecker Street and at their location at 533 West 47th Street (bet 10th and 11th Aves). Visit the Hell's Kitchen location at 47th street and you can also get great pizza (try the pizza bianca), sandwiches (try the panino cubano) and dolci (sweets)(try the ossi di morti or "bones of the dead" - a light meringue-like cookie with almonds or the biscotti partesi - anise flavored biscotti with almonds).
Smoked Mozzarella Fonduta
Ingredients:
1 loaf Italian bread, such as ciabatta or semolina, sliced into 1/4-inch slices
1 c. sour cream
1 tsp. thyme
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
3 c. shredded mozzarella or smoked mozzarella cheese*
3 c. shredded smoked provolone or provolone cheese*
3 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
3 Tbsp. grated Romano cheese
8 tsp. fresh diced tomatoes
Fresh chopped parsley
Directions:
(*This recipe calls for one of these two cheeses to be smoked and one to be regular)
Arrange sliced Italian bread flat on a baking sheet and cover with foil. Set aside until ready to use.
Preheat oven to 450 F.
Combine sour cream, thyme, red pepper, cayenne pepper and four cheeses in a large bowl and blend thoroughly.
If serving family style, spray an 8" x 10" casserole dish with pan spray, then use a spatula to transfer the mixture. For individual servings, spray eight individual heat-resistant serving bowls, such as souffle cups, with pan spray and fill each with 1/2 c. of mixture. Place individual bowls on a baking sheet.
Using a large spoon, spread cheese mixture to create an even surface.
Place casserole dish or baking sheet with individual bowls on center rack in oven.
After five minutes, place baking sheet with bread, still covered, on top rack in oven. Bake for an additional five minutes.
Remove bread and fonduta from oven.
Garnish casserole dish with diced tomatoes and parsley in center of fonduta or divide evenly among smaller bowls.
Arrange bread slices around bowl(s) and serve immediately.
Whole Lotta Meat Lasagna
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds ground chuck
1 pound ground Italian sausage
1 onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons ground oregano
1 teaspoon ground basil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano
2 (15-ounce) cans tomato sauce
1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
1 1/2 cups small curd cottage cheese
1 (5-ounce) package grated Parmigianno-Reggiano
2 tablespoons freshly chopped parsley leaves
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
9 oven-ready lasagna noodles
2 (8-ounce) packages shredded mozzarella
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large saucepan, combine ground chuck, sausage onion and garlic. Cook over medium heat until meat is browned and crumbled; drain.
Return meat to pan and add oregano, basil, salt and pepper. Add tomatoes, tomato sauce and paste. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 30 to 45 minutes.
In a small bowl, combine cottage cheese, Parmesan, parsley, and eggs.
Spoon 1/4 of sauce into bottom of a 13 by 9 by 2-inch baking pan. Place 3 uncooked lasagna noodles on top of sauce. Do not overlap noodles. Spread 1/3 of cottage cheese mixture over noodles, top with 1/4 of sauce and 1/3 mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers, ending with sauce, reserving 1/3 of mozzarella cheese.
Bake 45 minutes. Top with remaining cheese and bake 15 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.
Chicken Piccata
Ingredients
2 skinless and boneless chicken breasts, butterflied and then cut in half
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
All-purpose flour, for dredging
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/4 cup brined capers, rinsed
1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Directions
Season chicken with salt and pepper. Dredge chicken in flour and shake off excess.
In a large skillet over medium high heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter with 3 tablespoons olive oil. When butter and oil start to sizzle, add 2 pieces of chicken and cook for 3 minutes. When chicken is browned, flip and cook other side for 3 minutes. Remove and transfer to plate. Melt 2 more tablespoons butter and add another 2 tablespoons olive oil. When butter and oil start to sizzle, add the other 2 pieces of chicken and brown both sides in same manner. Remove pan from heat and add chicken to the plate.
Into the pan add the lemon juice, stock and capers. Return to stove and bring to boil, scraping up brown bits from the pan for extra flavor. Check for seasoning. Return all the chicken to the pan and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove chicken to platter. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to sauce and whisk vigorously. Pour sauce over chicken and garnish with parsley.
Broccoli and Green Beans
Ingredients
8 cups broccoli florets (about 1 1/2 pounds)
1/2 pound green beans
2 tablespoons cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, sliced thin
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, plus more if desired
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
In a large pot, bring 6 quarts of salted water to a boil. Have ready a large bowl of ice water. Place broccoli into pot and cook for 2 minutes. You just want to parboil the broccoli at this point since you will saute it later on. Using a spider strainer, remove broccoli from pot and shock it in a bowl of ice water. When broccoli is completely cool, place it in a colander and allow to drain. Refresh the bowl of ice water. Bring the water back to a boil. Add green beans and cook for 4 minutes. Like the broccoli, you just want to parboil the green beans. Remove green beans from pot with spider strainer and add to ice water. When green beans are completely cool, add them to the colander and allow to drain.
In a large saute pan, heat olive oil. When almost smoking, add the garlic and saute for about 45 seconds. When the garlic starts to brown, remove immediately and discard. Overcooking the garlic will impart a very bitter taste to the dish. Add the red pepper flakes, broccoli and green beans to the pan and cook for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Ingredients
6 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
3 ounces white chocolate, chopped
1 pound strawberries with stems (about 20), washed and dried very well
Directions
Put the semisweet and white chocolates into 2 separate heatproof medium bowls. Fill 2 medium saucepans with a couple inches of water and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Turn off the heat; set the bowls of chocolate over the water to melt. Stir until smooth. (Alternatively, melt the chocolates in a microwave at half power, for 1 minute, stir and then heat for another minute or until melted.)
Once the chocolates are melted and smooth, remove from the heat. Line a sheet pan with parchment or waxed paper. Holding the strawberry by the stem, dip the fruit into the dark chocolate, lift and twist slightly, letting any excess chocolate fall back into the bowl. Set strawberries on the parchment paper. Repeat with the rest of the strawberries. Dip a fork in the white chocolate and drizzle the white chocolate over the dipped strawberries.
Set the strawberries aside until the chocolate sets, about 30 minutes.
No comments:
Post a Comment