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Italian Recipes to Wow Your Friends With

written by robin

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.


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.


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

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