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Italian Recipes to Wow Your Friends With

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My good twitter buddy Julie Gilley and I have more than a few things in common. We are both passionate about travel, we love Italy and we love Italian food! We got to twittering about Italian Food a few weeks back and she mentioned that she had a delicious no-fail night of Italian recipes for entertaining- from soup to nuts.

I suggested she come on and let us know about it!

So, heeeeeeeeere's Julie:

One of the many things I love about Italian food is its rustic simplicity and goodness. Many recipes can be made the day before, making them ideal for dinner parties. The next time you want to dazzle your friends with a scrumptious meal, try these deceptively easy dishes:

Antipasti: Bruschette con Cannellini e Olio Nuovo

(Bruschetta with White Beans and Olive Oil)

2 cans cannelloni beans
8 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp chopped sage
Coarsely ground salt and pepper to taste
4 slices country bread

Mix beans, olive oil, garlic, sage, salt and pepper. Warm the beans over low heat. Toast bread slices on a baking sheet in 375°F oven until golden brown. Ladle a generous amount of beans and a bit of the juice on each toast and serve.

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Primi: Bucatini all’Amatriciana

(Spaghetti with Tomatoes, Pancetta, and Chili)

¼ lb pancetta, chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
1 yellow onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
Pinch of dried pepper flakes
2 cans chopped Roma tomatoes
salt to taste
1 lb bucatini or spaghetti
1/3 c grated pecorino romano cheese

In a large saucepan, cook pancetta over medium heat in olive oil until golden brown. Add onion, sauté until tender. Add garlic and chili. Add tomatoes and salt. Bring to a simmer and cook until sauce thickens—about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, boil pasta until al dente. Drain pasta, reserving a ladleful of cooking water. Pour pasta into the saucepan. Stir and toss well. Add cooking water as needed if pasta seems dry. Sprinkle with the cheese and toss again. Serve immediately.

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Secondi: Coniglio con Olive e Pinoli

(Rabbit with Olives and Pine Nuts)

1 rabbit cut into 8 serving pieces **
6 tbsp olive oil
2 of each: onion, celery stalks, carrots, garlic cloves—all chopped
1 tsp each: rosemary, sage, Italian parsley—all finely chopped
2 bay leaves
1 c dry white wine
1 c pine nuts
¾ c brine-cured pitted black olives
Salt and Pepper to taste

In large frying pan over medium heat, warm olive oil. Lay rabbit in single layer and cook until lightly brown on all sides. Transfer meat to plate. Add vegetables and herbs and cook until tender, about 10 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low, return rabbit to pan. Add wine. Cook, stirring, and adding a bit of water if the pan dries out until meat is done, about 1 hour. Add ½ cup water, the pine nuts, and the olives. Stir well. Cook until rabbit has absorbed most of the liquid. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately

** If the idea of eating rabbit makes you squeamish, substitute it with dark meat chicken (thighs and legs).

Julie Gilley
Travel Guide and Planner

www.myfarandaway.com

www.juliegilley.typepad.com

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Holiday Ideas
April 29th, 2009
No I love Rabbit, and its great to find a new recipe using it.
also might try the Amatriciana recipe for dinner tonight.

Leesie
April 29th, 2009
I love how connected I feel when I read your blog and your guest’s posts. My dad raised New Zealand rabbits and was a major supplier to a poultry market in Wyckoff, NJ. Needless to say, my dad was our biggest supplier and oh how I miss that rabbit aroma and taste. We cooked it stovetop in olive oil, garlic and rosmarinus – very simple and delicious.

My Melange
April 29th, 2009
I am not a fan of eating rabbit (had lots of them as pets- so I am sure it it ‘cuz of that) but I am so glad you feel *connected*- that’s what it is all about Leesie!!
xo

My Melange
April 29th, 2009
I hope you do! I love that pasta dish- though I think I will love it so much more in Rome when someone ELSE makes it for me

Leesie
April 30th, 2009
Oh believe me, I can totally relate! I’m raising my dad’s last New Zealand (she’s about 4 years old). She is such a delight and SO much fun to have around.
I guess I am so used to the whole idea of raising the food and eating it too. I come from a family of hunters. My dad always raised rabbits and/or chickens – he even had a pig one year! I try not to think about it and just don’t go there otherwise. When I was a teenager visiting Italy, I watched one of my uncles (and, over the years, my dad) dress a rabbit ( To this day it is a horrifying memory to say the least.
Sorry if I sound corny when I comment on your posts, lol – and I hope you enjoyed the joke I sent ;o) It cracked me up.

jen laceda
May 3rd, 2009
I love recipes!!! Glad I found your blog. I’m vacationing is Paris right now (last day on Monday) but I wish I knew about your site before we came. Anyway, heading to Marrakech and Barcelona soon. Any tips?

My Melange
May 3rd, 2009
Thanks for popping by!! Not other than to have fun- never been to either. Maryam has a great blog, she lives in Marrakesh. Check it out My Marrakesh
Hope you had a great time in Paris!!