Thanksgiving dinner that my family enjoys yearly.
Lot of time and work, but simply worth it.
Antipasto: Shrimps and stuffed clams
Ravioli with sage and butter |
Ricotta ravioli with sauce |
Stuffed turkey |
A Personal Collection - Home, Garden, Food ...and life
Welcome to my world - a blend of passion, taste, and old-world traditions.
Thanksgiving dinner that my family enjoys yearly.
Lot of time and work, but simply worth it.
Antipasto: Shrimps and stuffed clams
Ravioli with sage and butter |
Ricotta ravioli with sauce |
Stuffed turkey |
Romano beans, also known as flat beans, are like the cool cousins of green beans. Inside, you’ll find small, juicy beans that are both crisp and sweet. These Italian-born beans thrive during the summer months, stretching from June through September.
Flat green beans with grilled tuna |
Rigatoni with eggplant is a delicious pasta dish.
The eggplants I use are Japanese or Chinese eggplants. I use this kind of eggplants because they get very soft and creamy when cooked and have an almost melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Japanese eggplants from our vegetable garden |
Sauce with fresh tomatoes |
Directions:
Wash and cut the eggplant into 1 inch or so cubes.
Eggplants cut into cubes |
When it shimmers, add the eggplant and sauté until soft. Drain and set aside.
Heat the pan again and add the remaining olive oil.
Add the chopped onion and cook until golden.
Add the tomatoes, salt and black pepper. Add basil leaves and parsley.
Cook for one-half hour, stirring often.
Start heating up the water for pasta.
Add the eggplant in the sauce pan and cook for few minutes.
Cook the pasta, drain, reserving a cup of the water just in case sauce seems too thick.
Place the pasta into a plate, add the sauce on top of the pasta.
Sprinkle with grated cheese and chopped parsley for decor.
Snake beans with pasta is a home-made dish with a delicious flavor, very simple and quick to prepare in the months of July and August.
While many cook snake beans stewed with fresh tomatoes, I prefer them with pasta mista and garlic.
Pasta Mista is a type of pasta that combines various pasta shapes.
Snake beans hanging in our vegetable garden |
1 lb. snake beans (cut into 2" pieces)
1/2 lb. pasta mista
1/2 cup olive oil
3 cloves of garlic (minced)
1 tsp. red pepper
Salt and pepper
Cook the Pasta: In the meantime, in another pot of salted water cook the pasta until al dente.
Sauté the Garlic: In a skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant. Add the red pepper.
Combine and Season: In a large dish combine the pasta with the beans and add the garlic sauce. Toss everything together until well combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Serve warm, topped with grated cheese, if desired.
Buon Appetito!
Lamb's head is a traditional delicacy, often associated with the Easter holidays. Although it may seem unusual, its flavor and tenderness can surprise you. It can be cooked braised and oven baked. We prefer the oven baked because it's crispier.
Oven baked lamb's head with potatoes. |
Ready to be baked. |
Being that I make my own pizza dough, I make many varieties of pizza.
This particular pizza is filled with cooked sausages and peppers. Another rolled pizza that we enjoy eating is filled with roasted peppers.
1 pound pizza dough (using my recipe or storebought)
1/2 pound of pork sausages
3 or 4 red bell peppers
1/4 cup of olive oil
Salt and black pepper
Heat oven at 400 degrees. Place a skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of oil and add cut sausages. Cook for 15 minutes then add sliced bell peppers. Add salt and black pepper. Sauté for 10 minutes or until the peppers are slightly wilted. Do not overcook the sausages and peppers because they will still cook in the oven. Remove the skillet and set aside. Drain and discard any remaining oil from the skillet. Remove the mixture from the pan and set aside.
Take a 14-inch round pizza pan. Add a drop of oil and spread throughout the pan. Spread the pizza dough over the pan to about 1/4-inch thick. Add the sausage and peppers,