My Culinary Blog

1/2 lb. or 2 cups dried Cavatelli or other small
shell−shaped Italian pasta
1/2 lb. or 3 links sweet Italian Sausage
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 bunch broccoli
1 1/4 cup low−salt chicken broth
1/4 cup raisins
1 tbls. unsalted butter
Parmesan cheese

Squeeze sausage from casings and saute in a heavy skillet or cast iron frying pan. Stir until no longer pink and sausage has broken down into small chunks. Remove sausage with slotted spoon leaving juices in pan. Cut broccoli into 1 inch pieces and saute in juices or drippings from the sausage. Stir gently til it begins to brown. Add garlic and saute 1 minute more. Add broth and raisins and simmer until the broccoli is tender, about 3 minutes. Do not over cook. Finally, add butter and stir to melt. Add, with sausage, to cooked pasta and serve with parmesan cheese.

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
2 cans (15 ounces each) cannellini beans, undrained
2 teaspoons dry basil leaves
3−4 cups boiling water, divided usage
2 cups beef broth
1/3 cup dry red wine
12 ounces ditalini, elbow macaroni, or any short tubular pasta
Salt and pepper to taste
Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
Chopped fresh basil leaves, optional

1. Place olive oil and garlic in a large saucepot (6 quart). Cook over medium heat just until golden. Add tomato paste and cook 3−4 minutes
stirring occasionally.
2. Puree 1 can of beans in food processor or blender; add to saucepot with remaining beans. Cook 2 minutes; stir in basil. Add 2 cups boiling water, broth, wine, salt and pepper. Increase heat and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Add pasta. Cook about 8 minutes or until al dente, adding remaining hot water, if needed and stirring occasionally.
3. Serve hot topped with Parmesan and fresh basil, if desired.

8 eggs
2 tsp. salt
4 cups all purpose flour

In a large bowl, combine eggs & salt. Beat well. Add flour, 1 cup at a time until dough sticks together but is still soft. Spread flour on a board, knead dough for 15−20 minutes. Cover and let stand in a warm place for about 1 hour.\

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2 Tbs. Olive Oil
1 Cup Flour, seasoned with a pinch of salt & freshly ground black pepper
1 Lb. Chicken Livers, separated into individual lobes,
all visible fat removed
2 Tbs. Unsalted Butter
1 Lb. assorted mushrooms, Shiitake (stems removed), Portobello, Crimini,
White button, sliced thinly
1 Cup dry red wine
1 28 Oz. Can, peeled Tomatoes
2 Tbs. Flat−leafed Italian Parsley, finely chopped
Salt & freshly ground black pepper
1 Lb. Spaghetti or Perciatelli

Heat a saute pan over high heat, then add the olive oil. Flour the chicken livers, shaking off any excess and add to the pan. Saute until they are slightly browned and firm. Remove livers and set aside. Pour off the olive oil, then add the two tablespoons of butter. When the butter has foamed and the foam begins to subside, add the mushrooms, tossing to coat with the butter. Cook for four or five minutes, until the mushrooms begin to give off some of their juices. Add the wine all at once, scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen any caramelized bits of liver and mushroom from the bottom.

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4 large fresh tomatoes, sliced 1/4 inch thick
16 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced 1/4 inch thick
1/3 cup packed whole leaf fresh basil
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
fine sea salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/4 cup imported olives

On a large platter, arrange tomato and mozzarella slices and basil leaves, alternating and overlapping each. Drizzle salad with olive oil; Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Garnish with imported olives.

2 slices Italian bread, torn into small pieces
1/2 Cup milk
2 Tblsp. finely chopped fresh Italian parsley
2 cloves finely chopped garlic
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg lightly beaten
1 pound beef chuck, ground twice
6 Tblsp. freshly grated Romano cheese
1 Tblsp. olive oil
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 Tblsp. oregano

Soak the pieces of bread in 1/2 cup milk for 5 minutes, then squeeze them dry an discard the milk. In a large mixing bowl, combine the soaked bread, then beaten egg, beef and sausage with the remaining ingredients. Knead the mixture vigorously with both hands or beat with a wooden spoon until all ingredients are well blended and the mixture is smooth and fluffy. Shape the mixture into small balls about 1/1/2 inches in diameter. Lay the meatballs out in one layer on a flat tray or baking sheet, cover them with plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour.

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10 oz. spinach, blanched 1 minute, drained, dried and chopped
2 cups all purpose flour, extra for kneading dough

1/2 cup unsalted butter(4 oz.)
1 egg yoke plus 3 whole eggs, beaten
3 tbs milk
1/4 cup golden raisins, soak 30 minutes in water, drain
3/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
salt and ground pepper
2 1/2 tbs (1 oz.) Pine nuts

To make dough by hand: Pour flour into a bowl, add salt and the butter. Using fingertips, work the butter into flour until a crumbly dough forms. Add the egg yoke and milk, incorporate, and knead dough into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.

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1 lb. ricotta cheese
1 1/2 lbs. mozzarella cheese (grated), divided
1/4 cup romano cheese (grated)
Salt and pepper
1/4 cup provolone cheese (grated)
Parsley (chopped)
3 eggs
2−3 cups tomato sauce

Combine all ingredients together, except tomato sauce. Mix well.
(Use 1 lb. mozzarella cheese)
Spread some tomato sauce on the bottom of a baking pan. Stuff manicotti shells and place in pan. Spread more tomato sauce in between each layer and on the top, followed by 1/2 lb. of just mozzarella cheese. Bake at 350 degrees F for 3/4 hour. Then, broil for 2−3 minutes to brown top.

2 pounds Baking potatoes
1 cup All−purpose flour
1 Whole egg plus
1 Egg yolk, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons Unsalted butter, softened
1 teaspoon Salt
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Tomato sauce

Boil the potatoes in their jackets, drain, peel and put through a ricer or food mill. While the potatoes are still warm, blend in the flour, add the egg, egg yolk, butter and salt. Place the potato mixture on a floured board and knead lightly; the dough will be soft. Roll the dough in 1″ thick sticks about 10″ long. Cut each roll into 3/4″ pieces.
Rub each pieces of dough lightly over the coarse side of a cheese grater. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the gnocchi until they rise to the top of the water. Using a slotted spoon, remove the gnocchi to a warm bowl. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, top with tomato sauce and serve at once.

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 pound Arborio rice
6 cups chicken stock, hot
2 tablespoons butter
3 ounces Parmagiano Reggiano cheese, coarsely grated

Heat the butter and oil in a large, straight−sided saute pan or saucepan. Add the onion, and saute until soft, without browning. Add the rice, and saute for 2 minutes until the rice is well−coated. Ladle 1/2 cup of stock into the rice, stirring constantly, until all the liquid is absorbed and the rice is almost dry. Add more stock, 1/2 cup at a time, until it’s all absorbed by the rice and the rice is al dente.
The rice should be very moist and creamy, but not runny; the rice should be firm but tender, not crunchy. Remove from heat, and stir in the raw butter and the Parmagiano cheese. Salt to taste, and serve immediately.