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A Mid Mountain Trip & Local Flavors of Rapino

 

copyright 2010 Maria Liberati/art of living,PrimaMedia,Inc

Continuing my ‘Gastraonaut’ travels in Italy..in Pescara to experience some of the artisan foods, but also to view the new pedestrian bridge that was opened  this year…

rapino 1

But on the way made a stop in Rapino, a medieval town in the province of Chieti..Besides the ancient ruins..the menus that 4 of the restaurants there offer for lunch or dinner were spectacular..but since I could only stay for lunch and experience one menu it was a difficult choice and I spent an hour on the important decision.. but in an hour you can reflect poetic on the splendid view from Rapino a city that is’ media montagna’ (in mid mountain)….What would you choose?:

Rapino 3

Menu 1-Potato & Truffle  mini gnocchi,Pappardelle pasta, palotte cace e ove (‘meatballs’  without meat made of cheese and eggs) fresh fruit in season

Menu 2-Cavatelli pasta with beschamel sauce, with zucchini and saffron from Navelli ( a town nearby),Pappardelle pasta with tomatoes, Raosted rabbit with roasted potatoes with rosemary and fresh mixed greens,fruit in season

Menu 3-Ravioli with nut sauce, Pasta alla Chitarra with meat sauce (ragu),Roasted lamb and roasted potatoes,mixed fruit in season

Menu 4-Pasta alla Chitarra with bacon (pancetta) and arugula, roasted wild boar, roasted peppers, fresh fruits in season.

A lot of eating for one lunch..but after a long reflection and a visit of the Grotto del Colle and the church of San Giovanni… I chose Menu 1 because of the appetizer of mini gnocchi (Gnoccchetti)  and the local specialty of ‘pallotte cace e ove’ (Meatless meatballs made with cheese and eggs). I slowly savored every bite of this meal, that was certainly a 100 mile meal (all ingredients came from nearby-100 miles or less) so everything was fresh and flavorful… after the meal a long walk around the  mercato for artisan crafts  (held in August) to relax

Here’s a recipe for a local specialty from Menu 1-

Palotte Cace e Ove.

Pallotte cace e ove

(this is in dialect of region of Abruzzo, palotte means small balls and ‘cace’-short for ‘cacciocavallo’ –a type of cheese;ove is dialect for uove-which means eggs

2 whole eggs

1/2 cup grated pecorino cheese or a mix of pecorino and romano or parmiggiana cheese.

2 garlic cloves

handful of fresh parsley leaves chopped

bread crumbs  (freshly made)

pinch of salt

pinch of baking soda

4 tablespoons olive oil (for frying)

In a bowl place in chopped garlic, eggs, grated cheese, chopped parsley, pinch of salt and baking soda. Mix with a fork. Little by little place in bread crumbs and mix by hand. Place in enough breadcrumbs to be able to roll the mixture into the consistency of firm meatballs. Heat oil in frying pan and fry till brown. Serve plain or with some tomato sauce (sugo).

For more great recipes and stories on out of the way place in Italy get your copy of The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions- 2nd edition

Visit OpenSky

Sept 9-12-Hudson valley Wine Fest,Rhinebeck, NY. For more info or to sponsor The Basic Art of Italian Cooking by Maria Liberati tm onstage demo email: Info@marialiberati.com

Oct 29-30th- Gourmet Food & Wine Show, Philadelphia at the Valley Forge Convention  Center, Valley Forge ,Pa The Basic Art of Italian Cooking by Maria Liberati tm will be onstage. To attend or sponsor one of the onstage cooking demos email: Info@marialiberati.com

Holiday Roasted Fig Salad & Holiday Gift Guide

HGG-fig roasted salad

copyright 2009, art of living,PrimaMedia, Inc.

The Holiday Season is in full blast , especially  now that much of the US got their first dose of  Holiday snow this weekend. Here is a perfect recipe for a Holiday appetizer or light course for a brunch or light dinner. Special thanks goes to Fred Cohen a culinary student at J & A Culinary Arts school in Philadelphia for coming up with this Holiday recipe using Tuscan Picnic Spice Blend

The 2009 Holiday Gift Guide has 27 pages full of our Best of 2009 Products selected for their artisan quality and the experience they provide for the consumer. See it here:

 holiday gift guide

Holiday Gift Guide 2009

http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1jim0/HolidayGiftGuide2009/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=

 

*Roasted Fig Salad with Crispy Prosciutto and Parmigiana cheese (served with
a Tuscan spiced crouton and reduced balsamic dressing)*
*Dressing*:* *
Serves 6:
1/2 c balsamic vinegar reduced by half to make 1/4 cup of  balsamic syrup
2 t chopped parsley
3 T extra-virgin olive oil (check out our selections of  olive oil in the Holiday Gift Guide)
1/2 – 1 t dijon mustard
Salt  & Pepper  to  taste

 

*Figs*:
Black figs sliced in half lengthwise
Coarse Sea Salt
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
A sprinkle of sugar

*Other:
Salad Greens
Crusty Loaf Bread
Shaved parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

2 tsps Tuscan Picnic Spice Blend 

Proscuitto slices cut into  julienne strips

*Directions*:
-Combine the reduced balsamic  syrup with the chopped parsley, olive oil, and dijon
mustard. Whisk until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper and hold to the
side.
-Slice thin slices of crusty loaf bread and brush with olive oil. Season
with the Tuscan Picnic  spice blend and toast in the oven (or grill/broil if
desired) until toasted. For dryer croutons hold them in the oven (heat off)
until they cool.
-Lay the figs in a roasting pan and sprinkle with olive oil and the coarse
salt. Roast in the oven at 375 degrees until cooked. If desired, sprinkle a
little bit of sugar onto the figs three – five minutes before the figs are
done.
-Lay the prosciutto slices on a sheet pan and crisp in the oven, roughly 1 -
2 minutes.
-Gather the shaved cheese and assemble the salad. Lay the crouton on the
plate, topped with the salad tossed in the dressing. Lay the roasted figs on
the side and top the greens with the prosciutto and then the shaved cheese.
For garnish, paint some of the remaining balsamic syrup with a spoon on the
side of the plate.

Form more recipes get your copy of The Basic Art of Italian Cooking:Holidays & Special Occasions- winner of the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards as Best Italian Cuisine Book in America in 2009. Thanks for all those that voted for the book and have purchased copies of the book and have been ‘spreading the word’.

Hope to see you on December 12th at the Franklin Township Library at 12 noon for a Holiday book signing and cooking demo!

A Perfect Tuscan Salad

 

tuscan bean salad

copyright 2009, art of living, PrimaMedia,Inc

Maria Liberati

If you are planning your Holiday menus here is one for a light Holiday appetizer, it’s from my latest book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays &Special Occasions.

In the summer, this would probably be a light, late night dinner.

 

From The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays &Special Occasions by Maria Liberati

(Publisher : art of living,PrimaMedia,Inc; ISBN1928911021)

 

Perfect Tuscan Salad

 

 

¼ lb of dried white cannelini beans

1-16 ounce can or jar of albacore tuna in extra virgin olive oil

2 celery stalks finely chopped

juice of one lemon

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

8 ounces of arugula leaves

Red onion cut into rings for decoration

2 tsps Tuscan Picnic Spice Blend

 

Soak cannelini beans overnight. Then boil for approx 1 hour or until tender with 1 tsp Tuscan Picnic Spice Blend and 1 clove garlic. Drain and set aside. Drain tuna and flake in a small bowl, add in chopped celery. Whisk lemon juice olive oil together with 1 tsp sapori in small bowl. Add warm beans to tuna mixture, pour dressing on top, toss. Serve warm on top of arugula leaves and red onion rings on top as garnish.

 Book signings and appearances coming up:
 November 14th at 2PM-Warren Twp Library,  Warren Twp, NJ 2PM

December 12th-Franklin Twp Library, Franklin Twp NJ-12 noon

Mangia Bene, Vive Bene,

Maria

http://twitter.com/Marialiberati

Halloween Traditions…Cauldrons, Cuisines, & Carnevale

 carnevale in venice

copyright, 2009, Maria Liberati



One of the most engaging holidays of the season, Halloween, has been carving out ghoulish jack-o-lanterns and the likes of trick-or-treaters for centuries. Highly recognizable are the spellbinding tales of campfires, midnight marshmallow roasts, and guising costume festivals… thus for many, October 31st marks the modern-day events of the Eve of All Hallows. Originating from Irish immigrants, the traditions spread across Europe to North America in the 19th century, as Halloween’s many rituals are now celebrated throughout world. Respectively, while some religious perspectives ascribe certain disbeliefs, the expansion of commerce chose to capitalize significant revenues based upon candy sales and billion-dollar costume industries. The evolution of haunting imagery, black cats, witches brew, religious ceremonies, and product commercialization, inevitably, remains the heart of the equinox. But more than ghost stories and prominent symbols, accounts of this spooktacular event date back as far as the first Pagan rituals, hailing ancient Celtic harvest festivals called, Samhain or Celtic New Year. Often paired with the Day of The Dead and All Saints’ Day, many cultures commemorate (the notional holiday) outside the Americanized standard of door-to-door candy solicitation, by marking November 1st and 2nd as calendar days of remembrance.

Carnevale Di Venezia, a long-established Italian tradition seems to parallel a combination of both Mardi gras and Halloween’s costume masquerading. However, its elaborate artistry, first recorded in 1268, is celebrated 40 days before Easter with restrictions of Lent and a grand festival just before Ash Wednesday. While gala dinners and extravagant costume balls of this winter festival trumpet throughout the various regions of Italy, some reports claim the urbanity of Halloween is literally beginning to mask those of Carnevale.

As food plays a significant role in the aspects of any celebration, the annual harvest of apples lend an air of entertainment to the many Halloween-themed activities performed. The friendly competition of apple bobbing or as the Scottish refer to as, dooking, remains a pastime favorite. Even holiday ‘begging’ has transformed throughout history, bringing phrases like ‘Do ye want guisers?’ to the simplicity of ‘Trick or Treat’. So, whether it’s pumpkin risotto to pumpkin carving or candied apples to brimming bags of candy cuisine… the sheer magic surrounding such mythical traditions can be enjoyed by all ages, young and old.

Have your own traditional Carnevale celebration for Halloween with these recipes

 

Frittellefrittelle

Ingredients (for 6 people):

1 lb flour

1 cup raisins

2 tblsps pine nuts

1 tablespoon sugar

2 eggs

1 cup milk

I/2 cup grappa

1 packet brewer’s yeast

a pinch of salt

peanut oil to fry

icing sugar to decorate

Melt the brewer’s yeast and sugar with a little bit of warm water; then add flour, the eggs, grappa and milk. Don’t forget the pinch of salt. Mix everything and knead it for a while until you see some kind of small ‘air bubbles’ forming on the surface. Cover then with a napkin and leave it in a warm place to rise. When the dough will have doubled its volume, add the raisins (and pinenuts). Make ‘balls’ with a teaspoon and let them ‘slide’ into peanut boiling oil (oil should be deep enough to cover all the small balls; and remember not to put too may of them at a time). When they rise to the surf, turn them over, so that they become brown all over. Dry on kitchen paper, sprinkle with icing sugar and enjoy your fritoe!

Crostoli (is another typical Carnival dessert).crostoli

Ingredients (4 people):

1 cup flour

½ cup sugar

¼ cup butter

2 eggs

½ cup grappa

1 lemon

icing sugar

a pinch of salt

1 tsp pure vanilla

peanut oil to fry

Mix flour, sugar, vanilla, grated lemon peel and salt on the pastry board. Then make a well and put the eggs, the soft butter cut into small cubes inside the hole. Work it till it is smooth. With the rolling pin roll the dough very thin. Cut rectangles (about 8×12 centimetres) with the pastry cutting wheel and make three cuttings on each of the rectangles. Fry two or three rectangles at a time in abundant boiling peanut oil. Drain, dry on kitchen paper, cover with icing sugar. You can eat them either hot or cold.

 

For  Holiday recipes and tips get your copy of the newly released The Basic Art of Italian Cooking : Holidays & Special Occasions

Follow Maria on Twitter : http://twitter.com/marialiberati 

Special Thx to everyone at teh Lower Southampton Libnrary in Festerville, Pa for hosting my book signing this week!
Other Apperances coming up:
November 2- Willngboro LIbrary-book singing and cooking demo 7PM

November 4th-6th- Christmas in Italy weekend at Harvest Moon Bed and Breakfast in Lancaster,Pa.. Cooking classes and wine pairings from The Basic Art of Italian Cooking : Holidays & Special Occasions. Call 888-824-3763 for reservations and info.

November 14th-Warren Twp Library, Warren NJ 2PM- Book signing and cooking demo

November 21-Kuhn’s Corner Books- Perkasie ,Pa 12 PM- book signing and sampling

December 12th- Franklin Twp Library, Franklinville, NJ 12 noon- Book signing and cooking demo

Mangia Bene, Vivi Bene,

Maria

 

 

Frittata with Mint

frittata with mint

copyright 2009, Maria Liberati

This frittata is one of my favorites and is so simple made up only of a few ingredients..not the least important is the fresh mint to turn a few ordinary eggs into something extraordinary. Here it it is our lunch from the country house, serve with a chilled white wine..like Fallenghina, Est!Est!Est!, Trebbiano, Pecorino

Frittata con Mentuccia

 

For 2 people

 

* 3 whole eggs

* 1/4 lb ricotta di pecora

*2 tblsps olive oil

*handful fresh mint leaves, washed and torn

*salt and pepper to taste

 

Place eggs in bowl, shave the ricotta and add into eggs with salt and pepper. Beat with fork. Add in mint leaves, whisk with fork gently. In saute pan, heat olive oil. Pour in egg mixture. Cook on both sides. When finished, flip onto dish, cut into slices, serve garnished with mint leaves.

Just in time for the Holidays..get your copy of

The Basic Art of Italian Cooking :Holidays & Special Occasions  with over 140 recipes, menus, wine pairing tips and short stories of Holidays spent in the mountains of Italy

Mangia Bene, Vivi Bene,

Maria

http://www.twitter.com/Marialiberati

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Fresh Mint, Rosemary & A House in the Country

fresh mint

copyright 2009, Maria Liberati

A morning of mentuccia (mint) and rosmarino(rosemary) ..a day in the country. One last day at the coutnry house before fall really sets in..the days and the nights have become so  chilly. What shall it be for lunch today? A sack of local potatoes we picked up at the open market yesterday..some extra virgin, cold pressed olive oil and the best ingredient …organic rosemary from our garden here.

And for dessert an apple torte made with apples from Trentino.

We set out early and after opening up the house made a quick dash to the garden with a big scissors to cut the rosemary..how much do you want??more , more” I said since I tend tol go  a bit overboard when cooking with fresh rosemary. It has such a hypnotic scent and enhances the flavor of potatoes so well that I can’t imagine cooking roasted potatoed without rosemary.

 

Ready to leave the garden but can’t resist the fresh mint..ahh perfect for a simple egg fritatta tonight and to flavor some spring water and to scent the house..pick a bouquet for me” I said as I began returning to the house to prepare the lunch.

But first I had to locate a vase just the perfect size to hold a bouquet of mint to place on our mantle by the front door..no luck in finding a vase but jar used for preserving marmelade will suffice..and when my beautiful mint bouquet arrived the fresh, crisp mint scent seemed to quickly fill the room..and soon our little house in the country was brimming with scintillating scents..potatoes roasting in the oven with fresh rosemary stalks and extra virgin cold pressed olive oil from a local olive oil press..an apple torte baking in the second oven..a large bouquet of fresh mint ..

What a fragrant way to begin the day and wake up all the senses….stay tuned for a recap of tonight’s fritta with fresh mint leaves..recipe will be included..

 fresh mint

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A Tuscan State of Mind

bruschetta 1

 

 

 

 

copyright 2009, Maria Liberati

Having  a Tuscan Picnic, whether I am in Tuscany or anywhere, is one of my favorite things to do whether I am eating alone or with a group of friends or a few riends  at home in Italy or somewhere else in the world.

Even though I can’t be in Tuscany all the time..I can still be in a Tuscan ‘state of mind’ by bringing out the earthy colored dishes..having my Tuscan panzanella salad or bean soups (even on a warm summer evening they are great).

It’s a great pick me up ..those earthy foods bring me back to Tuscany all the time and it is a relaxing place (even if just in mind only)to be..

So we can all travel to Tuscany if just by food today..but follow me on twitter at  http://twitter.com/Marialiberati ..today is Traveling Thursdays and you can travel Italy from your computer.

Here is a Tuscan dish to travel by

 

a simple Fettunta..the Tuscan version for bruschetta

Fettunta:

4 slices crusty Italian bread

2 cloves garlic

2 tbslsps extra virgin olive oil

2 tsps Tuscan Picnic Spice Blend from The Basic Art of Italian Cooking tm

 

Grill or place slices of bread under broiler. Rub with garlic clove, Drizzle olive oil on top, sprinkle on Spices.

 July 16th-see you at my Tuscan picnic at Whole Foods, Annapolis Md at 7 PM

July 18th see you at  Fairfax, Va Whole Foods for my Tuscan Picnic and wine pairing

Mangia Bene, Vivi Bene

Maria

http://twitter.com/Marialiberati

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Flavors of Life’s Chapters

copyright 2009, Maria Liberati tuna-and-cannelini1

ricotta-creamLife seems to be broken up into chapters that could be described in tastes–sweet, salty, bitter..think of all the experiences in your life that can be described  per  these tastes..

Now that you have had some food for thought..here are the recipes I promised from some of the cooking programs and book signings in the past  few weeks.

Insalata di riso con rucola e pomodori

2 cups of short grain brown rice

8 red, ripe plum tomatoes-chopped with seeds removed

4 ounces arugula chopped

1/4 cup shelled pistachios chopped

4 tablespoons olive oil

2 tsps balsamic vinegar

4 ounces parmigiano-reggiano cheese, shaved

Place chopped tomatoes, chopped arugula, olive oil, balsamic vinegar in bowl and let marinate for 30 minutes.

Boil rice till al dente as directed on package. Add to tomato mixture. Add in pistahchios, shaved parmigiano-reggiano cheese. Stir serve.

Tuna & Beans Tuscan Style

1 6 oz can albacore or yellow fin tuna packed in water

1 can  cannelini beans drained, rinsed or 1/2 cup dry cannelini beans soaked over night, cooked till tender

1 fresh lemon

4 tblsps olive oil-extra virgin, cold pressed

2 slices of red onion finely chopped

Drain tuna and place in bowl, flake with fork and drizzle approx 2 tsps on top and blend in. Add in cannelini beans, chopped onion and remaining olive oil, Squeeze fresh lemon juice on top. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve.

Ricotta e Frutta

3/4 cup freshly made ricotta

3 tblsps sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

3 tablespoons dark semi sweet chocoalt e chipps or shaved chocolate

1 lb fresh strawberries hulled ,washed and quartered

8 ozs fresh blueberries  washed

Place fruit in bowl, sprinkle 1 tblsp sugar on top, stir gently. Place ricotta in bowl. Place in remaining sugar, cinnamon. Divide fruit into 8 serving dishes, top with a dollop of ricotta cream and 1 tblsp chocolate chips or shaved chocolate and serve .

 

June 15th  Willngboro Library, Willingboro, NJ 7 PM- Cooking on a Budget with The Basic Art of Italian cooking. Join me for a fun book signing and cooking demo. Open to the public. Call library for info or email events@marialiberati.com

Get a copy of the best selling book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking at www.marialiberati.com

Mangai Bene, Vivi Bene,

Maria

http://twitter.com/marialiberati

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Flavors of Life's Chapters

copyright 2009, Maria Liberati tuna-and-cannelini1

ricotta-creamLife seems to be broken up into chapters that could be described in tastes–sweet, salty, bitter..think of all the experiences in your life that can be described  per  these tastes..

Now that you have had some food for thought..here are the recipes I promised from some of the cooking programs and book signings in the past  few weeks.

Insalata di riso con rucola e pomodori

2 cups of short grain brown rice

8 red, ripe plum tomatoes-chopped with seeds removed

4 ounces arugula chopped

1/4 cup shelled pistachios chopped

4 tablespoons olive oil

2 tsps balsamic vinegar

4 ounces parmigiano-reggiano cheese, shaved

Place chopped tomatoes, chopped arugula, olive oil, balsamic vinegar in bowl and let marinate for 30 minutes.

Boil rice till al dente as directed on package. Add to tomato mixture. Add in pistahchios, shaved parmigiano-reggiano cheese. Stir serve.

Tuna & Beans Tuscan Style

1 6 oz can albacore or yellow fin tuna packed in water

1 can  cannelini beans drained, rinsed or 1/2 cup dry cannelini beans soaked over night, cooked till tender

1 fresh lemon

4 tblsps olive oil-extra virgin, cold pressed

2 slices of red onion finely chopped

Drain tuna and place in bowl, flake with fork and drizzle approx 2 tsps on top and blend in. Add in cannelini beans, chopped onion and remaining olive oil, Squeeze fresh lemon juice on top. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve.

Ricotta e Frutta

3/4 cup freshly made ricotta

3 tblsps sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

3 tablespoons dark semi sweet chocoalt e chipps or shaved chocolate

1 lb fresh strawberries hulled ,washed and quartered

8 ozs fresh blueberries  washed

Place fruit in bowl, sprinkle 1 tblsp sugar on top, stir gently. Place ricotta in bowl. Place in remaining sugar, cinnamon. Divide fruit into 8 serving dishes, top with a dollop of ricotta cream and 1 tblsp chocolate chips or shaved chocolate and serve .

 

June 15th  Willngboro Library, Willingboro, NJ 7 PM- Cooking on a Budget with The Basic Art of Italian cooking. Join me for a fun book signing and cooking demo. Open to the public. Call library for info or email events@marialiberati.com

Get a copy of the best selling book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking at www.marialiberati.com

Mangia Bene, Vivi Bene,

Maria

http://twitter.com/marialiberati

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Food for Thought & Tramezzini

tramezzini-3Hmm…said the bank manager, ” you sure go food shopping a lot? “What do you mean? “ I said. “Well when you had us research the check for your phone bill payment we had to check your personal account also..and there are withdrawals from your check card every day at a grocery store or supermarket recorded on your acount. Should I check that out? he said..”it does look like a lot of  consecutive.shopping trips to grocery stores”.

“Well cooking is my life”..I muttered and just brushed off the comment. But then I began to realize that it was true, I am at a supermarket or farmer’s market or local produce market  almost everyday.  Even if it is a busy day, if I need to take a break, I go to unwind, sometimes not to buy anything but just peruse the aisles thinking of what my next creation will be..what should I whip up for dinner..what’s the newest food item on the market..how fresh do those apples smell?

So what is it about walking in a food market and being around food that brings up my spirits or relaxes me or gives me inspiration t owrite or create my next recipe? Maybe it is all those years spent around the kitchen with my mom, grandparents, aunts and cousins.   Maybe it gives me that  ‘at home’ feeling.

Before  I start my day with a ‘twitter’, on some days, I need to take a walk in the local supermarket and I am headed there right after breakfast. On some days I need it to relax right when I take my lunch break and on others I can hold off till 5 or 6 PM. The expression ‘food for thought’ really applies.

In the past few days I have been  checking out local produce stands to inspire me for ingredients  for the crostini and  tramezzini that we made at my  recent cooking programs and book signings. A special thanks goes  to the Horsham Library for having me on the  Cooking Stage yesterday for their annual Horsham Days event. A note of thanks also goes to Kenilworth Libnrary in Kenilworth, NJ for featuring my book and inviting me to do a book signing there last week. Also a special thanks  t o everyone who came out to these events, I enjoyed meeting you all and sharing stories and recipes.

Here are the recipes for crostini and tramezzini and a special Happy Food Shopping to you all!:

 

You have heard of the pannini, the rustic, grilled or fresh sandwich made on crusty Italian bread or roll. But have you ever heard of the elgant Tramezzini, Italys’ elegant version of a club sandwich. Served at cocktail hour in the coffee bars of Rome

 

Tramezzini

(4 persons)

 

12 slices thinly sliced white bread (with crusts removed)

3 tblsps of extra virgin olive oil

½ lb of fresh mozzarella (sliced)

3 grape or cherry tomatoes (sliced)

½ cup of fresh basil leaves

*2 tablespoons of freshly grated parsley to decorate plate

 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut off crusts of bread then cut slices in half, then slice in half again till each slice has been cut into 4 small triangles. Place slices of bread on baking sheet and brush with olive oil. Use about one half of quantity of olive oil. Place in oven for about 4-5 minutes until golden brown.

 

*Prepare 16 mini tramezzini. Start with one small triangle of bread, then a slice of mozzarella, then top with tomato slice and then 1 basil leaf, top with a mini triangle and repeat with cheese, basil tomato and then top with one mini triangle. Place small shihskebab stick or cocktail stick through tramezzini to hold it together. Place al tramezzini on baking sheet. Drizzle rest of olive oil on top. Place in oven for 10-15 minutes until cheese is beginning to melt. Garnish with a basil leaf on top and dust plate with grated parsley.

 

For crostini, use an individual triangle of hte bread, toast it drizzle with olive oil and top with shredded lettuce shredded mozzarella, fresh toamtoes chopped wiht garlic, albacore tuna flaked with leeks and drizzled wiht olive oil, sauteed mushrooms and any other cheese or vegetable you have on hand.

 

Look forward to seeing you at:
June 11-Whole Foods Market,  Jenkintown, Pa.June 11at 6:15 PM The Basic Art of Italian Cooking by Maria Liberati tm-cooking program. Email: events@marialiberati.com for more info or call store to register.

June 15th- Willingboro, Library, Willilngboro NJ at 7 PM- Book signing and The Basic Art of Italian Cooking by Maria LIberati tm-cooking program.

Call the library or email events@marialiberati.com

July 16th-Annapolis, Maryland Whole Foods Market Culinary Center-  7 PM-A Taste of Tuscany with The Basic Art of Italian Cooking by Maria Liberati tm Join me for a cooking class on Tuscan picnic dishes. Call the store or email: events@marialiberati.com

July 18th- 1:30-3 PM Whole Foods Market, Fair Lakes Virginia, The Basic Art of Italian Cooking by Maria Liberati tm-A Tuscan Picnic dinner and wine pairing, Cook a Tuscan Picnic dinner with 4 selected wines. Cal lstore for info or email: events@marialiberati.com
Follow me at

http://twitter.com/marialiberati

http://mariandco.blogspot.com

 

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