Orange Cornmeal Cake

    Today......something sweet!  This cake is delicious and refreshing........a perfect spring or summer dessert!  And, it contains two Italian ingredients you might not expect......olive oil and white wine!  That's right....a little unusual, maybe, but they give this cake a subtle and delicious flavor.  The cornmeal adds a little bit of texture. 
   
    Now, it's pretty well know around here that I have a real sweet tooth, and chocolate is at the very top of my list of indulgences.  That being said, I found this to be a very nice light, not too sweet dessert, totally acceptable to this "chocolate lover".

Homemade Cavatelli with Fresh Favas

    Well, we are  fully into spring, with the official start of summer just two weeks away.  The kids have finished the school year, so they're on "lazy" time already.  The garden is planted and I have several other projects waiting in the wings to be completed.  It seems that everywhere I turn there's something else that needs my attention......or someone's attention.  And......since I seem to be the one so acutely aware of all of these lovely "projects", I feel compelled to think about them constantly. when I have a little free time. :)  Sorry, I digress.....

     When I think of spring I also think of certain foods..........fava beans being one of them.  It's another  thing that reminds me of my Italian gramma and her large, thriving garden.  So, when springtime comes I start thinking about favas and where I can acquire some.  (Maybe I'll try to grow my own next year.) As usual, I'm the lone little Italian lady regularly asking my local supermarket to order all sorts of things (like favas) that, apparently, no one wants but me. 

Pepperoni-Mozzarella Pull Apart Bread

    Pizza.........one of humanity's great inventions!  And pepperoni pizza.......one of my kids' favorites!  So, when I saw this recipe on Facebook awhile ago, I knew I had to give it a try!   Balls of pizza dough dipped in a flavored oil, layered with lots of mozzarella and pepperoni and served with pizza sauce for dipping......really??  Did I have a choice?  This recipe has been calling to me for a few weeks now and finally  made it onto the table, or should I say, the t.v. trays in the living room. (We enjoyed it during a recent "movie night".)  It's really delicious.........filled with salty, cheesy, garlicky goodness!  And it's fun to eat......just pull off pieces and enjoy!  No fork or knife required!

Rosemary and Currant Biscotti

    This is the time when all good Italians are getting their gardens in order......loosening up the soil and planting the seedlings they've started inside over the previous months.  Well, all good Italians but me, it seems.  I mentioned, in an earlier post, that only time will tell if I've inherited the "gardening gene" or not.  Well.....still yet to be seen, folks.  I'm in the beginning stages of learning and always seem to be a little behind where I would like to be.  I have yet to start my plants from seeds indoors but, instead, make trips to  local nurseries to choose the vegetables I want to transplant into my garden.  Let's face it....life gets pretty busy sometimes.  So, for now, I'm satisfied with getting a little jump start from Lowe's or Home Depot.

    Something else I like to grow, besides vegetables, are herbs, which brings me to today's post.  There's something wonderful about being able to step outside your back door and pick a handful of freshness to add to the evening meal.  Besides using fresh herbs in savory dishes, I also enjoy combining them with things that are sweet.  I just think there's something unusual and a little sophisticated about pairing the two together.  Today's recipe is a good example of that.....Rosemary and Currant Biscotti. 

Prosciutto Wrapped Lamb Burgers

    So, right about now everyone's starting to think about firing up that grill, right?  Well, this little twist on a regular burger would be great for a barbecue!  Pop it into a nice, crusty Italian roll....delicious!!  Now, it's still been a little chilly here, so I cooked my burgers in a pan on top of the stove, but you can bet these will be finding their way onto our grill as the weather warms up!  I like to serve these with a salad of fresh tomatoes, cucumber, onion, and basil with some olive oil, salt and pepper.  And, to make them extra yummy, I drizzle them with some balsamic glaze!

Paccheri al Cardinale

                                                                                  
    I've been told that, as a little girl, I had quite a flare for the "dramatic".  If I would begin to carry on about one thing or another, my mom would give me a little look and say, "Alright Sarah".  Why "Sarah", you ask?  After all, that's not my name.  Well, she was referring to Sarah Bernhardt, who was considered the greatest French actress of the later 19th century and one of the best-known figures in the history of the stage.  She had a reputation as a serious dramatic actress.  Now, even as a child, I knew I wasn't  being complimented.  The real message was "Tone it down a little" or "You're being a little over dramatic".

    Today, as an adult, I still enjoy drama, if done well and love things that have something special or unique about them.  This recipe encompasses all of that.  Although I've made and eaten a lot of pasta, in my day, I've never seen any pasta dish done this way before.  Pasta is tossed with a basic tomato sauce, several cheeses, and fresh basil.  Then it's covered with a layer of parchment paper and baked in the oven.  When it comes out, the parchment is cut open and the pasta is served with dollops of fresh ricotta....YUM!

YAY for Printable Recipes!!

    Hey there!  Well, today I finally accomplished something that I've been thinking about for quite awhile now.  Although I usually like to show step-by-step photos with my recipes, I realize, if someone wants to print the recipe, it can be a little troublesome.  Pictures use a lot of ink, after all.

    Just the other day I received a comment after my Eggplant Parmesan Stacks post.  The person loved the recipe but wanted to know if there was a way to copy it without all of the pictures.  Well, that was just the little "push" I needed to get moving and find out how to do it.  So......to Google I would go.  I google everything I don't know about, folks!  And that's a lot of googling!

    Anyway, I came across a site called Confessions of an Overworked Mom which had step-by-step instructions on how to make your blog posts printable.  JACKPOT!!  I immediately printed out the instructions and got to work.  By the way, you should check out the site.  She has lots of tips, tricks, and ideas on several topics like beauty, crafts, food, etc.  Tell her I sent you!

    So, from now on, my plan is to provide printable versions of all of the recipes.  You'll be able to enjoy the pictures (You do enjoy the pictures, right?), but you won't have to print them all out along with the text.  Hopefully this will make trying these recipes a little easier, and it will definitely eliminate the need for you to buy stock in Hewlett Packard!

    Also, my intent is to go back and create printable versions of all of the previous recipes.  That being said, it is a bit of a "process", so I imagine that will take some time.  Be patient with me and I'll get to those as time allows.  What is that old saying?  "All good things come to those who wait"?  If there's a recipe that you simply cannot wait to try and must have it printed out , you can leave me a comment after the specific recipe post and I'll do my best to make it a priority. 

    Thanks for visiting my blog!  I hope you're enjoying the recipes and, by the way, if you'd like to "Follow" The Italian Next Door  just enter your email address in the space in the upper right corner of this page, click on "submit", and follow all of the instructions.  Remember to click on the link in the initial e-mail you're sent to confirm your "subscription".  Each time I publish a new post, you'll be sent a notice so you won't miss any recipes!  OR, if you'd rather, you can follow me on Facebook.  Just go to The Italian Next Door facebook page and "like" it.  Every time I share a new recipe, the link should show up on your news feed.

    Have a great day everyone!  And Happy Spring!!