All posts tagged: Italian tradition

Castagnaccio…Chestnut Pie

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We’re well into the season of Autumn showers and new snowflakes falling…an image of everything in the garden sprinkled with a light dusting of icing sugar. Chestnuts are also in season, and although they’re not (of what I can remember in the past) the in thing over in my homeland, chestnuts are the “in” thing here at the moment. I introduced you to our roasting methods here and have had many more Sunday family get together’s  since then, another family favourite is Castagnaccio it’s made from chestnut flour and originates from Tuscany. There are many variations of this recipe, but I found this one and I’m sticking to it! If you haven’t used or tried chestnut flour here’s your change to make a traditional Italian chestnut pie..read on for the recipe…

A Hunting we will go….

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Times passed, imagine getting dressed up like this to go hunting for Sunday’s dinner! The hunting season here is starting soon, the hunters and their dogs have been looking around our area for any signs of rabbit and hare burrows or the beautiful pheasants that they might catch a glimpse of. I dislike immensely the sounds of guns,whistles and hound dogs on a Sunday morning and with that -No further Comment! Why all this?…To explain the meaning behind the dish Chicken Cacciatore… Chicken cacciatore is one of the dishes I remember when I was little, but I can’t remember anyone mentioning this name. After reading the ingredients of this recipe some time ago and making it more than once, and after tasting the flavorsome sauce it all came back in a flash of tingling taste buds. Cacciatore is Italian for “hunter”, and refers to the heavily flavoured sauce that covers the meat. Cacciatore (the original recipe) composed of onions,mushrooms,herbs and chicken or rabbit  and would have been the main dish of the hunters expedition,maybe a …

Wednesdays Word #3

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STUZZICHINI The term stuzzichini is any type of food which can be served in mignon. Hors d’oeuvres consumed in one mouthful, maximum two bite sizes. Served prior to a buffet,party,dinner,or a happy hour after work. “Stuzzicare” refers to a little snack, when we can hold a glass in one hand, and we’re free to pick up an hors d’oeuvre in the other, usually without using a piece of cutlery. When entering a bar,here in Italy, after a certain hour…ordering a drink, stuzzichini are served free of charge. Capturing those taste buds with mouthwatering bites, however you nearly always go back and purchase another plateful. Usually a small plate with a variety of 3 or 4 stuzzichini. It’s all in the preparation,eye-catching,colourful and always tempting.The variety is unlimited and you can have fun creating your own.Stuffed meat rolls,salmon with cream cheese, stuffed capsicum strips,prosciutto stuffed with asparagus cream,zucchini strips with gorgonzola,devils on horseback,angels on horseback,rice balls,puff pastry swirls. The photo below, basil leaves,julienne carrot and fresh mozzarella… …pastry boats filled with tomato and green olives,with fresh …

Whistle Stop Cafè –no fried green tomatoes!

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I’m sure everyone thinks of the Whistle Stop Cafè and Fanny Flagg in her country overalls making famous -  fried green tomatoes. But I’m not frying green tomatoes today instead conserving them under oil. One of my Nonna’s recipes. An image comes to mind of when I was little…helping my Nonna pick green tomatoes ready for conserving under oil…I remember how I use to sit at the farms laminated kitchen table and watch my Nonna prepare jars and jars of green tomatoes.I instantly think of this image every year when the gardens full of tomato bushes with their plentiful supply of juicy plump tomatoes. So sneaking out to grab a few green tomatoes, I’m on the run to get them pickled and undercover before anyone notices…   Recipe: Preserved Green Tomatoes 1 kg of green firm tomatoes 1 cup white vinegar 1 cup of water fine table salt estimated guess 300ml of olive oil depending on jar size. 1 garlic clove oregano and fennel seeds   Slice the green tomatoes into thin slices,layering and salting …