Rustico ~ a delicious recipe from my town.

Hello Hello!!!

I have been asked to write the recipe of this delicious treat. I have published it on my Recipe Blog... but it's in Italian {here is the LINK, if you are interested}. I'm translating here the recipe in English for all those who would like to try it without using google translate... because who knows what would come out!!! :))

If like me, you use the frozen puff-pastry it will be very simple. Here we go:

INGREDIENTS

• 2 sheets of frozen PUFF-PASTRY

Bechamelle Sauce

• 2 cups of warm MILK
• half stick of BUTTER
• 3 tbsp of FLOUR
• SALT
• PEPPER

extra ingredients for the filling

• a can of PEELED TOMATOES
• 1 cup of FRESH MOZZARELLA
• 1 EGG

1. Thaw the puff-pastry.
2. Prepare the bechamelle sauce:melt the butter in a small pan on medium heat. When melted add the flour. Mix well, always stirring. Add the milk very slowly, always stirring, until it becomes a cream. Add salt and pepper. 
3. Every rustico is formed by 2 discs of puff-pastry (diameter of 5-6 inches), you can also make it square... any shape you like.
4. Put a dollop of bechamelle in the center of the first disc, add 3 chunks of mozzarella and one or two well squeezed can tomatoes. Add a pinch of salt.
5. Beat the egg to use it as a "glue" to attach the two puff-pastry discs together. Brush the edges of the first disc and close the rustico covering the filling with the second disc, pressing well the edges to form kind of a dome on top.
6. Brush the whole surface with the rest of the egg-wash.
7. Use the rest of the puff-pastry and ingredients to make 2 or 3 more rusticos.
8. Bake in pre-heated oven at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.

Well, that's all!!! I hope you like it... and if you make it... please let me know!!!!! :)

 

xoxo,

Fast and Easy Pasta recipe

Hello Friday!!!

Today I just want to show you a very easy and delicious pasta recipe. Italian people, like me, eat pasta everyday. We are never tired of it!! During Lent (period of time preceding Easter), catholic don't eat any meat on Fridays... that's why what I cooked today is a delicious Pasta with Tuna and Capers. There's different variations you can do with it, but I'll show the basic one.

INGREDIENTS:

• your favorite shape of pasta (I used Angel Hair, 'cause they cook faster, and I was hungry!)
• 1 can of Tuna
• a handful of Capers
• salt
• 1 clove of Garlic
• 3 tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Put water in a big pot with 2 handfuls of salt. Wait for the water to boil. Throw the pasta in, stirring once in a while and looking at the time.. please don't over cook it!!! (check the cooking time on the package).

In the meantime, in another small pot, pour the Extra Virgin Olive Oil with the garlic (I mince half clove and put the rest whole, to take it out as soon as it browns), add the tuna (after draining it), the capers and a pinch of salt. Cook for 3-4 minutes.

When the pasta is cooked, drain it and pour it in a serving bowl, add the tuna sauce. You will probably need to add a little extra drizzle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

And that's it!!! Mix and eat right away!! Never let pasta sit there... it needs to be eaten as soon as it's cooked, for a better taste... ;)   Enjoy!!!!

 

Have a great week-end!!!

Love to you all!

 

 

Italian Traditions: Croccante Recipe

Today is August 26th!!! And for somebody like me who grew up in Lecce {in Apulia, South of Italy} this day only means "Town-Fair"! It's the day in which the Catholic Church celebrates St. Oronzo, which is the Patron, protector, of my town {each city in Italy has a different Saint who protects the town}. The Fair starts on the 24th and ends the 26th at night with beautiful fireworks. The city is decorated with lights of all kinds and shapes. When you walk at night through the old streets of the city.. it's just a fantastic experience! There is music playing from some of the hundreds of "bancarelle", the stands selling different items... food, books, jewels, clothes... anything! 

These gorgeous pictures were taken the other night by one of my friends from Lecce.. you can see the Roman Amphitheater and all the lights in the back {and St. Oronzo's statue on top of the column!}. 

And down here..some of the lights.

One of things I miss the most every year is the so called "cupeta" {in my dialect} or "croccante" {in Italian}. It's a delicious treat made entirely of sugar and almonds.

So, this morning I woke up thinking of it... and I decided to make it!! I want my children to taste its deliciousness and to learn about some of my traditions...

I have to say that I never made it before.. but it came out really good and crunchy.. as it should be {the word Croccante means CRUNCHY!}. Here it is!!

If you want to make it you just need:

• 2 cups of sugar 
• 1 splash of water 
• 4 oz. of peeled almonds (I used the slivered ones)

1. Toast the almonds. You can use the oven or you can sautee' them on a non-stick skillet, until golden.
2. Put the almonds on a piece of paper-wax inside a medium metal container (or a pyrex).
3. Melt the sugar with the water in a "thick-base" sauce-pan at a medium-low heat. It will take a few minutes. Just be patient. The sugar will crystallize and then melt in a brownish gluey sauce. 
4. Pour the caramel sauce on top of the almonds RIGHT AWAY covering them completely.
5. Let it cool down.
6. Finally, peel the paper off the croccante and cut in pieces. Enjoy!! and don't break your teeth!!!!! :))

Here's the recipe in pictures:

       

                         

Et Voila'!!

♥

P.S.

This post is linked to the beautiful blog Create.Craft.Love. 

Please go check out some other great blogs participating in this Party!

:)

Date Night ♥

I hope everybody had a great Valentine's Day... I know I did!! Instead of going to a fancy restaurant that we cannot afford, my husband {being a great cook} decided to cook for me last night!! We had a "Date-Night" at home.

I had the kids eat their dinner while watching a movie {it never happens, so it was special for them}.. I have made them a pizza shaped as a heart!! It came out really good.. ;)

And while they were eating and having fun... my husband cooked a delicious meal for the 2 of us! 

• Bruschetta (pron. BROO-SKE-TTA)
• N.Y strip Steak with Porcini Mushroom sauce
• Creamy Polenta
• Sauté Spinach
• Strawberry pastry with strawberry ice-cream
• Glass of Spumante ♥

I enjoyed every bite!! :)