Posts in Cucina conversations
Pomodori gratinati

Here the overall tomato-ness of our tomatoes is intensified and concentrated with a little roasting, the perfect vehicle for the filling, or rather: a delightful mix of sharp-salty Parmesan, spicy assertive garlic, and summery basil, all held together with a little bread and a good bit of tomato for an extra tomato punch.

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Pasta con tonno, pangrattato, e limone

A pasta that is beyond quick to make, requires only a few ingredients, and oh, it's pretty darn good too, extra lemon-y (not for the citrus faint of heart) with bright fresh parsley and lots of tuna, and that bread that's seen better days, the bread you meant to eat with dinner and then didn't?! It gets a second life here, steals the show, spiced up with garlic and hot pepper, sautéed in lots of olive oil until rendered crisp and crunchy and fragrant.

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Cioccolata calda

Meet American hot chocolate’s exotic, wiser, slightly moodier older sister, one who had lived a year abroad in Europe, studied philosophy, and spent lots of time writing, or thinking deep thoughts. Ladies and gentleman, I give you Italy's cioccolata calda, dark and rich and thick enough to drink with a spoon.

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Polpette di melanzane

Pure aperitivo fare, bite-sized and appetizer-like, packed with sharp salty Pecorino, mellow eggplant, and lots of fresh bright parsley, then fried until crisp and deep gold on the outside and cloud-like and pillow-y on the inside. A few of these plus a glass of wine (or, in my case, Prosecco) will get your appetite going guaranteed.

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Pasta con pesce spada e melanzane

Pasta with lots of juicy summer tomatoes, creamy mild eggplant, and substantial, steak-like swordfish, all tied together with a sprinkling of bright fresh parsley. This dish is extremely easy to throw together, and a nice change of pace from the usual spaghetti alle vongole that is so popular here in Italy June-August.

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Saltimbocca alla romana

A super simple recipe for a Roman classic - -Its name literally translates to "jump in your mouth," accurately referring to the fact that the dish is so tasty that your taste buds do a little hop and skip when you eat it: the veal is complemented but not overwhelmed by a slice of salty rich prosciutto, the sage leaf adds a cozy, herb-y note, and the white wine (and subsequent pan sauce) adds another layer of flavor to the whole dish.

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Torta Pasqualina

Italy’s traditional Easter Torta Pasqualina, or rather: a fluffy ricotta filling, mixed with lots of spinach for color and an arguable dose of nutrition (this is basically health food, people) generous helpings of salty rich Parmesan and Pecorino cheese, and, best and prettiest of all, four whole eggs baked right into the top of the pie, bright golden yellow like a circle of miniature suns.

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Frittata di Spaghetti e Asparagi

This frittata di pasta is made with leftover spaghetti, revitalized and reminiscent of carbonara in its eggy-ness, dotted with pockets of gooey scamorza that contrast nicely with the sharp salty bite of the Parmesan cheese. A sprinkling of Springy green asparagus adds a little freshness and color, and the bits of spaghetti on the top become extra crispy and brown, contrasting splendidly with the fluffy frittata interior.

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Torta della Vendemmia

Grapes baked into light and fluffy cake with hints of vanilla and orange that manages to both complement the grapes and let still let them shine. The olive oil here gives the cake a more subtle flavor than your usual simple butter cake, the yogurt keeps the cake moist, and that spoonful of sugar over the top adds a pleasant sugary crust to the top of the cake and makes it almost sparkly.

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