Italian food, travel & lifestyle
Sometimes a few kind words from an old friend can really validate the work you do. Several weeks ago while on the east coast this is exactly what happened to me. My friend, evidently an avid follower of La Bella Sorella, enthusiastically recalled many of the recipes I have been sharing for the past two years. Her only request – more fig dishes and this is how Cornish Hens with Figs came to fruition.
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Summer’s end is often bittersweet for me, a time when I begin to look forward to crisp autumn fruit yet must say good-by to those luscious end of summer berries and stone fruits; fresh figs are a favorite and certainly fall into that end of summer category. Fig season seems to come and go suddenly, so I try to incorporate figs into as many dishes as possible – both savory & sweet. Figs Stuffed with Gorgonzola Dolce is a little sputino or appetizer, perfect for sitting outdoors with either Lo Spritz or your favorite Italian wine.
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Isn’t it annoying this time of year when friends are moaning about the abundant zucchini crop and preparing zucchini bread as if it is the only dish worthy of this delicate squash? Of course if you wait until what was a tender young zucchini turns dramatically into a baseball bat sized lethal weapon overnight, the choices may be limited. Young zucchini freshly plucked in the early morning are the vegetable garden’s gift to the home chef. Zucchini Stuffed with Pesto is the perfect accompaniment to grilled or roasted meats & chicken. Summer entertaining should be effortless and boldly feature the flavors that abound – Zucchini Stuffed with Pesto is a shining example of that.
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Eggplant Polpette poorly translated into English as Eggplant “Meatballs” is actually a vegetarian dish. The word polpette commonly refers to meat patties cleverly enhanced with herbs, cheese and bread to extend whatever meat is on hand. Over the years, the word seems to have become synonymous with any type of meatball. Polpette is also used when referring to Italian vegetable based patties; Eggplant Polpette are a standard dish, particularly in the southern regions of Italy. Eggplant makes an excellent base for this type of preparation; once it is cooked, it is easy mashed and combines well with numerous flavoring agents. Oh, did I mention the Eggplant Polpette are fried…and honestly who wouldn’t love crispy fried eggplant morsels of goodness?
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