THE DEVIL'S CHICKEN (POLLO AL DIAVOLO) AND SAFFRON RISOTTO

TONIGHT I WENT DEEP. THIS WAS A THREE DINGER. I'VE BEEN WANTING TO MAKE THIS DISH SINCE THE END OF SUMMER. I COULDN'T WAIT ANY LONGER. THIS WAS MY FIRST TIME COOKING A WHOLE CHICKEN. IT WAS ALMOST LIKE COOKING A TURKEY BUT ONE HUNDRED TIMES EASIER. WHAT MADE THIS DISH SO GOOD WAS THE MUSTARD MIXTURE THAT YOU COATED ON THE CHICKEN AFTER IT WAS HALF-COOKED. THE FINISHING TOUCH WAS THE SPICY OIL (OLIO PICCANTE) THAT YOU DRIZZLED ON THE CHICKEN BEFORE SERVING. THE SPICY OIL CONSISTED OF 8 JALAPENOS DICED AND SEEDED, RED PEPPER FLAKES, SPANISH SMOKED PAPRIKA AND 2 CUPS OF OLIVE OIL.
CHICKY ALL TIED UP AND READY FOR THE OVEN.

SAFFRON RISOTTO

THE RISOTTO WAS PHENOMENAL!

CHICKEN OUT OF THE OVEN LOOKING GOOD!

CHICKEN WITH TOMATO AND ONION SALAD.
THIS ONE GOES IN THE DO-OVER FILE!!

PANETTONE

I KNOW THE HOLIDAYS WERE HERE AND GONE BUT I WANTED TO MAKE THIS PANETTONE FOR CHRISTMAS. I'M A FEW WEEKS LATE. THE RECIPE CALLED FOR THE USE OF A PANETTONE PAN OR CHARLOTTE PAN. I COULDN'T FIND EITHER AND DIDN'T WANT TO WAIT AND ORDER ONE ONLINE, SO I USED A PANETTONE PAPER MOLD.PANETTONE COOLING WAITING FOR ME TO TAKE A PIECE!

READY TO BITE!!!


THE RECIPE WAS VERY TRADITIONAL AND IT WAS MORE OF A CAKE THAN A BREAD. I USED DRIED CRANBERRIES INSTEAD OF CURRANTS. I ALSO SPLIT THE RECIPE IN HALF AND ADDED CHOCOLATE CHIPS TO ONE OF THEM. THIS GOES IN THE DO-OVER FILE!

CHICKEN THIGHS WITH SAFFRON, GREEN OLIVES AND MINT. RISOTTO WITH BAROLO.

IT'S THE NEW YEAR AND WE'RE READY TO GO. I'VE STILL BEEN COOKING, JUST A LITTLE SLOW POSTING MY BLOGS. HERE IS "POLLO ALLO ZAFFERANO".

CHICKEN THIGHS BEING BROWNED IN OLIVE OIL. I DREDGED THEM IN FLOUR WITH SALT AND PEPPER.
AFTER BROWNING THE CHICKEN IT WAS REMOVED AND THE ONIONS AND SAFFRON WERE ADDED TO THE POT.

YOU THEN ADDED THE OLIVES, CARROTS AND CHICKEN STOCK. BRING IT TO A BOIL AND ADD THE CHICKEN BACK TO THE POT. COVER AND SIMMER.

MY SOUS CHEF (KAREN) MADE THE RISOTTO. IT CONSISTED OF ARBORIO RICE, ONIONS, RED WINE, CHICKEN STOCK, BUTTER AND PARMIGIANO-REGGIANO CHEESE. VERY EASY TO MAKE AND THE TASTE WAS FANTASTIC!!

"POLLO ALLO ZAFFERANO"

BRAISED VEAL ROLLS IN TOMATO SAUCE AND RICOTTA GNOCCHI WITH SAUSAGE AND FENNEL

WE ARE GOING TO START AT THE END ON THIS BLOG. WE INVITED NICK AND PATTY OVER FOR DINNER. PATTY MADE HER INFAMOUS HARVEY WALLBANBER BUNDT CAKE. IT WAS MOIST AND DELICIOUS!!!PATTY'S HARVEY WALLBANGER

YOU ALWAYS WORRY WHEN YOU MAKE SOMETHING YOU'VE NEVER MADE BEFORE WHEN YOU HAVE FRIENDS COMING OVER FOR DINNER. THIS RECIPE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF WORK , BUT IT TURNED OUT PRETTY GOOD. THE RECIPE INCLUDED FENNEL SEEDS AND FRESHLY GRATED NUTMEG, WHICH I LIKE VERY MUCH.
RICOTTA GNOCCHI


I'VE DECIDED THAT I LOVE VEAL. I NEVER ATE VEAL UNTIL I STARTED ON MY ADVENTURE. THIS RECIPE HAD ALOT OF INGREDIENTS, HOWEVER IT WAS EASY TO MAKE. THE RECIPE INCLUDED DRIED CURRANTS, PINE NUTS, PROSCIUTTO DI PARMA, PANCETTA AND PARSLEY. WHEN YOU TASTED IT , IT MELTED IN YOUR MOUTH. A DEFINITE DO-OVER!!!!!!

BRAISED VEAL ROLLS

BRAISED VEAL ROLLS BROWNING IN OLIVE OIL

BAKED ZITI (ZITI AL TELEFONO)

I MADE THIS FOR THE KIDS ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON. THIS RECIPE HAD THE BASIC TOMATO SAUCE, (ON PAGE 71 OF MARIO'S BOOK) AND THE BESCIAMELLA SAUCE, (ON PAGE 65). I CAN DO BOTH OF THESE SAUCES WITH MY EYES CLOSED. THE KIDS LOVED IT. BAKED ZITI

STUFFED RICE BALLS ROMAN-STYLE

THESE WERE FANTASTIC! I MADE THESE ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON. KAREN AND BECCA WERE IN L.A. FOR THE DAY NICK AND HIS BAND WERE PRACTICING AT OUR HOUSE. I HAD TO MAKE MAKE SOMETHING. I HAD ALL THE INGREDIENTS THAT I NEEDED TO MAKE THESE LITTLE BABIES. THE MAIN INGREDIENTS WERE MUSHROOMS, ONION, PROSCIUTTO DI PARMA, ARBORIO RICE, EGGS, ITALIAN PARSLEY FROM OUR GARDEN, MOZZARELLA AND BREAD CRUMBS. I ALWAYS USE FRESH OR DAY OLD BREAD FOR MY BREAD CRUMBS. NEVER USE THEM OUT OF THE BOX AT THE STORE. STUFFED RICE BALLS

CHOCOLATE CAKE FROM ABRUZZO

I KNOW IT'S BEEN AWHILE AGAIN. I'VE BEEN COOKING LIKE A MADMAN, BUT I'VE BEEN A LITTLE LAZY POSTING. I MADE THIS CAKE IN JULY FOR MY MOM'S BIRTHDAY. IT WAS EASY TO MAKE BUT IT WAS MORE OF A CAKE THAT YOU WOULD HAVE WITH COFFEE THAN YOU WOULD ON YOUR MOTHER'S BIRTHDAY. I WOULD MAKE IT AGAIN FOR CHRISTMAS OR A RAINY AFTERNOON.