Spinach and Eggs
In the Italian culture, eggs often feature for lunch or dinner. This dish was a favourite with our family -- it's simple, flavourful and economical. It can be eaten as is as a low carb meal, or as a sandwich on some crusty Italian bread drizzled with olive oil. This recipe serves about 4 people. You will need:
In a skillet, drizzle some olive oil, sauté the spinach until wilted. Add eggs and lightly stir with a wooden spoon, cooking gently.
BLACK PEPPER, PARMESAN CHEESE AND SLICED ONION MAY BE USED AS OPTIONS
BACCALA
Ricetta
SERVES 6-8
SALTED COD
USING A THREE POUND PIECE OF SALTED BACCALA
SOAK IN COLD WATER FOR THREE DAYS CHANGING THE WATER UNTIL THE FISH IS SOFT, DRAIN AND PAT DRY
IN A SIX QUART STOCK POT,ADD ONE HALF CUP OF EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL,AND EIGHT CLOVES OF FRESH GARLIC,SET HEAT TO MEDIUM TILLTHE GARLIC CLOVES ARE GOLDEN BROWN
ADD TWO TABLESPOONS OF OREGANO,THEN ADD ONE CUP OF WATER,ADD ONE SMALL CAN OF TOMATO PASTE,MIX THOROUGHLY UNTIL INCORPORATED INTO INGREDIENTS
ADD FOUR QUARTS OF WATER,TO THIS,ADD ONE CUP OF DRAINED BLACK OLIVES,THEN ADD HALF OF THE BACCALA,CUT INTO PIECES,
FINALLY ADD SIX TO EIGHT MEDIUM SIZE PEELED POTATOES,AND FOUR BUNCHES OF BROCCOLI CROWNS,
SIMMER FOR ONE HOUR,THEN ADD REMAINDER OF THE BACCALA,CUT INTO TWO INCH PIECES,
SIMMER ONE HALF HOUR MORE, SERVE WITH GOOD FRESH ITALIAN BREAD
ENJOY!!!!
Sweet Rice Pie
Ricetta
INGREDIENTS:
A 9 INCH PIE CRUST
2 CUPS MILK
3/4 CUP WHITE RICE
1/4 CUP TOASTED PINE NUTS
1 TABLESPOON VANILLA EXTRACT
1 TEASPOON CINNAMON
2 TABLESPOON HONEY
IN A SAUCE PAN,ADD THE RICE AND MILK,STIRRING FREQUENTLY FOR AT LEAST 30-35 MINUTES,REMOVE FROM HEAT AND ADD REMAINING INGREDIENTS,STIRRING MIXTURE,POUR INTO PIE CRUST,PLACE IN A 325 DEGREE OVEN FOR 30-35 MINUTES,REMOVE FROM OVEN TO COOL,SERVE WITH YOUR FAVORITE WHIPPED TOPPING
EASTER RICOTTA CHEESE CAKE
Ricetta
INGREDIENTS YOU WILL NEED:
TWO POUND CONTAINER OF FRESH RICOTTA CHEESE
ONE HALF CUP OF SUGAR
ONE HALF CUP OF ALL PURPOSE FLOUR
SIX EGG YOLKS
MIX ABOVE TOGETHER WITH ONE CUP OF RAISINS, SOAKED IN ONE CUP OF MARSALA WINE, ADD THE ZEST OF TWO FRESH LEMONS
IN A SEPARATE BOWL, BEAT THE SIX EGG WHITES WITH ONE QUARTER CUP OF POWDERED SUGAR,MIX THE WHITES INTO THE RICOTTA BATTER, FOLDING IN THE EGG WHITES, POUR CONTENTS INTO A 10 INCH BUTTERED AND FLOURED SPRING FORM PAN
BAKE AT 375 DEGREES FOR FORTY MINUTES,THEN LEAVE OVEN DOOR AJAR TO LET THE CAKE COOL
A TOPPING IS OPTIONAL IF DESIRED
Buon Appetito!
CHRISTMAS EVE MEAL "AOLIO e OLIA" GARLIC & OIL
TRADITIONAL MEATLESS CHRISTMAS EVE MEAL
Like many Italian-Americans, we never ate meat on Christmas Eve, nor did we miss it! (To be fair, we didn't eat a lot of meat during the rest of the year anyway!) This is an absolutely delicious and much more economical alternative to the "Seven Fishes". We looked forward to this wonderful meal all year long.
For those anchovy-haters in your family, simply omit them -- you'll still have a delectable, garlic and olive oil pasta that you can garnish with fresh herbs.
Here is the recipe as told by Papa Joe,
RECIPE IS FOR 16 oz. DRIED CAPELLINI
FEEDS 4 AS MAIN COURSE:
IN A POT OF WATER,LIGHTLY SALTED,SET TIMER TO MEDIUM HEAT
MEANWHILE, IN A SKILLET,ADD ONE CUP OF EXTRA VIRGIN ITALIAN OLIVE OIL,CHOP UP SIX CLOVES OF FRESH RAW GARLIC,ADD TO THE OIL,MAKING SURE THE CLOVES BECOME LIGHT BROWN IN COLOR,SET HEAT TO MEDIUM LETTING THE GARLIC BROWN. THEN ADD ONE QUARTER CUP OF "PIGNOLI" NUTS, STIRRING LIGHTLY TILL NUTS BECOME A LIGHT BROWNISH COLOR, AFTER THE MIXTURE IS WELL HEATED,ADD FOUR CANS OF FLAT ANCHOVIES (OR WITH CAPERS IF YOU WANT), BREAKING THEM UP LIGHTLY STIR WELL.
FINALLY AFTER THE OIL HAS GOTTEN HOTTER, ADD A HALF CUP OF WARM WATER"
STIR MIXTURE LIGHTLY,TILL ALL INGREDIENTS ARE MIXEDTHOROUGHLY,ROUGHLY THREE TO FOUR MINUTES.
PREPARE YOUR "CAPELLINI" PASTA AL DENTE ACCORDING TO PACKAGE
PLACE THE PASTA IN A LARGE BOWL POUR THE AOLIO OLIA SAUCE OVER THE PASTA,TOSS WELL
Enjoy with crispy bread, salad and a dry white wine like Frascati, Verdicchio, or Vernaccia di San Gimignano. Afterwards enjoy a light dessert of fresh fruit, nuts, and some special Christmas torone.
Buon Appetito
STUFFED ARTICHOKES
Ricetta
[SERVING FOR FOUR]
FOUR LARGE ARTICHOKES,CHOOSE ONLY THOSE WHICH ARE GREEN AND ROUND!!,CLIP THE "POINTED"TOP EDGES OF THE LEAVES ONLY,SPREAD THE LEAVES APART AND WASH THOROUGHLY,THEN TURN THE CHOKES UPSIDE DOWN ON A PIECE OF PAPER TOWEL
IN A BOWL,PUT FOUR CANS OF ANCHOVIES,CHOPPED UP,WITH THEIR OIL,ADD FOUR FRESH GARLIC CLOVES,CHOPPED,A CUP AND A HALF OF SEASONED BREAD CRUMBS,ONE HALF CUP OF GRATED ITALIAN ROMANO OR PARMESAN CHEESE,ONE TEASPOON FULL OF COARSE BLACK PEPPER,
FINALLY,ADD ONE HALF CUP OF EXTRA VIRGIN ITALIAN OLIVE OIL,MIX INGREDIENTS THOROUGHLY
STUFF EACH CHOKE WITH THE MIXTURE,IN A SAUCE PAN PLACE THE CHOKES,ADD ONE CUP 15 OZ CAN OF TOMATOE SAUCE,ONE CUP OF WATER,ADD ONE TEASPOON OF SUGAR,STIR AND MIX THROUGHLY.
PLACE COVERON PAN AND LET SIMMER FOR ABOUT ONE HOUR,BASTING THE CHOKES OCCASSIONALY,UNTIL THE LEAVES CAN BE PULLED OFF EASILY,
Buon Appetito!
WW II
WHEN THE UNITED STATES ENTERED WORLD WAR 2.ON DECEMBER 7,1941,IT WAS LIKE THE SLEEPING GIANT HAD BEEN AWAKENED WITH A TERRIBLE ROAR FOR REVENGE ON THE JAPANESE,AND GERMANY A FEW DAYS LATER,THE WHOLE COUNTRY HAD CHANGED FROM A PEACEFUL OUTLOOK TO THAT OF ANGRY POPULACE,A WAVE OF PATRIOTISM SWEPT OVER THE NATION,A WAR TIME DRAFT WAS STARTED ,DRAFTING MEN FORM 18 TO 35 FOR MILITARY SERVICE,THREE OF MY UNCLES WENT INTO THE ARMY
AT HOME,RATION STAMPS WENT INTO EFFECT,FOR CERTAIN FOOD ITEMS,WHICH MEANT YOU COULD ONLY PURCHASE CERTAIN FOODS ACCORDING TO THE DATE ON YOUR STAMPS,GASOLINE WAS SEVERELY RATIONED ,MOTORISTS WERE ISSUED A STAMP TO BE PUT IN THE FRONT WINDSHIELD,AN "A"MEANT THE MOST LENIENT.AND LATER LETTERS,MEANING LESS AMOUNTS OF GASOLINE ALLOWED,AUTO RUBBER TIRES WERE IN SHORT SUPPLY,MOST OF TIRE PRODUCTION WENT TO THE MILITARY,WHICH IN TURN ALLOWED SOME TO SELL TIRES AT A MUCH HIGHER PRICE,EVEN THO IT WAS T ILLEGAL.
IABOUT A BLOCK OR TWO FROM WHERE I LIVED, FOR THE MILITARY THERE WAS A LARGE PLANT,WHICH WAS CALLED 'WRIGHT"WHO PRODUCED ENGINES FOR THE ARMY AIR FORCE,AND NIGHT AND DAY 365 DAYS A YEAR THERE WAS ENGINE TESTING GOING ON IN A BUILDING CALLED THE TEST CELLS,WE BECAME SO USED TO THE NOISE IT BECAME JUST A BACKGROUND SOUND
I RECALL ,THE ARMY PLACED ANTI AIRCRAFT GUNS NEAR OUR SCHOOL BECAUSE THE SCHOOL WAS LOCATED ON A LARGE PARCEL OF LAND ABOVE THE REST OF THE AREA,WHICH,MOUNTAIN OF DIRT EACH DAY,WAS CALLED "SANDY HILL SCHOOL"WHERE STUDENTS HAD TO WALK UP THAT HUGH MOUNTAIN OF DIRT AND SAND EACH SCHOOL DAY
THINGS IN SCHOOL WERE MUCH DIFFERENT ,EACH MORNING THERE WAS "ASSEMBLY",WHERE THE ENTIRE SCHOOL ATTENDED,THE LORDS PRAYER WAS SAID AND THE "PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG"WAS SAID BY ALL,QUITE DIFFERENT THAN TODAY'S SCHOOLS!!!