381 the very italian Recipes

italian bread (make sure it is a nice loaf, not your supermarket bakery loaf!) or 1 loaf french bread (make sure it is a nice loaf, not your supermarket bakery loaf!), butter (not margarine!), garlic cloves, chopped very finely, fresh parsley, garlic powder, basil, oregano

lettuce, shredded, white tuna , water-packed, chunks drained flaked, red onion, very thinly sliced, capers, rinsed drained, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, olive oil, garlic clove, minced, dried oregano, fresh ground black pepper, salt, italian bread (8 oz), tomatoes, sliced

all-purpose flour, sugar, salt, active dry yeast (2 packages ), butter or 1 tbsp margarine, softened, very warm water (120 -130 f), cornmeal, peanut oil or light olive oil, egg white, cold water

red wine vinegar, olive oil, cannellini beans, rinsed and drained, country bread, large cubes (5 to 6 oz), plum tomato, cut into small pieces, english cucumber , thinly sliced crosswise, red onion, very thinly sliced, provolone cheese, in 1 piece, diced, fresh basil leaf , torn

ripe tomatoes, cut into bite-size pieces, cucumber, peeled and diced, red onion, thinly sliced, garlic, very finely minced, fresh basil leaves , torn into small pieces with your hands, extra-virgin olive oil , plus more as needed, balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar, plus more as needed, salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste, thick stale country style italian bread , torn into bite-size pieces

softened butter, garlic cloves, mayonnaise, grated parmesan cheese, fresh parsley or 1 tsp other fresh herb, dry basil, lemon-pepper seasoning, dry oregano, italian bread

fresh sweet italian sausage link, pineapple chunks, green pepper , julienned, onion , julienned, diced tomatoes, cornstarch, very thin spaghetti

whole grain sandwich rolls, split or 2 loaves focaccia bread, cut into 5ths, salami, smoked ham, red bell peppers , cut into strips, onion, sliced very thin, tomatoes, sliced thin (optional), pitted black olives, halved, marinated artichoke hearts, italian dressing

boiled, shelled shrimp, cleaned calamari (squid), body cut into 3/8 rings, red potatoes, well washed and sliced into 1/4 slices, extra virgin olive oil (use the best you can find), garlic cloves, minced, red onion, very thinly sliced (preferably on a mandolin), retain about 1/2 cup for garnish, ribs celery, washed, trimmed and diced, fresh squeezed lemon juice, lemon zest (zest the lemons before squeezing the juice), dice red bell pepper, cracked sicilian green olices, black olives , not salad ripe olives (use nicoise or gaeta), chopped fresh flat leaf italian parsley (plus more for garnish), washed and capers (if using salt packed, let them soak to remove most of the saltiness), white wine vinegar (the best you can find), crushed red pepper flakes

red bell pepper, evoo, bulk hot italian sausage or 5 oz coarsely grated calabrese salami, pancetta, finely diced, ground pork, chopped fresh thyme, fennel seeds, garlic, finely chopped, mild or 2 hot fresh red chile peppers, seeded and very finely chopped, onion, finely chopped, fresh oregano, finely chopped, tomato paste, dry red wine, chicken stock, whole milk, quick-cooking polenta, butter, grated pecorino, plus more for serving, salt and freshly ground black pepper, chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, for garnish

cuccidati (italian fig and date bar cookies), margarine, granulated sugar, eggs, rind of 1 orange, orange juice, flour, baking powder, vanilla extract, string of figs, raisins, brown sugar, walnuts, dates, orange, cinnamon, whiskey, black pepper, water, powdered sugar, butter, orange juice, preheat oven to 375 degrees f., crust: in large bowl, cream together first 3 ingredients. add orange juice and orange rind. in separate bowl, combine flour and baking powder. add to creamed mixture along with vanilla., filling: prepare several days ahead of time. in a food grinder , grind figs and raisins. in large saucepan, simmer raisins and figs with brown sugar and water for 15 minutes. grind walnuts, dates, and orange. stir into hot mixture along with cinnamon, black pepper, and whiskey. remove from stove, mix well, cover, and let mellow for 3 days., roll dough into 3-inch wide strips on pastry cloth. lay filling down the center and wrap dough to form a long sausage-like" cookie. roll back and forth until crust seems very thin. cut in diagonal about every 1 1/2 inches. place on cookie sheet close together and bake for 10-13 minutes. cookies should be barely brown. cool and store in tins 5 days, then frost., frosting: in medium bowl, mix together margarine and powdered sugar until well blended. add enough juice to make a thick glaze. top cookies with a thin coat. let frosting dry a couple of hours then store in tins as follows., store : line tins with foil, place a layer of cookies, then a layer of wax paper (not plastic wrap). keep repeating, ending with foil and then the lid.

extra virgin olive oil, garlic cloves, minced (i use food processor & finely mince garlic, onion & eggplant), very large eggplant (or 2 medium sized eggplants, peel 1st then dice in food processor), water, italian seasoned breadcrumbs, fresh parsley, chopped (i mince this in food processor too), eggs, beaten, grated mozzarella cheese, grated cheese

romaine lettuce hearts cut into small bite size pieces, red onion, sliced very thin, roma tomatoes, sliced, fresh shredded parmesan cheese, light olive oil, balsamic vinegar, oregano, basil, garlic powder, sweetener, salt, pepper, breadsticks

flour, sugar, fast rising yeast, salt, very warm water, oil, pepperoni, sliced, hard salami, sliced, baked ham, sliced, provolone cheese or 1/2 lb mozzarella cheese, sliced

diced tomatoes, milk, water, tabasco sauce, sugar or 2 tbsp splenda substitute, italian herb seasoning, salt, pepper, parmesan cheese

bread crumbs, olive oil, garlic chopped very fine, chopped parsley, paprika, cherrystone or littleneck clams, scrubbed, fish or chicken broth, lemons, cut into wedges

lemons , juice of, sheets phyllo dough , pasty sheets, mascarpone cheese, room temperature, blue cheese, green onions, flat-leaf italian parsley, blueberries, splenda sugar substitute, egg white

shell macaroni, olive oil, very ripe tomato, seeded, red onion (less if you like ), red pepper, green pepper, seeded, shallot, minced (optional), mayonnaise, soy sauce, vinegar (your choice ), salt & pepper