Mushroom and Barley Soup

As the weather is already getting cooler here in Illinois it is finally time for soup!I love soup for many reasons: the aromas that fill the house, the way it warms your heart and your stomach, you get to use only one pot (less dishwashing later! yay!), you can make soup with pretty much anything you have in the house and they are pretty foolproof. You might make a soup that is a little bland, but it's hard to make an unedible one.
Fall also makes me crave earthy flavor and therefore it is a great moment to have mushrooms. I found this recipe and tried it yesterday and, believe me, you will be surprised by the amount of flavor contained in such a simple recipe. Don't skimp on the herbs and you will be rewarded.

INGREDIENTS
2 pounds of sliced mushrooms ( I used 1 pound of Portabella and 1 pound of white mushrooms, but the more variety the better!)
1 onion
3 cloves of garlic
olive oil
3 large carrots sliced diagonally
1 tablespoon of soy sauce
1/2 cup of white wine
1 quart of chicken broth ( for a vegetarian version use vegetable broth)
1 cup of barley (not the instant one)
Rosemary (fresh or dry) about 3 sprigs.
Thyme (fresh or dry) about 5 sprigs.
Parsley (fresh) about 1 tablespoon.
Salt and Pepper

PREPARATION

In a large saucepan cook the onion and the garlic in some olive oil until the onion is translucent and the garlic is golden.
Add the sliced mushrooms and the soy sauce and cook until the natural liquid of the mushrooms have been released.
Add the white wine and cook until evaporated.
Add the carrots, the barley, the rosemary, the thyme and the broth and cook covered for about 1 hour.
Add salt and pepper. Add the parsley just before serving.

Chicken Sausage with Rhubarb and Onions

This is definitely not an Italian recipe. Almost every ingredient here screams United States, starting from the rhubarb which I had never tasted until moving here. In Italy rhubarb is used to make some kind of hard candy that people used to eat fifty years ago or so, and I know my father still likes to eat it, when he can find it, just out of pure nostalgia. Apart from that it is not used in anything else. I got some rhubarb from the garden of my husband's aunt and I wanted to find a way of using it without making a pie. I just recently finished an enormous and delicious apple pie a friend made for me and I think I need to be off pies for a while. I know there are a lot of other desserts with rhubarb but not many savory dishes. I like the taste of onions with something sweet, and I had some chicken and apple sausages at home that are already slightly on the sweet side so I came up with this recipe. It is surprisingly delicious!

INGREDIENTS

1 large onion
4 stalks of rhubarb
4 chicken and apple sausages (precooked)
2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon of sugar
2 tablespoons of olive oil

PREPARATION

Chop the onion and the rhubarb and cook them in a skillet with the olive oil until the onion is soft and translucent and the rhubarb is mushy.
Add the balsamic vinegar and the sugar and cook another 5 minutes.
Slice the sausages and add them to the onion-rhubarb mix, stirring until warmed up.
Serve with a side of brown rice if needed.

Ragu' alla Bolognese - Authentic Italian Meat Sauce

This is another one of those classic recipes that are subject to endless variations. Every household has their secret for the perfect meat sauce, and everyone prefers their own version over any other. Even I have at least two different ways of doing it: one is stronger and involves a lot of red wine, and one is milder and it includes milk. I have recently discovered that the official recipe includes milk too, so I am publishing this one. The official recipe though is made with different kinds of meat that are not easily available in the States and it takes a lot longer to make. As usual I chose a simpler version that you can do any day. It is not a quick recipe, you still have to let the sauce simmer for at least one hour, but once you started you just have to let it cook, so it is not a very elaborate one and I think anyone can easily replicate it at home. It is not a light or healthy recipe either. If you want a lighter version try getting a cut of meat with less fat and substitute the sausage with ground pork. If you decide to do so add more pepper and paprika,as you will lose a lot of the flavor.

Ingredients

1 lb. of ground beef ( 85/15)
2-3 Sweet Italian Sausages
1 medium yellow onion
2 medium carrots
2 medium celery ribs
1 large can of tomato puree (1lb 12oz)
1 cup of milk
1 clove (optional)
1 bay leaf (optional)
paprika (optional)
salt
pepper (optional)
olive oil

PREPARATION

Finely chop the vegetables and put them in a large pot with enough olive oil to coat them. Cook over medium heat until the vegetables are soft and the onion is translucent.

Take the casing off the sausages and add the meat to the vegetables. Stir until it's browned.
Add the ground beef to the pot and stir until it's browned.

Add the tomato puree and bring to a simmer.

Add the clove, the bay leaf, paprika and pepper. ( I marked them as optional just because you shouldn't feel like you can't do this sauce without them, but it definitely tastes better with them!)

Add salt and partially cover with the lid. Let simmer stirring every once in a while for at least 1 hour.The goal is to have the sauce and the meat really come together, while the tomato sauce itself will reduce in size.

Once you think the sauce is ready, add the cup of milk and stir. Cook for another 5 minutes and turn off.

For a perfect dish serve over fettuccine, sprinkled with freshly grated Parmesan cheese or use it to make the perfect Lasagna.

Ciambotta - Italian Mixed Veggies

There are infinite versions and almost as many names for this dish. All Italian regions, especially in the south of Italy, have their own traditional variations on this dish with different regional names. The one I chose to publish is my own home-made quick version. You could definitely find more elaborate version that include many more ingredients and roasting the vegetables separately. They are wonderful and taste great, but I wanted to share with you the version I would make on a day to day basis. It isn't very quick to make, because the vegetables need some time to cook down to the proper consistency, plus it tastes better lukewarm so allow it some time to rest and cool off. I like making it in the early afternoon and then having it for dinner for example. It can be a wonderful side dish for example to a nice grilled Italian sausage, but it is also great eaten along with a nice fresh mozzarella sliced and seasoned with salt, olive oil and oregano. Do not forget to have some nice fresh french or Italian bread to accompany this dish and make lots of "scarpetta" the Italian word for dipping your bread in the sauce and cleaning the plate with it!

INGREDIENTS

1 medium eggplant
2 zucchini
1 yellow or red bell pepper
1 onion
2 garlic cloves
1 can of diced tomatoes with juice ( I like the fire roasted ones from Muir Glen)
pitted olives (optional)
olive oil
fresh basil or dried oregano
salt
red pepper flakes (optional)

PREPARATION
Dice the eggplant ( without peeling it!) and then put it directly in a skillet on medium heat. Stir often to avoid sticking. The eggplant will brown and reduce in size, so don't worry if in the beginning the skillet seems to be overflowing.
While the eggplant is cooking, slice the onion and peel the garlic cloves.
Cut the zucchini in quarters lengthwise then slice it.
Open the pepper, remove the stem and all the seeds and white parts then dice it.
In a large skillet cook the onion and the garlic in generous olive oil until the onion is translucent and soft.
Add the zucchini and pepper to the skillet with the onion and garlic and cook stirring every once in a while to avoid sticking.
When the eggplant is reduced in size and browned turn the heat off under it.
Wait until the zucchini and pepper are almost done ( taste it for doneness, they have to be soft and you shouldn't feel the skin under your teeth) probably at least 20 minutes.
Add the eggplant to the zucchini and pepper and stir.
Add the tomatoes with the juices to the vegetable stir and turn the heat to medium high.
Add the red pepper flakes if desired (don't add them if you want to share this dish with kids), salt to taste and the dried oregano flakes.
Let the tomatoes boil down for about another 10 minutes then turn off the stove and let the vegetables cool off.
Once lukewarm add the pitted olives if desired.

Miller Sole fish - Sogliole alla Mugnaia

I like the delicate taste of Sole fish and in Italy it is often recommended to get kids used to eating fish. This recipe is called miller Sole fish because of the presence of flour in it and it is a very common way of preparing not only Sole but any kind of white salt water fish. It is very easy and quick to make, it involves ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. I am not indicating specific quantities because it depends on how many fillets you are making. Sole fillets are pretty small so you will need at least 2 per person.

INGREDIENTS

Sole fish fillets
Milk
Flour
Fresh lemon juice
Olive oil
Salt

PREPARATION

Let the fish fillets soak in milk for 15 minutes to half hour.
Coat the fish fillets in flour.
Heat the olive oil in a frying pan ( not a lot of oil, just enough to coat the pan).
Cook the sole fish in the oil turning it once. About 2-3 minutes per side.
Plate the fish and generously sprinkle with freshly squeezed lemon juice. Add salt to taste.

White Wine Donuts - Ciambelline al vino

I spent part of my childhood in Rome, where they have the most amazing markets where you can buy fresh produce but also meets and cheeses and local products from the surrounding area. I remember loving going with my mum also because I would always get some kind of treat. One of them was this awesome little donuts shaped cookies that were made in the towns on the hills surrounding Rome, called Castelli Romani. I never found those again once I moved back to Pisa and always thought they were the best treats ever: just the right amount of sweet, crunchy and with an unmistakable perfume. Thanks to the internet I now found the recipe, and I found out that, as for most of the good Italian food, it is very simple. The region of the Castelli Romani is famous for its white Frascati wine, that, although it is not internationally acclaimed, it is very easy to drink and table friendly. This recipe was probably born to be made as part of the celebrations for the new wine ( usually in the fall there are many wine related "sagre" or festivals) but you can do them year round!

Ingredients


1 cup of sugar (plus extra for coating)
1 cup of olive oil or vegetable oil
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1 cup of white wine
3-4 cups of flour

Preparation
Turn on the oven at 350 degrees.
Mix the first four ingredients in a bowl then mix the flour slowly until you reach a consistency that can be easily molded without being too dry.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Pour some sugar on a plate.
With your hands scoop up a ball of dough and roll it to form a cylinder then join the extremities to make a doughnut.
Press both sides of the doughnut on the sugar so that it is evenly coated and then set on the parchment paper. The doughnuts can be pretty close together since they are not going to grow very much.
Cook for about 10-15 minutes or until they are dark brown on the bottom.

Pasta with Broccoli Rabe

This recipe is easy, tasty and a perfect example of how traditional Italian food can be healthy too: you have your greens, your complex carbs ( just watch how much pasta you throw in!), your fish oil and the spices to keep you satisfied. It is traditionally made in the Apulia region ( think the heel of the boot) and it is made with Orecchiette pasta, literally "little ears". If you can't find Orecchiette, use another kind of short pasta, like Pipette from Barilla.

INGREDIENTS

2 Bunches of broccoli rabe

2 cups of short pasta

4 cloves of garlic

2 tablespoons of olive oil

2 anchovies or 1 teaspoon of anchovy paste

2 tablespoons of plain bread crumbs

red pepper flakes 

salt

Pecorino Romano

PREPARATION

Cut away all the stems from the broccoli rabe then cut the leaves in 1 inch thick strips.

In a large pot of boiling water throw in a fistful of salt. 

Once the water boils again throw in the pasta and the broccoli rabe.

In the meantime in a skillet warm up the oil and throw in the chopped garlic, the anchovies or the anchovy paste and the red pepper flakes. Cook until the garlic is cooked but not burnt.

Add the breadcrumbs and cook until browned.

Once the pasta is "al dente" drain the pasta and the broccoli.

Throw the pasta and broccoli in the skillet with the oil-garlic mixture and cook with the fire on high for 2 minutes or until the pasta is thoroughly coated with green.

Serve with grated Pecorino to taste.

Minestrone

This is a vegetarian version of minestrone, which traditionally includes some pancetta or bacon. The great trick that makes this minestrone super tasty is the Parmesan rind, and it is one of those grandma's tricks that I love because they were invented at a time when throwing out something that could still be edible was considered a shame and so people found a use for all kinds of leftovers in the kitchen. So, if you have bought a piece of Parmesan cheese and you are left with that dry piece of rind in the fridge, or even if you have a piece of Asiago or Romano that dried out in your cheese box, do not throw it out! Throw it in your soup instead! Then of course discard it before serving the soup, but the rind will add creaminess and flavor and "bring together" your soup so to speak. I used the vegetables that I had at home in that moment but there is a number of variations you can do, according to season and taste. If you want to add pasta, choose the kind called "ditalini" and add at the end of the cooking process.

INGREDIENTS

1 leek (white and light green part, chopped)

2 stalks of celery

2 large carrots scrubbed and chopped

1 parsnip

1 medium yellow onion

2 garlic cloves

4 Roma tomatoes

2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

1 bunch of rainbow chard, stems and leaves separated

1 can of Cannellini beans, drained

2 cups of vegetable broth ( or more)

the rind of a hard cheese (preferably Parmesan Cheese)

1 Turkey bay leaf

salt

pepper

PREPARATION

For this recipe it is important to chop the ingredients quite small and all at about the same size. Chop the first 6 ingredients and the stems of the rainbow chard and toss in a large pot with oil.

Cook over medium heat until the vegetables are soft, stirring to avoid sticking (about 20 minutes).

Add broth and bring to boil, reduce heat to medium-low.

Add beans, chard leaves, cheese rind and bay leaf and simmer over medium heat until leaves are cooked through.

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Discard rind and bay leaf before serving. It can be served with a splash of extra virgin olive oil.

Pasta with Tuna

This is a dish I could make with my eyes closed. It is a sort of comfort food in my family, and it is made with ingredients that are always available in an Italian pantry, so you could make it when there is "nothing" in the fridge. The same maybe is not true of an American pantry, since anchovies have a very bad reputation around here and I don't think many people has even ever tasted capers. You can use any kind of canned tuna, or, if you want to have an Italian experience, go to an Italian supermarket and find Mediterranean Tuna in a jar, like Callipo, but at about 10$ a can I don't know that I would recommend it for such a simple recipe. As for the tomato sauce, I like the sauce that comes in a glass bottle, when I find it, and that is just tomatoes, no onions, no herbs, no other aromas. Otherwise I just buy a tomato puree, like Defratelli or any other regular brand. I did not indicate the exact amount of tomato sauce because it depends on your taste: some people like it more "white" others like it swimming in sauce, I am for something in between. As for the pasta, the rule in Italy is about 3.5 oz per person. I like using spaghetti grossi from Barilla, which is a kind of spaghetti that are slightly thicker than the average, but of course any spaghetti would work.

INGREDIENTS

(for 4 people)

14 oz of Tuna packed in water

Tomato Puree

1 big head of garlic

2 anchovies

2 teaspoons of small capers

1 tablespoon of fresh Italian parsley

salt

red pepper flakes (optional)

1/2 teaspoon of paprika 

about 1 lb of spaghetti grossi

1 tablespoon extravirgin olive oil

PREPARATION

Fill a large pot with water and start boiling.

While the water is warming up, in a medium skillet heat up the olive oil and the peeled garlic clove.

Add the anchovies and smash them with a wooden spoon while cooking so that a sort of anchovy paste is created.

Add the drained tuna and keep stirring with the spoon for about 3 minutes.

Add the tomato sauce, the paprika, the red pepper flakes ( to taste) and a pinch of salt.

Bring to boil then reduce the heat to medium and let simmer until the sauce is thickened ( about 10 minutes, it depends on the amount of sauce you added).

Add the capers, stir to warm up about 1 minute. Turn off the heat. Discard the garlic clove.

When the water is boiling add a fistful ( yes a fistful is the right technical italian measurement for salt when it comes to pasta!) of salt then stir and wait for the water to boil again.

Add the pasta and cook until al dente (follow instructions on the package).

Drain the pasta, shake the excess water away then immediately toss the pasta in the sauce.

Turn the heat back on and toss the pasta for about 3 minutes.

Add the parsley and toss the pasta, reserving some parsley as a garnish.

DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT SERVE WITH PARMESAN CHEESE.

IN ITALY IT IS CONSIDERED A CAPITAL OFFENSE.

Honey-Orange Pork Chops

I created this recipe today on a whim. I had some oranges that were getting old and that were not very good to eat like a fruit, they were juicy but very small, so basically to get a glass of juice I had to squeeze at least four of them and found myself too lazy to do all that work for a glass of juice. Plus, I like pork chops and I think that if they are good pork chops, like the organic ones I buy in the summer at the Woodstock Farmers Market, they don't need much fancy addition to it: just grill them or pan fry them with salt and pepper and maybe some rosemary. The problem is that the store bought pork chops instead have almost no flavor at all, I can't even imagine the miserable life those porks live and the amount of antibiotics and hormones they go through. That being said, in the winter there is no Farmers' Market, I live too far from a Whole Foods, I can't purchase a whole or half organic hog because I wouldn't know where to put it, so I have to buy regular meat. And pork chops are usually pretty inexpensive too, plus, if you don't eat the fat ( which, alas, I always do) they are quite lean and can even fit into a diet.

If you want to sound fancy you could call this a "honey marinated pork chop with orange gremolata". Gremolata is a word adapted from Italian ( I never heard it in Italy, but I think it's from the Milan region) and it means a condiment that traditionally include lemon zest, garlic and parsley. In America they use it to refer to any mixture of herbs and fruit zest though. I think the reason they use it is that is sounds fancier than saying with "grated orange zest and rosemary" for example, plus it is shorter, but that's really what it is.

INGREDIENTS (for 2 people)

2 small oranges or 1 regular one

2 pork chops

2 teaspoons of honey

1 teaspoon of fresh chopped rosemary

1/4 cup of white wine

salt

pepper

olive oil

PREPARATION

Grate the zest of one of the oranges and reserve.

In a bowl combine the juice of the oranges and the honey. Immerse the pork chops in the liquid and let marinate for 1 to 2 hours covered in the fridge.

Heat up in a pan enough olive oil to coat the pan (about 1 teaspoon).

Take the pork chops out of the marinade ( do not discard the marinade) and season with salt and pepper.

Cook the pork chops about 5 minutes on one side, then turn and cover and cook at medium heat until cooked through ( you can use a meat thermometer to see if they reach the temperature of 160 degrees), about 8 minutes.

Remove the pork chops from the pan and keep them covered.

Add the reserved marinade and the wine to the pan, scraping any browned bits. 

Cook for about 3-5 minutes, until the sauce becomes thick and brown, like a syrup.

In a little bowl combine the grated zest with the finely chopped rosemary.

Plate the pork chops, cover with the syrup and then sprinkle with the gremolata.

Potato Gratin with Mushroom and Aged Cheese

This recipe takes time, but it doesn't take much skill and it has a very tasty result that can satisfy even the most hardcore meat eaters. It is not a "light" recipe, but eating less meat makes sense for many reasons besides health, one of which is protecting the environment. With Meatless Mondays becoming a global movement supported by VIPs like Oprah and by awesome people like me, this recipe it's a great way to skip the beef with happiness. Let's face it, whenever you combine potatoes with cheese and cream you get something comforting and satisfying that makes you feel warm and happy inside. This recipe moreover has mushrooms: mushrooms are among the foods rich in "umami", one of the five flavors, a japanese word used to describe the earthy, savory quality of foods like smoked meats ( think bacon and smoked salmon!), truffles and aged cheeses. So think of mushrooms and aged cheeses ( like the Gruyere in this recipe) as a wonderful substitute for bacon and that meaty flavor that your meat-eaters family members crave.

INGREDIENTS

6 large potatoes

3 large leeks

1 pint of heavy whipping cream

1.5 pound of mixed mushrooms ( I used pre-cut  Portabella and white mushrooms)

1 cup of grated aged cheese (I used Gruyere if you want to save some money use an aged cheddar )

2 garlic cloves

salt

pepper

PREPARATION

Peel and cut the potatoes into thin slices ( about 1/8 of an inch thick). You can use a slicer if you have one.

In a large pot pour the whipping cream and add the potatoes. Bring to boil and then simmer on medium heat for about 15 minutes.

Turn on the oven at 375 degrees.

While the potatoes cook, cut the white and light green part of the leeks and add to a large skillet with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, cook until softened.

Add the pre-cut mushrooms , add salt and cook for about 15 minutes, until soft.

Add the garlic to the mushrooms and cook for another minute. Season with salt and pepper.

Uncover the potatoes and cook an extra 3 minutes stirring to make sure it doesn't stick to the bottom.

Brush a large baking dish with oil.

Put half the potato mixture on the bottom of the baking dish, then add a layer of the mushrooms, than top with the other half of the mixture.

Top with the cheese.

Cook covered with tinfoil for 30 minutes, then uncover and cook for another 20 minutes or until the top is brown.

Rest 10 minutes before serving.

Pork Roast with Hard Cider

I have found this recipe on an old edition of BonAppetit ( pretty much my food bible these days, I know..) and it turned out very good. I followed the recipe exactly, but I do think that there might have been a simpler way to achieve the same result, so for those of you who don't want to dirty a million different bowls and plates to do one single recipe and that don't want to spend 1 hour just doing prep work, here is my shortened and simplified version of it! The result is really worth it, if you want a slightly leaner version don't use the bacon and just cook the vegetables in a tablespoon of olive oil instead. Also choose a lean cut of pork. I used pork shoulder ribs and it was way too greasy, I think I would have preferred something leaner, like a pork loin diced into 1 inch cubes. I used Woodchuck regular Hard Apple Cider but I would like to try it also with their Granny Smith Cider, which should be more tangy.

INGREDIENTS

30 frozen pearl onions,  slightly thawed

5 slices of bacon cut crosswise into 1/4 inch thick strips

3 and 1/2 pound of pork stew meat (pre-diced)

1 medium onion

1 medium parsnip

1 box of fresh sage

2 cups of low salt chicken broth

1 12oz bottle of hard apple cider

1 and 1/2 pound of baby red potatoes

2 large Granny Smith Apples

2 tablespoons of butter

2 tablespoons of flour

1 tablespoon of Dijon Mustard

PREPARATION

Take the pearl onions out of the freezer, put them under running  cold water to thaw.

Put the bacon in a large pot and cook until slightly browned. Remove with a slotted spoon and put on some paper towels to dry.

In the bacon grease, pour the onion and the parsnip and cook covered for about 15 minutes ( until the vegetables are softened)

Add the meat and stir until the meat is browned.

Add the broth and the hard cider and return the bacon to the pot, then cook covered for about 1 hour, until the meat is soft.

While the meat is cooking, wash and brush the potatoes and cut them in half.

Add the pearl onions and the potatoes. Cook covered for another 30 minutes.

While the potatoes are cooking, wash the apples, peel them, core them and dice them.

Add the apples to the mix and cook another 20 minutes, until the potatoes are completely cooked.

In a small bowl mix the butter and the flour creating a paste.

Add the flour paste and the mustard to the pot and simmer uncovered until thickened.

Serve with your favorite hard cider!

Ravioli di Spinaci e Ricotta - Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli

My friend Ruth asked me for a recipe for homemade ravioli. To be honest I haven't tried making my own ravioli yet. I have tried making homemade pasta before and my problem usually is that it turns out too thick, which can be fine if you are making fettuccine to be served on a hearty meat sauce, but it's not acceptable when it comes to ravioli or tortellini. So, dear Ruth, here is a recipe that I took from a wonderful Italian book of traditional recipes:  "Ricette di Osterie d'Italia" by Slow Food, a collection of 600 of the best pasta recipes taken from the best Italian Osterie. Be warned though: you will need to work your dough pretty hard and well and get it to be as thin as possible. Italian grandmas do it without a sweat, but then again if you were ever slapped by an Italian grandma you would understand why! You could also resort to a pasta machine, but that just wouldn't be as cool, so if you do, just don't tell anyone! I have translated the recipe and tried to make it look as simple as possible. For the sake of my American blog readers I have also converted the quantities in cups and tablespoons, according to the conversion chart I found here, hopefully it is accurate!
This recipe comes from the Abruzzo region ( in central Italy, south-east of Lazio, which is the Rome region) where this ravioli are prepared with a kind of wild spinach called "orapi", but they can be made with regular spinach. The quality of the ricotta is very important, so try to find the freshest ricotta possible as well as a good piece of fresh Parmesan cheese (grate it yourself, it will taste so much better!)

INGREDIENTS
(for 4 people)

Dough:
3 and 1/2 cups of all purpose flour
4 eggs
1 tablespoon of extravirgin olive oil
salt

Filling:
2 lbs of spinach
2 eggs
1 and 1/2 cups of Ricotta
1 tablespoon of freshly grated Parmesan Cheese
salt
pepper
nutmeg

Sauce:
butter
sage
Parmesan Cheese
salt

PREPARATION

Mix the ingredients for the dough and work the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 15 minutes.
Let the dough rest for 30 minutes.
With a rolling pin, roll the dough in a thin layer ( not too thin or it will break while cooking but not too thick or it won't taste good!) then divide it in two layers and let rest.

Wash and cook the spinach in boiling water with a pinch of salt for a few minutes, until completely wilted.
Drain the spinach, run under cold water and then squeeze well to let all the excess water out.
Put the spinach in a food processor or cut very finely.
In a medium bowl, mix the spinach with the eggs, the ricotta, the parmesan cheese and the nutmeg ( to taste) then season with salt and pepper.

Form little balls of filling and space them evenly on one of the dough layers.
Put the second layer on top of the first one and press with your fingers in between the layers to make them adhere well.
Cut the ravioli squares with a knife, or, better, with a ravioli cutter ( it looks a little like a pizza cutter but with irregular edges).

Cook the ravioli in boiling salted water until done then season with melted butter, fresh sage leaves and salt. Serve with freshly grated Parmesan cheese on top.

Dragon Tongue Beans With Peach

Raw Dragon Tongue Beans

Yesterday at the farmers' market in Woodstock we bought dragon tongue beans. They are multipurpose beans that can be used for shelling or, if picked early enough, they can be eaten with the whole pod. I think these are the same beans we have in Italy, except there we only use them for shelling. I was very surprised to discover that you could eat them raw and they have a pungent and fresh flavor that makes them a very good snack. Today however I wanted to try cooking them to make a side dish for the wonderful organic pork chops we bought at the market, but I couldn't find any recipe that I really liked online. Since we also had previously bought a couple of Illinois Peaches from a farmstand that is down the road from our house and they were starting to spoil, I decided to use both ingredients.

The result was surprisingly tasty and me and my husband loved it. The peaches, once cooked, were not as sweet as I would have imagined, and the overall taste of the plate stayed fresh and spicy. I only had ground ginger in the house but I am sure the plate could improve with the use of fresh ginger instead.

The final result: Dragon Tongue Beans with Peach

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups of Dragon Tongue Beans
• 1 Peach
• 1 Medium Onion
• 1 teaspoon of ground ginger
• Red Pepper Flakes
• Salt
• A dash of Cognac or Brandy for flavoring
• Olive oil

RECIPE

1. Chop beans in pieces about 1/2 inch long discarding the tip of the beans
2. Chop the onion 
3. Peel and cut the peach in cubes of about 1 inch
4. In a large fryer or in a wok pour enough olive oil to coat the pan and then cook the beans and the onion, stirring every once in a while, until the beans have lost their color and the onions are soft and translucent
5. Add the peaches to the fryer and a dash of cognac, keep stirring to avoid the vegetables sticking to the pan
6. Add the red pepper flakes ( to taste), the ginger and the salt
7. Once the cognac as cooked off make sure that the beans are tender enough and the dish is ready. It can be eaten hot or cold. It works very well as a side dish to pork chops or with brown or wild rice.

Mixed Grain and Quinoa with Zucchini

As we are going to eat less meat in the future I am trying to do more vegetarian recipes. Traditionally in Italy we use mostly pasta or rice, but I am trying to add more whole grains,  to our diet. My sister also introduced me to Quinoa and to the nutritional benefits of eating it. It seems like the perfect food to substitute meat, for its high protein and iron content:

 "this crop has become highly appreciated for its nutritional value, as its protein content is very high (12%–18%). Unlike wheat or rice (which are low in lysine), quinoa contains a balanced set of essential amino acids for humans, making it an unusually complete protein source among plant foods.^[4] It is a good source of dietary fiber and phosphorus and is high in magnesium and iron. Quinoa is gluten-free and considered easy to digest." (Wikipedia)

Sometime ago I also bought a box of a  organic hot cereal with 4 grains plus flax but when I tried having it for breakfast I thought that, even adding fruit to it, it was way to gooey and tasteless for me. So today I decided to do something different with the vegetables we had in the fridge and the ones we bought at the farmers market.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 Italian Zucchini
• 3 baby carrots
• 1 small onion
• 1 box of cherry tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon of golden raisins
• Olive oil
• 1/2 cup of Red Quinoa
• 1/2 cup of 4 Grains plus flax hot cereal
• Paprika
• Salt
• 2 tablespoons of grated caciocavallo cheese

RECIPE

- In 2 separate saucepans cook the Quinoa and the Mixed Cereals following the instructions

- Dice the carrots, the onion, the zucchini and the tomatoes.

- Pour about 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a large pan and saute the carrots and the onion until the onion is golden

- Add the zucchini and the tomatoes and keep cooking, stirring every now and then, until the zucchini and the tomatoes are soft

- Add the spices and the raisins

- Mix the grains in with the vegetable mix, adding extra olive oil if necessary

- Add the grated cheese and serve warm

Red Cabbage Risotto

The Red Cabbage cut in half

We got a red cabbage from our CSA this week and I have to admit we were initially a little scared by it. I tend to associate the word "cabbage" with something with a foul smell and a pungent taste. We were determined to do the best we can with anything we got in our weekly box, so I started my online research of recipes. First of all I had to make sure of exactly what kind of cabbage we were talking about. If you Google red cabbage you get the picture of this shiny red cabbage and that is not how our cabbage looked like. Our cabbage was surrounded by dark purple-blue leaves, but once cut in half it revealed its characteristic purple and white wavy pattern. Most of the Italian websites recommended cooking it as a simple risotto and since I had at home a good organic brown basmati I decided to give it a try. Here is my recipe:

Red Cabbage Risotto

Ingredients for 4 people

• 1 medium red cabbage
• 1 small onion
• 1 cup of brown rice ( I have used Organic Basmati)
• Olive oil
• 1 tablespoon of butter  ( not for vegan or lowfat version)
• 1 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese ( not for vegan or lowfat version)
• 1 cup of white wine
• 2-3 cups of vegetable broth ( as an alternative you can also boil the discarded leaves of the cabbage with one extra onion )

Raw Diced Red Cabbage and Onion

Preparation

1. Remove the outer darker leaves of the cabbage until you get to the dark red and harder core
2. Dice the cabbage and the onion
3. In a large fryer or in a wok, pour enough olive oil to cover the bottom and add the onion and the cabbage
4. Saute' the vegetables until the onion is translucent and the cabbage is softening
5. Add the rice to the fryer, stir until the rice is translucent than add the white wine and let it evaporate
6. Add enough broth to cover the rice and then let the rice simmer covered until the liquid has evaporated
7. Add more broth and repeat the process of letting it simmer until the rice is done
8. Once the rice is done and all the liquid has evaporated add the butter and finally the Parmesan cheese ( for a vegan  or a low-fat version, just skip this passage)
9. Add salt as needed and serve ( I like adding the salt at the end because that way I can dose it better, depending on the saltiness of the broth and other ingredients.

The Result

The final result was not only delicious it was also beautiful to look at! The rice and the onion turned as pink as the cabbage itself, the cabbage was soft and slightly sweet at the taste, I think a good variation would be adding a "smelly" cheese like a Gorgonzola or a Taleggio or even a Brie. My husband loved it and went back for seconds, we are definitely happy we tried this new vegetable that is going to become part of our everyday diet.  It is also a good dish from a nutritional standpoint, the rice is a good source of whole grains, while the red cabbage, according to the website Nutrition Data, is 

 also a good source of Thiamin, Riboflavin, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Selenium, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Vitamin B6, Folate, Potassium and Manganese.

Risotto ai Fegatelli - Rice with Chicken Liver

We bought a whole organic chicken and I was determined on the idea of using the whole animal. First of all because it is so expensive that throwing even some of it away would be a huge waste, secondly I am against wasting food in general, especially animals that died to become our food, not to end in the garbage. The recipe is very simple and quick and even my picky american husband liked it. The flavor is much more delicate than you would expect, not too strong at all. For a good rice it would have been better to have at least 2 livers, but every chicken only comes with one, so not much we can do about it. I did eat the heart and the kidneys too ( those were a little too much for my husband though). I had had heart before in Brazil, where they are commonly grilled among other meets in the churrascarias ( Brazilian steakhouses). The heart is a muscle, so it really just tastes like a red meat, and except from the shape that is clearly that of a heart there is nothing about it that reminds of entrails. The kidneys instead are really chewy and hard. Maybe if you slice them very thin they are edible, but they have a very distinct flavor and texture. The livers instead go beautifully in the sauce, making it a rich and flavorful tomato sauce, with a meaty aftertaste.It is important to notice that while liver is a very good food from a nutritional standpoint, slightly high in cholesterol but particularly rich in iron, vitamin A and C, it is not recommended eating it from a non organic chicken. The reason is that the liver acts as a filter for the blood and that is where all the heavy metals, the antibiotics and other chemicals will accumulate the most. The same applies to any kind of liver.  I took the recipe from an Italian website and here is my English version.

Ingredients

• 1 Chicken liver
• 2-3 tablespoons of tomato sauce
• 1 medium onion
• 1 Bay leaf
• Olive oil
• Brown rice
• Parmesan Cheese

Instructions

1. Dice the onion and cut the chicken liver in small pieces
2. In a medium pan fry the onion in some olive oil until it is yellow and soft
3. Add the bay leaf and the liver to it and quickly brown it while stirring it
4. Add the tomato sauce ( careful not too add too much) and let simmer for about 15 minutes
5. In the meantime cook the rice as instructed on the package. If you can, use chicken broth instead of water
6. Once the rice is done, add it to the sauce and stir in the Parmesan cheese

Sagra della Zucchina: Focaccia with Zucchini and Fried Zucchini Fried Flowers

Fresh Zucchini Flowers

Last Saturday at the Woodstock Farmers' Market I could not resist buying a bag full of zucchini flowers (from Salute! farm and vineyard) and a nice big zucchini from a wonderful organic vendor of which unfortunately I didn't catch the name, but I will make sure to do that next week. I love zucchini, they are very versatile as I can make them with rice, pasta, quinoa or really with any kind of cereal, I can make zucchini frittata or just have them as a side dish, they are always good. Even more than zucchini I love zucchini flowers: first of all they are just beautiful with their bright orange color, they are one of those things for which you wait all year long, for they are available only for a short period of time, and since they spoil very fast you also have to cook them very quick. They are very popular in the roman cuisine, either stuffed with mozzarella and anchovy and fried or on pizza with mozzarella ( no tomato please!) they are always delicious. I think looking forward to have a food only on a specific time of the year is something beautiful that the industrial food culture is destroying. In Italy, even with supermarkets, we still appreciate the fact that there is a season in which some fruits are just not available, and in which some vegetables that are available all year long ( like tomatoes) just taste so much better. Moreover if I had fried zucchini flowers everyday I would get bored with them, having them once or twice a year makes them special, and it becomes a reason to celebrate. Another Italian food tradition that I miss here is that of the "sagra" that is exactly a celebration of a food that is in season or that is traditional from a certain town or area. For example in spring there are many "sagre" of the strawberry, or in the fall are very common the "sagre" of chestnuts. During these festivals many stalls sell products and dishes made starting from the ingredient that is being celebrated, and there is really no limit to the inventiveness of the Italians when it comes to food! Everything is of course accompanied by music, wine and more food. So, today I decided to have my own "Sagra della Zucchina" and I made a Focaccia with zucchini and onion and deep fried zucchini flowers. Both recipes are quite simple and very tasty!

Focaccia with Zucchini

Focaccai with zucchini before going in the oven

Ingredients

• 300 grams of flour
• 1 cup of lukewarm water
• 1 teaspoon of sugar
• 1 packet of active dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• olive oil
• 1 small onion
• 1 medium-large zucchini

Instructions

Last slice of Focaccia with Zucchini

1. Mix the yeast the water and the sugar and let the yeast get activated for a few minutes
2. Pour the yeast mix in the flour and the salt and mix. The resulting dough has to be a little sticky and not too easy to work with
3. Let the dough rise for 1-2 hours in an oiled bowl ( turn the dough in the bowl once to coat evenly with oil)
4. In the meantime dice the onion and slice the zucchini and cook them in a spoon of olive oil until they are soft and tender
5. When the dough is ready, spread olive oil on a pizza pan and then gently smash the dough on it working it with your fingers to form the typical depressions of the focaccia. Brush lightly with olive oil and salt.
6. Let the focaccia rise covered for another 30 minutes
7. Spread evenly the zucchini-onion mix on the focaccia and put in a pre-heated oven at 450 degrees for about 20 minutes or until the dough looks ready
8. Take the focaccia out of the oven and brush it lightly with a mixture of olive oil and water.

Fried Zucchini Flowers

Fried Zucchini Flowers

Ingredients

• Zucchini flowers
• 3 tablespoons of flour
• 1 cup of water
• salt
• vegetable oil

Instructions

1. Take the pistil out of the flowers being careful not to brake them (some people take the stem out too but I prefer leaving them since they are very handy when it comes to dip the flowers in the batter and even to eat them)
2. In a large bowl mix water, flour and salt. The resulting mixture should have no lumps and it should be liquid enough without being too thick or too runny
3. Put the mix in the fridge for at least 20-30 minutes
4. In a large fryer heat the vegetable oil ( it has to be enough to deep fry the flowers). A trick to know if the oil is warm enough is throwing a little piece of bread in it: when the oil starts bubbling around the bread then the oil is ready.
5. Grab a flower by the stem, dip it in the batter then shake the excessive batter and put the flower in the frying pan. Repeat until the fryer is full.
6. Using a pair of tongs gently turn the flowers once while cooking
7. When the flowers feel "crunchy" remove them from the pan using the tongs and shaking the excess oil out. Place the flowers on a paper towel to dry the excess fat. 
8. Repeat the last three steps until the flowers are all fried.