Monthly Archives: November 2009
Panettone (Italian Christmas fruit cake)
| November 24, 2009 | Posted by ameliaps under cake, candied fruit, christmas, dessert, fruit, holidays, Italian, panettone, raisins, tradition |
Being Italian, Christmas is not Christmas without the traditional fruit cake called Panettone.I never thought I would be able to make it successfuly at home. It has always been one of those few food items that we purchase already made…but the holidays are approaching and I tend to get home sick. So I looked everywhere in… more
2 vegetable cocottes: cawliflower & zucchini
| November 23, 2009 | Posted by ameliaps under cawliflower, summer, vegetables, vegetarian, zucchini |
Before topping the vegetable cocottes, here are what the chives on my patio looked like, in the early morning, as they were covered in dew drops: Today, I am going to talk about making vegetable ”cocottes”. According to the dictionary the French word “cocotte” [pronounced kɔkɔt] is a “small fireproof dish in which individual portions of food are cooked and served”.… more
"Ovis Mollis": tender cookies with apricot-jam and honey
| November 17, 2009 | Posted by ameliaps under any season, cookies, dessert, holidays, jam |
These simple Italian cookies with a wonderfully tender texture are made with a secret: hard-boiled egg yolks and corn starch. They are filled with jam (and I add honey for shine and sweetness) and dusted with confectioners’ sugar. They are the perfect complement for tea. I looked everywhere for the origin of these cookies and the meaning of the… more
Mini pies (sweet and savory)
| November 16, 2009 | Posted by ameliaps under any season, appetizers, broccolini, dessert, fast, gifts, individual, pie, strawberry, vegetarian |
I like a small little mini pies, sweet and savory. Especially because I LOVE pie crust and serving individual portions of anything.For those of you who know me, you know I like to make most things from scratch…BUT this is an exception. It’s ok to use store-bought pastry dough. This is a last minute preparation… more
Peasant’s pie ("pizza rustica") with mozzarella and salame
| November 12, 2009 | Posted by ameliaps under any season, appetizers, autumn, cheese, crust, eggs, mozzarella, parmesan, salame, side dishes, winter |
This savory pie is delicious right out of the oven, piping hot and oozing mozzarella cheese in strands or diced up in squares once cooled in finger bites. It’s awesome for buffets and pic-nics. It is actually similar in idea to a quiche, but it is topped with pastry.You can be creative with the main… more
Caramel sauce, as a gift
| November 10, 2009 | Posted by ameliaps under any season, caramel, dessert, gifts, holidays, sugar |
Who does not like caramel sauce? Sweet comforting goodness. On ice-cream, on apples, on cake, on anything! It makes a perfect gift too, especially over the holidays, and especially if you spike it up with some rum or other liqueur. My favorite way to eat it? Classic… drizzled over ice-cream, with chopped toasted nuts (I like pecans)…… more
Arancini di riso (crispy fried risotto balls)
| November 7, 2009 | Posted by ameliaps under any season, appetizers, fried, fry, left-overs, rice, risotto, side dishes |
In Italy, when life gives us left-over risotto (see how I make carrot parsnip risotto HERE), we make arancini. They are little balls (shaped like oranges, hence the name) often stuffed with anything from meat, cheese, peas, mushroom, tomato sauce, and prosciutto. Arancini are a perfect antipasto. They can be eaten with your hands and… more
Home-made ricotta, on bread with fig spread
| November 7, 2009 | Posted by ameliaps under cheese, how-to, side dishes |
I love making home-made bread. So I wondered why would I not attempt to make another primordial food, such as cheese, too… So I did some quick research and voila’, ricotta came to me!It’s really easy to make home-made ricotta. It’s a 3 ingredient ordeal and it can all be done in about an hour.The taste… more
Cioccolata calda: rich and velvety hot chocolate
| November 7, 2009 | Posted by ameliaps under chocolate, cocoa, Drinks and cocktails, holidays, hot chocolate, winter |
On hot chocolate: “It flatters you for a while, it warms you for an instant; then all of a sudden, it kindles a mortal fever in you.” ~ Marie, Marquise de Sévigné, 17th century On a cold afternoon, there’s nothing that will warm my heart and soul more than my dad’s rich and velvety hot… more
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