Fried baby artichokes

Fried baby artichokes

by | Mar 16, 2021 | Appetizer, Recipes, Vegetables

I tried this recently, but didn’t trim them enough. Here’s how to make baby artichokes dipped in seasoned flour and fried just like grandma made. from the NYTimes: “Snap off a few of the tough, dark exterior leaves of the little artichokes until the pale green centers are visible. (more than you think needed) Then cut a half-inch or so off the tops of each artichoke and trim the stem end with a paring knife. Cut them lengthwise into halves or quarters and put them in a bowl of water with a good squeeze of lemon juice to prevent them from turning brown. This can be done an hour or two before cooking. Use olive oil to fry them if you’re feeling extravagant, or a frugal combination of olive and vegetable oils.

• In case you need the coating info: dry artichokes with a clean towel, then dip a few at a time into seasoned flour, then dip onto beaten eggs, then the flour again. I used a cup or two of half olive oil and half peanut oil and the costing came out great.

Todaro’s Closes for Good

Todaro’s Closes for Good

by | Mar 16, 2021 | Groceries

Perhaps some of us accompanied our grandmother or parent into this store in NY. It closed for good April 2, 1999. I used to reliably order by mail cotecchino sausage there.  The link in the footer still takes you to their facebook page.

Zucchini Torte

Zucchini Torte

by | Jul 16, 2017 | Main Dish, Vegetables

This Zucchini Torte is a variation of the original recipe due to the lack of some ingredients. It is still easy to make and delicious. I had day old garlic bread and used that cut up instead of the bread crumbs. I skipped the additional garlic. I had some homemade tomato sauce so I used that instead of the tomatoes. I was all out of boxed Pomi tomatoes and did not have carrots. So here is the result. It only took 45 minutes in the oven.

What to do with leftover Panettone

What to do with leftover Panettone

by | Dec 29, 2016 | Christmas & New Year's, Dolci

Make bread pudding of course!

ITALIAN BREAD PUDDING From The Boston Globe 2/3 C light raisins 6-8 slices Panettone 2 C milk 3/4 C sugar 1 C heavy cream 1/4 C rum 1/4 C Marsala 3 large eggs 2 T grated orange peel 1/2 t cinnamon Confectioner’s sugar Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter 12 x 9″ glass baking dish Sprinkle half the raisins on the bottom Make layer of half the bread slices over raisins Sprinkle with remaining raisins and add the second layer of bread. Combine milk and sugar in medium saucepan and simmer until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in cream, rum and Marsala. Beat eggs with cinnamon and orange peel and stir into milk mixture. Slowly pour liquid over bread slices, pressing them down. Let stand 10 minutes. Place dish in large roasting pan and fill it 1 inch, being careful to not come too close to bread dish. (Moving the pan out of the oven may splash into bread pudding!) Bake 30 minutes or until knife comes out clean 2 inches from edge and top is golden. Just before serving sprinkle with Confectioner’s sugar. Serve warm or chilled. Yields 12 servings.
Araldo’s Sculpture in New York City

Araldo’s Sculpture in New York City

by | Dec 29, 2016 | Araldo Perugi

Nancy Krug and Ed Slate and families went to New York City last week. This is Nancy’s report.
“The carvings were on the outside of the church over the doors. They were not made of marble and may have been granite. The color looked like sandstone.

The church and location are: The Church of Our Savior, Corner of Park Ave and 38th Streets”

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Beware False Olive Oils

by | Apr 29, 2016 | Groceries

I recently watched a 20/20 program about how the mafia is diluting olive oil by mixing it with other vegetable oils and selling it as 100%. Recently I read another article where taste testing was done on common olive oils in the super market. One I remember that did not rate well was Pompeii. However, Trader Joe’s Virgin Olive Oil made with Kalamata olives from Spain did well. It costs $8.99.

While Snopes points out that the test, conducted in California, was misquoted, other studies including an investigation that the New York Times published last year say that olive oil they tested wasn’t exactly as advertised.

“Consumers pay higher prices to dip their breads and douse their salads in extra virgin olive oil. However, out of the eleven brands tested, six didn’t pass the lab’s stringent tests to meet the “extra virgin” standard. The lab in Australia performed chemical tests on the oil as well as sensory testing by trained humans to determine the flavor profile.

While they didn’t name which oils failed the tests, here’s a list of brands that they say passed:”

  • California Olive Ranch “Extra Virgin Olive Oil”
  • Colavita “Extra Virgin Olive Oil”
  • Trader Joe’s “ Extra Virgin California Estate Olive Oil”
  • Trader Joe’s “100% Italian Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil”
  • Lucini “Premium Select Extra Virgin Olive Oil”
Feasting in Rome

Feasting in Rome

by | Mar 29, 2016 | Dolci

dessert-at-margsRich, Deb, Will and Eva Saltus were recently in Italy on an eight day tour of Venice, Florence and Rome. We saw some great sites, history, art and had some amazing Italian meals! We had dinner at Michele and Cinzia’s home where Cinzia made a delicious and interesting pasta dish with green beans and potatoes! It was awesome! Also, the chocolate cake was great. We also had the best mozzarella ever as part of that meal. Then the next evening we were invited to Margherita’s for dinner. We had a yummy potato baked dish, Roman Artichokes, balsamic marinated veal and an incredible dessert that she described to me and seen here, mostly eaten. She rolls out Torrone candy into bits and adds cream and gelatin to make into a mold. it is served chilled with chocolate sauce. Recipe coming soon I hope!
Margherita’s 1-2-3 Yogurt Tea Cake

Margherita’s 1-2-3 Yogurt Tea Cake

by | Mar 19, 2016 | Dolci

A delicate and tasty snacking cake. I used only 1 tsp. and it was more like pound cake, but still good. I also added 1 tsp. vanilla because most cakes call for that. Following is her note.

“Dear Debby, I’m sending you the picture of the yogurt jar because it’s the measure go the ingredients.

Put together:

1  jar full of yogurt

2 jars full of sugar

3 jars full of flour

1 jar full of oil

3 eggs

16 gr. baking powder (3 tsp.)

Grated lemon rind

Put the mixture in a pan greased with butter and flour and cook it for 30 minutes in a oven with medium temperature (160c-180c , sorry I don’t know your degrees )

If you want you can add apples or ciocolate or nuts. We prefere it plain.

Let me know how it comes

Have a nice Easter!

Ciao

Margherita

Ps I didn’t have time to try the Carrara rice cake, as soon I’ll do it I’ll send you the recepy😊