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Italian Knot Cookies or Anginetti Cookies

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You may shape these cookies as a knot, make them round, circular or even change the sprinkle color to make it more FESTIVE -any way YUMMY! Ingredients: 3 cups flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 4 tablespoons butter, room temperature 1/2 cup sugar 3 large eggs 2 tablespoons lemon juice 2 tablespoons lemon zest 1-2 tablespoons of lemon extract Icing: 1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar 4 to 5 tablespoons milk or half-and-half 1 teaspoon almond extract Colored sprinkles To make the cookies: In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the lemon juice and zest. Gradually add the flour mixture, beating well to combine. The dough will be soft. Wrap the dough in wax paper and refrigerate for 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 2 baking s

Strufoli or Honey Balls The Other Fried Dough

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My grandmother made these honey balls at Christmas or Easter time. I found this recipe on the internet. I remember she made them in chocolate too -both ways are delicious! Dough 2 1/2 cups of flour 2 eggs 1/2 cup of Crisco 1 tablespoon of sugar zest of 1 lemon 2 tablespoons of Stock Sweet Vermouth 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder Honey Sauce 16 oz of honey zest of 1 orange peel juice of 1/2 an orange (depending on size) Sift the dry ingredients together. Add zest and combine wet ingredients. Some melt the Crisco, I cut it in. Knead the dough about 5 minutes (by hand). Make a long rope from the kneaded dough. Cut little marble size pieces (maybe a little bigger) and cover them with plastic wrap till your ready to fry them. To make the honey sauce, put the honey in a saucepan, add the juice of the orange and the zest on a low flame just enough to warm and infuse the orange's essential oils into the honey. Some str

Venetian Layered Cookies

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Ingredients: 1 can (8 ounces) almond paste (not marzipan) 1-1/2 cups butter, softened 1 cup sugar 4 eggs, separated 1 teaspoon almond extract 2 cups flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 10 drops green food coloring 8 drops red food coloring 1 jar (12 ounces) apricot preserves 5 ounces semisweet chocolate Directions: Preheat oven to 350-degrees . Grease three 13x9x2-inch baking sheets. Line with wax paper; grease paper. Break up the almond paste in a large bowl with a fork. Add butter, sugar, egg yolks, and almond extract. Beat with electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in flour and salt. Beat egg whites in another bowl until stiff peaks form. Fold into almond mixture. Remove 1-1/2 cups batter and spread evenly into one of the prepared baking sheets. Remove another 1-1/2 cups batter and tint with green food coloring. Spread evenly into second prepared sheet. Add red food coloring to remaining 1-1/2 cups batter and spread into third shee

Nonna Gallo's Traditional Meat Lasagna

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Ingredients: 1package of lasagna noodles 1 pound ground beef 3 cups Traditional tomato sauce 2 pounds ricotta cheese 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, grated 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated 2 eggs, lightly beaten 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley Preheat oven to 375 degrees 1/2 cup fresh basil and parsley Directions: Cook lasagna according to the package. Drain and rinse. In a large skillet, break up the ground beef with a fork and saute until no pink remains. Drain the fat from the meat and set aside to cool. In a large bowl, combine the ricotta, mozzarella, 1/2 cup Parmesan, eggs, parsley and basil. In a 13x9-inch baking dish, spread 1/2 cup sauce. Place 4 lasagna noodles lengthwise over the sauce, overlapping the edges. Spread one-third of the ricotta mixture over the noodles, cover with one-fourth sauce. Sprinkle some meat on each layer. Repeat layers 2 more times ending with a layer of noodles. Spread remaining sauce on top and sprinkle wit

Nonna Gallo's Hazel Nut Biscotti

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These cookies are a delicious part of any occasion. You can sprinkle a little powdered sugar or drench them in chocolate. Serve it with tea, coffee, espresso or your favorite cappuccino. Ingredients: This recipe has been scaled down. My Mom usually triples the recipe. 3 cups of flour  ** You may need a little more to get the correct consistency 3 teaspoons baking powder 1 sticks of butter, margarine or vegetable oil 3 teaspoons vanilla extract 1/4  cup of Manhattan (coffee) soda or Cafe liquor 1 cups of sugar 3 eggs **You may use all/ some/one of the following spices: 1/4  teaspoon cinnamon 1/4  teaspoon ground cloves 1/4  teaspoon nutmeg 1 lb. shelled, cleaned & roasted hazel nuts Directions: In a large bowl beat the butter for 30 seconds. Add sugar, baking powder, eggs and vanilla extract, cafe liquor or Manhattan Special or any coffee soda. Add the cinnamon, ground cloves and nutmeg. Beat in as much flour as you can while mixing. Using a wooden spoon s

California Ciopinno

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I found this delicious recipe in "Low Fat Magazine". I was looking for fresh, fun recipes to try. It has a lot of  ingredients but one trip to the store is all you need. It's an impressive dish to serve for the holidays or any time.  Ingredients: 1 large  onion chopped 1 large green bell pepper chopped 1/2 cup sliced celery 2 teaspoons basil leaves crushed  1/3 cup olive oil 1 can 28 ounce Italian style pear or plum tomatoes undrained 2 cups white wine 1 cup water 1 can tomato paste 2/3 cup chopped parsley divided 1 teaspoon salt 1 bay leaf 1 lemon cut into semi circles  1 lb. of any firm white fish-ie: sea bass or halibut cut into 2 to 3inch pieces  12 well scrubbed hard shell clams  8 ounces bay scallops 8 ounces medium to large shrimp shelled and de-veined  Juice of 1/2 of a lemon 1 lb. to 1 1/2 lb. of cooked crab legs, thawed if frozen,cut into 1 to 3 inch pieces and cracked,optional  Directions: In a 6-8 quart sauce pot saute the onion,green pepper ,celery and g

Ravioli with Tomatoes, White Beans & Escarole

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I found this recipe in a food magazine. I made a few changes. It is a quick meal using pantry/freezer ingredients. You can use your favorite beans and your favorite pasta ie: tortellini, or any small pasta. Ingredients: 1  9-ounce package of fresh four cheese ravioli 1 can 0f 15 ounce Great Northern Beans or Navy Beans rinsed and drained   1 can 15 ounce diced tomatoes undrained 1/2 teaspoon dried basil (or fresh 3-4 leaves) 1/2 teaspoon oregano  1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 6 cups of chopped escarole, spinach(frozen is good too) or Swiss chard-green or red  1/2 cup water  1/4 cup Asiago cheese  1-2 cloves of garlic 1/4 cup of olive oil Directions: Cook ravioli according to the package directions. In a large pot add the olive oil and saute the garlic until golden. Add the oregano and red pepper. Add the tomatoes & basil. Add the water. Let it come to a boil. Turn it down to a simmer. Cook for 20 min. Add y