Dessert
For the custard:
2 eggs
2 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp flour
2 cups milk
1 cup heavy cream
50 ladyfingers, more or less
20 crunchy amaretti cookies, crumbled + extra to decorate
1/3 cup dark chocolate
Liquid to dip ladyfingers in
First of all, prepare the custard. Warm the milk without letting it boil. In a saucepan, with heavy bottom, combine the sugar, the flour and the eggs, whisking to prevent knots. On low-medium heat add the warm milk in a slow stream, always whisking and bring to boil, whisking continuously; it will take about 5-8 minutes (the warmer the milk, the quicker the cooking). Never stop stirring, otherwise your custard will stick to the bottom and burn, giving it an unpleasant taste.
Set aside and let it cool, mixing it occasionally to prevent the film on top.
In the mean time, whip the cream and add it to the cold custard.
In a square pan about 9" wide and 4" deep, line dipped ladyfinger on the bottom, cover with half of the cream, top with half of the crumbled amaretti and repeat. Finsh with ladyfiners and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
Serve topped with warm chocolate (melted in the microwave with a few tbsp milk) and some more crumbled amaretti (about one more per portion).
This recipe serves 6-9
The quantity of ladyfingers depends on the size of the pan you use.
Liquids to be used: coffee with liqueur (for adults), with milk (if there are kids or people who do not drink any alcohol), plain milk, fruit syrup diluited with water..... or whatever else you fantasy suggests you!
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
LEEK TART
Appetizer - side dish - complete meal - entree
For the dough:
2 2/3 cup 00 flour
6 tbsp butter, diced really cold
2 eggs
salt
For the filling:
3 leeks, thinly sliced, white and green parts only
3 oz ham, thinly sliced
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1 tbsp Extra virgin oive oil
1 tbsp thyme, chopped
Salt and Pepper
First of all prepare the dough. In a bowl mix flour and a pinch of salt; add butter and eggs; mix quickly to combine all ingredients but not too long otherwise the butter warms up too much and the crust will become hard.
Wrap the dough in plastic wrp and put it the refrigerator for 30 minutes, at least.
In the mean time prepare the filling. In a large skillet warm up the live oil and sautee the leeks until tender, season with salt and pepper and let cool.
Preheat oven to 350.
Remove the dough from the fridge and roll it over a flour-dusted table, thick about 1/4".
Line buttered and floured a 9" tart-pan, leaving 3/4 to 1" overhang, and poke it with a fork.
Place the ham on the bottom of the tart and spoon leeks evenly in the pan.
In a bowl, beat the eggs with milk and thyme and pour over the filling; fold the edges over and bake for 40 minutes, until olden and set.
Wait 5 minutes before serving.
This recipe serves 8-12 depending on the part of the meal you're serving it; it can be served as appetizer, entree, side dish.
If there is some dough left you can either freeze it (wrapped with plastic wrap), in order to use it later.
For the dough:
2 2/3 cup 00 flour
6 tbsp butter, diced really cold
2 eggs
salt
For the filling:
3 leeks, thinly sliced, white and green parts only
3 oz ham, thinly sliced
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1 tbsp Extra virgin oive oil
1 tbsp thyme, chopped
Salt and Pepper
First of all prepare the dough. In a bowl mix flour and a pinch of salt; add butter and eggs; mix quickly to combine all ingredients but not too long otherwise the butter warms up too much and the crust will become hard.
Wrap the dough in plastic wrp and put it the refrigerator for 30 minutes, at least.
In the mean time prepare the filling. In a large skillet warm up the live oil and sautee the leeks until tender, season with salt and pepper and let cool.
Preheat oven to 350.
Remove the dough from the fridge and roll it over a flour-dusted table, thick about 1/4".
Line buttered and floured a 9" tart-pan, leaving 3/4 to 1" overhang, and poke it with a fork.
Place the ham on the bottom of the tart and spoon leeks evenly in the pan.
In a bowl, beat the eggs with milk and thyme and pour over the filling; fold the edges over and bake for 40 minutes, until olden and set.
Wait 5 minutes before serving.
This recipe serves 8-12 depending on the part of the meal you're serving it; it can be served as appetizer, entree, side dish.
If there is some dough left you can either freeze it (wrapped with plastic wrap), in order to use it later.
Monday, May 17, 2010
MEDITERRANEAN ORECCHIETTE
Pasta entree - vegetarian
1 lb. orecchiette (ear shaped pasta)
1 shallot, thinly sliced
3 ripe tomatoes, diced
4 tbsp black olives, pitted and roughly chopped
4 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp basil, chopped
Salt and pepper
Bring a large pot of water to a boil, when ready add salt 2 tbsp oil and orecchiette (trying to let them pass through the oil), stir well and often until "al dente", about 9/10 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a skillet over medium heat, warm the remaining olive oil and add the shallot, sautee until translucent and then add tomatoes and olives, stir and cook until pasta is ready; if needed, add a few tbsp of the pasta cooking water to thin the sauce; season with salt and pepper.
Drain pasta and transfer it to the skillet, add basil, toss to coat evenly, sauteing for 1-2 minutes.
Serve immediately.
This recipe serves 4
- If you can't find sweet, flavorful tomatoes, use San Marzano peeled ones: they're the sweetest.
- I suggested the addition of oil in the water: it is the only case I use it. Orecchiette really tend to stick together so easily!
- You can use parsley instead of basil
1 lb. orecchiette (ear shaped pasta)
1 shallot, thinly sliced
3 ripe tomatoes, diced
4 tbsp black olives, pitted and roughly chopped
4 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp basil, chopped
Salt and pepper
Bring a large pot of water to a boil, when ready add salt 2 tbsp oil and orecchiette (trying to let them pass through the oil), stir well and often until "al dente", about 9/10 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a skillet over medium heat, warm the remaining olive oil and add the shallot, sautee until translucent and then add tomatoes and olives, stir and cook until pasta is ready; if needed, add a few tbsp of the pasta cooking water to thin the sauce; season with salt and pepper.
Drain pasta and transfer it to the skillet, add basil, toss to coat evenly, sauteing for 1-2 minutes.
Serve immediately.
This recipe serves 4
- If you can't find sweet, flavorful tomatoes, use San Marzano peeled ones: they're the sweetest.
- I suggested the addition of oil in the water: it is the only case I use it. Orecchiette really tend to stick together so easily!
- You can use parsley instead of basil
Monday, May 10, 2010
TROUT LUCIANO'S STYLE
Fish entree
I was talking with Luciano (our friend chef and owner of Luciano's Restaurant) about fish and he came out with this recipe, good for all fishes but, especially, for freshwater fishes.
2 trouts
1 cup frozen of fresh peas
2 bunches parsley, leaves only
2 cloves garlic
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
4 tbsp bread crumbs
Salt
Preheat oven at 350.
Open trouts lengthwise and debone them (you can avoid this step buying trout fillets).
Arrange peas, parsley leaves, a pinch of salt and garlic in a blender and process, adding oil in a slow stream, until you obtain a smooth pesto.
Brush, with 1 tbsp of olive oil, an ovenproof dish and arrange trouts skin side down; spread with peas pesto.
Bake on central rack for about 10 minutes, then sprinkle with bread crumbs and cook for 5 more minutes, or until a golden crust forms.
Serve immediately with a fresh salad and/or steamed or sauteed vegetables.
This recipe serves 4 (depending on the trouts size).
I was talking with Luciano (our friend chef and owner of Luciano's Restaurant) about fish and he came out with this recipe, good for all fishes but, especially, for freshwater fishes.
2 trouts
1 cup frozen of fresh peas
2 bunches parsley, leaves only
2 cloves garlic
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
4 tbsp bread crumbs
Salt
Preheat oven at 350.
Open trouts lengthwise and debone them (you can avoid this step buying trout fillets).
Arrange peas, parsley leaves, a pinch of salt and garlic in a blender and process, adding oil in a slow stream, until you obtain a smooth pesto.
Brush, with 1 tbsp of olive oil, an ovenproof dish and arrange trouts skin side down; spread with peas pesto.
Bake on central rack for about 10 minutes, then sprinkle with bread crumbs and cook for 5 more minutes, or until a golden crust forms.
Serve immediately with a fresh salad and/or steamed or sauteed vegetables.
This recipe serves 4 (depending on the trouts size).
Monday, May 3, 2010
TURKEY BREAST POCKET
Entree - meat - Low cholesterol
1 slice turkey breast about 1/4" thick and about 12"x10"
1 onion, thinly sliced
1/4 cup dried porcini mushrooms (Italian are more flavorful)
2 cups frozen peas
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup white wine
Flour
Salt and pepper
Soak porcini in 1 cup of lukewarm water for about 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, put a skillet on medium-high heat and warm 1 tbsp of olive oil; sautee onions for a couple minutes, season with salt and pepper, cover with lid and lower heat to minimum.
Once mushrooms are ready, take them out of the water, reserving and carefully filtering it, and add them to the onions. Cook until mushrooms are done and onions almost melted, about 15 minutes.
Open your meat slice on a flat surface and cover with the onion/mushrooms mixture leaving 1" free each side, in order to close it.
Fold as a pocket and close with toothpicks, dredge into flour (shaking excess away).
Warm up the remaining oil in a big skillet with lid over medium-high heat. Sautee meat until golden on both sides, about 2 minutes each, season with salt and pepper and add wine. When wine is evaporated, add the reserved mushrooms water and cover with lid.
When it comes to a boil add peas, then lower heat to minimum and stew it for about 20 minutes, turning meat pocket once in a while.
Serve it immediately with peas and cooking juices.
This recipe serves 4.
Instead of folding it, you can roll it and tie with butcher's string.
You can use 4 half chicken breasts, creating a deep pocket with a sharp knife.
If onion/mushrooms mixture is too much, you can add the remaining part to the peas when they're almost done.
This is a really low cholesterol dish, being both turkey or chicken really low in cholesterol.
1 slice turkey breast about 1/4" thick and about 12"x10"
1 onion, thinly sliced
1/4 cup dried porcini mushrooms (Italian are more flavorful)
2 cups frozen peas
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup white wine
Flour
Salt and pepper
Soak porcini in 1 cup of lukewarm water for about 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, put a skillet on medium-high heat and warm 1 tbsp of olive oil; sautee onions for a couple minutes, season with salt and pepper, cover with lid and lower heat to minimum.
Once mushrooms are ready, take them out of the water, reserving and carefully filtering it, and add them to the onions. Cook until mushrooms are done and onions almost melted, about 15 minutes.
Open your meat slice on a flat surface and cover with the onion/mushrooms mixture leaving 1" free each side, in order to close it.
Fold as a pocket and close with toothpicks, dredge into flour (shaking excess away).
Warm up the remaining oil in a big skillet with lid over medium-high heat. Sautee meat until golden on both sides, about 2 minutes each, season with salt and pepper and add wine. When wine is evaporated, add the reserved mushrooms water and cover with lid.
When it comes to a boil add peas, then lower heat to minimum and stew it for about 20 minutes, turning meat pocket once in a while.
Serve it immediately with peas and cooking juices.
This recipe serves 4.
Instead of folding it, you can roll it and tie with butcher's string.
You can use 4 half chicken breasts, creating a deep pocket with a sharp knife.
If onion/mushrooms mixture is too much, you can add the remaining part to the peas when they're almost done.
This is a really low cholesterol dish, being both turkey or chicken really low in cholesterol.
Monday, April 26, 2010
MINESTRONE AND WARM CROUTONS
Soup - Entree - Vegetarian
2 1/2 lbs mixed vegetables for minestrone, diced
1/2 onion, chopped
1 egg yolk
5 oz melting cheese (provolonge, asiago, or other favorite one), grated
4 slices ciabatta breadoil,
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Milk
In a big saucepan with lid, warm olive oil and sautee onion until soft. Stir in the vegetables and, at least, 3 cups of warm water and cover; once it comes to a boil, cook for about 40-45 minutes, on medium-low heat. the longer it cooks, the better the flavor will be. Always have some warm water available, in case you need it.
Preheat oven to 350.
Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine grated cheese, egg yolks and a few tbsp of milk, enough to obtain a cream. Spread this mixture over the bread slices and toast in the oven for 3-4 minutes, until the cheese melts and the bread is golden.
Cut the slices in 3 croutons each. Divide minestrone evenly in individual bowls and serve it topped with the warm croutons.
This recipe serves 4-6
Vegetables for minestrone: carrots, peas, beans, broccoli, cauliflowers, zucchini, potatoes, pumpkin, tomatoes, celery, onions and all other vegetables you prefer.
You can use chicken or beef broth instead of plain water, but you no longer will have a vegetarian dish.
There are frozen mixes, which will cut your preparation time.
2 1/2 lbs mixed vegetables for minestrone, diced
1/2 onion, chopped
1 egg yolk
5 oz melting cheese (provolonge, asiago, or other favorite one), grated
4 slices ciabatta breadoil,
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Milk
In a big saucepan with lid, warm olive oil and sautee onion until soft. Stir in the vegetables and, at least, 3 cups of warm water and cover; once it comes to a boil, cook for about 40-45 minutes, on medium-low heat. the longer it cooks, the better the flavor will be. Always have some warm water available, in case you need it.
Preheat oven to 350.
Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine grated cheese, egg yolks and a few tbsp of milk, enough to obtain a cream. Spread this mixture over the bread slices and toast in the oven for 3-4 minutes, until the cheese melts and the bread is golden.
Cut the slices in 3 croutons each. Divide minestrone evenly in individual bowls and serve it topped with the warm croutons.
This recipe serves 4-6
Vegetables for minestrone: carrots, peas, beans, broccoli, cauliflowers, zucchini, potatoes, pumpkin, tomatoes, celery, onions and all other vegetables you prefer.
You can use chicken or beef broth instead of plain water, but you no longer will have a vegetarian dish.
There are frozen mixes, which will cut your preparation time.
Monday, April 19, 2010
RICE CREAM WITH PEARS
Dessert
For the pears:
4 pears
8 cups water
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 vanilla pod
For the rice cream
1/3 cup rice
3/4 cups water
2 cups milk
1/4 cup sugar
chopped pistacchi (plural for pistacchio)
Prepare pears: arrange all ingredients in a saucepan with lid (not too big, pears should stand and be covered by liquid) and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, partly covered, for 30-40 minutes; pears have to be tender.
Remove from heat and let them cool in their syrup.
Prepare the rice cream: warm up the milk; in a medium saucepan, bring water to a boil, add a pinch of salt and rice and cook over medium heat until water is mostly absorbed, about 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
Add 1 cup of hot milk and cook over medium heat until it is mostly absorbed, about 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Now add the sugar and the remaining milk, cook over medium heat until it is mostly absorbed, about 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
Remove from heat and let cool down at room temperature (or lukewarm).
Drain pears from their syrup and dice or slice them.
Transfer the cream to individual bowls, top with pears and chopped pistacchi, or any nuts you like such as almonds, hazelnuts....
You can substitute part of the pears cooking water with an equal part of dry white wine (or also red wine) if this dessert id not served to kids.
You can reserve syrup in a well closed glass jar in the refrigerator for a couple weeks (or freeze it) and you can use it to dip ladyfingers or to wet sponge cakes.
For the pears:
4 pears
8 cups water
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 vanilla pod
For the rice cream
1/3 cup rice
3/4 cups water
2 cups milk
1/4 cup sugar
chopped pistacchi (plural for pistacchio)
Prepare pears: arrange all ingredients in a saucepan with lid (not too big, pears should stand and be covered by liquid) and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, partly covered, for 30-40 minutes; pears have to be tender.
Remove from heat and let them cool in their syrup.
Prepare the rice cream: warm up the milk; in a medium saucepan, bring water to a boil, add a pinch of salt and rice and cook over medium heat until water is mostly absorbed, about 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
Add 1 cup of hot milk and cook over medium heat until it is mostly absorbed, about 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Now add the sugar and the remaining milk, cook over medium heat until it is mostly absorbed, about 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
Remove from heat and let cool down at room temperature (or lukewarm).
Drain pears from their syrup and dice or slice them.
Transfer the cream to individual bowls, top with pears and chopped pistacchi, or any nuts you like such as almonds, hazelnuts....
You can substitute part of the pears cooking water with an equal part of dry white wine (or also red wine) if this dessert id not served to kids.
You can reserve syrup in a well closed glass jar in the refrigerator for a couple weeks (or freeze it) and you can use it to dip ladyfingers or to wet sponge cakes.
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