Saturday, February 26, 2011

Chiacchere Di Carnevale--the Napoli Way

On the menu for family and friends sometime this week you'll probably find Chiacchere, the traditional sugar-dusted fried dough made just for Carnival in Italy.   

There are many names and variations of this festive treat.  Titina and husband Costanzo prefer Napoli style.  It's what they grew up eating on Capri across the bay from the ancient city of Naples. 

Check out the great video Costanzo  found which gives instructions for Chiacchere made the Naples way.

Don't let the Italian instructions up you off.  The recipe is simple, the pictures are easy to follow.

Even if you don't plan to make Chiacchere, this is a great example of mixing and kneading a dough in the same way Capri Flavors Chef Titina makes pasta in her popular Italian cooking classes.  Take a look and learn a new technique. 

Sunday, February 13, 2011

A Favorite Ingredient--Prosciutto

When Chef Titina wants the best from Italy for her popular cooking classes, she shops the Capri Flavors retail store.  Canned tomatoes, aged cheeses and prosciutto--the famous Italian ham-- are ofter on her list. 

Titina uses two kinds of prosciutto in her kitchen:    Prosciutto de Parma, the famous uncooked, air-dried ham from Northern Italy is her choice for antipasto (like the famous Prosciutto and Melon, or Prosciutto and Figs). 
Prosciutto Cotto, a cooked version of this delicacy, is her choice for recipes. 

Here's a link to her favorite brand of Prosciutto Cotto in the Capri Flavors Internet store.  Followed by one of Titina's top cooking class side dishes--Spring Peas with Prosciutto.

http://www.capri-flavors.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10_112&products_id=1341&zenid=ce9ff3c2059092c039e81d60d94f33eb



 Piselli al Prosciutto--Spring Peas with Prosciutto

Ingredients:

1 ½ lb (750 g) fresh or frozen peas

4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 ½ cups (12 oz/350 g) prosciutto, diced; or

pancetta

2 large cloves garlic, finely chopped; or ¼ cup

onion, chopped

1 cup (8 fl oz/250 ml) water & 1 cube beef

bouillon

3 tablespoons parsley, finely chopped

salt and freshly ground black pepper



Sauté the prosciutto in the oil in a large skillet

(frying pan) for 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Let

the oil cool, and then add the peas, garlic, parsley,

and water with the added beef bouillon. Partially

cover and simmer for about 15 minutes. Season

with salt, pepper and chopped parsley.


For more information on Titina's Italian cooking classes for all skill levels, call  919 462-9255
Here's a listing of the menus and dates:

Let's Cook with Titina--Winter 2011


CAPRI Menu

Limoncello (Lemon Liquor )

Ravioli “Sciue’-Sciue’” (Ravioli with Cherry Tomato Sauce )

Aragosta Marinara (Lobster in Red Sauce)

Torta di Capri (Almond and Chocolate Cake)

Mondays: 1/3, 1/31, 2/28, 3/28

Fridays: 1/7, 2/4, 3/4, 4/1



ALBEROBELLO Menu

Orecchiette con Rapini (Orecchiette Pasta with Broccoli Rape)

Pollo Speziato (Chicken in Apple Sauce)

Piselli al Prosciutto (Green Peas with Prosciutto)

Kodi' d' Amore (Love Knots)

Mondays: 1/10, 2/7, 3/7, 4/4

Fridays: 1/14, 2/11, 3/11, 4/8



NAPOLI Menu

Penne “Aum-Aum !” (Pasta with Eggplants)

Maiale al Finocchio (Pork Tenderloin with Fennel)

Pizza Rustica (Pie with Cheese and Salame)

Pastiera Napoletana (Grain and Ricotta Pie)

Mondays: 1/17, 2/14, 3/14, 4/11

Fridays: 1/21, 2/18, 3/18, 4/13



BELLAGIO Menu

Gnocchi delle Langhe (Spinach Gnocchi with Robiola)

Vitello al Vin Santo (Veal with Vin Santo)

Cavolofiore Stufato (Cauliflower with Raisins)

Pere al Vino (Pears and Wine)

Mondays: 1/24, 2/21, 3/21

Fridays: 1/28. 2/25, 3/25







Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Better Salads--Titina Style

Simple and fresh are the rules in Titina's kitchen. She would never use bottled dressings or pre-made flavor mixes.    So if a salad is on the menu, her students learn to dress it with good  extra virgin oil and vinegar--Italian style. 

Dressing fresh greens is a basic cooking skill.  No recipe is required, but the salad should also be dressed and tossed in the SAME ORDER and always right before serving. 

1) Add  olive oil  to washed and dried greens and toss until leaves glisten

2) Toss in sea salt to taste

3) Add fresh ground pepper

4) Finish with a light splash of vinegar.  Villa Vittora White Balsamic and Vesuvto Vinegar are two popular options sold in the Capri Flavors retail store.   

Fresh citrus, which is in season now, can also be used with or instead of the vinegar.  If Titina has a lot lemons, left over from Lemoncello for example, she will use them to dress salads and make lemon sorbet

Another use for seasonal citrus--add peeled orange rounds  (and their juice) to a combination of  fresh greens, sliced grape tomatoes and  red onions.  Bright colors and flavors for a winter's day. 

For more on Titina's winter cooking classes,  check the menus and dates below.  Along with the dishes listed, each class also includes an appetizer, drinks and sometimes a salad.

CAPRI Menu


Limoncello (Lemon Liquor )

Ravioli “Sciue’-Sciue’” (Ravioli with Cherry Tomato Sauce )

Aragosta Marinara (Lobster in Red Sauce)

Torta di Capri (Almond and Chocolate Cake)

Mondays: 1/3, 1/31, 2/28, 3/28

Fridays: 1/7, 2/4, 3/4, 4/1





ALBEROBELLO Menu

Orecchiette con Rapini (Orecchiette Pasta with Broccoli Rape)

Pollo Speziato (Chicken in Apple Sauce)

Piselli al Prosciutto (Green Peas with Prosciutto)

Kodi' d' Amore (Love Knots)

Mondays: 1/10, 2/7, 3/7, 4/4

Fridays: 1/14, 2/11, 3/11, 4/8





NAPOLI Menu

Penne “Aum-Aum !” (Pasta with Eggplants)

Maiale al Finocchio (Pork Tenderloin with Fennel)

Pizza Rustica (Pie with Cheese and Salame)

Pastiera Napoletana (Grain and Ricotta Pie)

Mondays: 1/17, 2/14, 3/14, 4/11

Fridays: 1/21, 2/18, 3/18, 4/13





BELLAGIO Menu

Gnocchi delle Langhe (Spinach Gnocchi with Robiola)

Vitello al Vin Santo (Veal with Vin Santo)

Cavolofiore Stufato (Cauliflower with Raisins)

Pere al Vino (Pears and Wine)

Mondays: 1/24, 2/21, 3/21

Fridays: 1/28. 2/25, 3/25



For more information call 919 462-9255

or enroll online at http://www.capriflavors.com/