I had multiple reasons to pursue an investigation into Fried Zucchini Blossoms. In Italy, beautiful displays of the blossoms are common in summer markets, and it is impossible not to be drawn to them. Then there is tasting them, it is a shock how good they are – delicate for sure, but distinct. It...
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Count me among the millions that wanted to recapture the beauty of Amalfi back home. Including that slice of Amalfi — Torta Caprese (pun intended). A chocolate dessert that just seemed to have just a little bit more flare to it. Made with lots of chocolate and almonds, and usually no flour, it has...
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Count me among the millions who have traveled to the Amalfi Coast, tasted Torta Caprese, and said, “I have to make that when I get home.” Only to be disappointed. It is just not the same. Undoubtedly, some of it is related to the fact that the beautiful views of the Amalfi Coast are...
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One measure of a true southerner is how they want their peaches prepared — simply. They are very aware that a good peach needs little more than a bit of sugar. This includes baked peaches. No additional flavors are required. This peach galette fits these requirements. A little bit of crust, sweeten the peaches,...
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Chanterelle mushrooms can produce an elegant dish. My Salmon Scallops with Chanterelle Sorrel Sauce is such a dish. I created the dish as a variation of one of my favorite dishes — a famous dish with a Michelin three-star heritage. Chanterelles have almost acidic, almost tangy, almost alcohol taste. Sure I love them on...
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Driven to a large degree by the desire to use the best local and seasonal ingredients, Italian cooking is highly regional. I have no doubt that if chanterelles mushrooms were widely available in Italy, Chanterelle Risotto would be a famous dish. These mushrooms are widely found in the wild in the Eastern part of...
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What do Italians know about meatballs, that I don’t? Italians can be passionate about meatballs. They do not contain exotic ingredients, it seems they are easy to make, but then there is passion about what is the right way. It seemed a little rigor was needed here. There it seemed an analysis of how...
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Not every meatball recipe requires tomatoes. In this preparation, a lemon white wine sauce provides the acidic accent instead. It seems a perfect fit for sunny day. Notes on Ingredients Made by combining Lemon with veal, pork, or a combination of the two and finished with a white wine reduction this lighter approach to...
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The Venice bar snack version of Meatballs. These meatballs are smaller and fried, made to snack on while sipping a refreshing glass of wine. Or can be used as a main course for a lighter meal as pictured above with roasted young carrots. Exploration of this sub-topic of Italian polpette reveals that these meatballs...
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Quite a few passionate Italian cooks will get indignant about the mention of spaghetti and meatballs. They insist that is not how meatballs (Polpettes) should be served. So what makes meatballs authentic Italian meatballs? In this recipe, Italian Meatballs in Tomato Sauce, the meatballs are cooked in the tomato sauce. Following the Italian line...
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