03/09/16 Lentils In Tomato Sauce
"The bowls have arrived. They take my breath away. So beautiful! Thank you so much for your above and beyond effort to make our wish come true." Marie and Richard F. (Phoenix, Arizona)
"U mangiari e u mbiviri ti sana, u tristi fatigari ti cunsuma. (Eating and drinking will keep you well, hard work will do you in.) Welcome to another recipe edition from Angela's Organic Oregano Farm!
This week's Italian recipes:
-Lentils In Tomato Sauce
-Artichokes with Cheese
-Baked Scallops
"Buon giorno di nuovo!" "GRAZIE". THANK YOU again for all that you do. It means the world to us! Don't change so people will like you. Be yourself and the right people will love the real you. Enjoy your new recipes.
Thanks again for reading!
Yours Truly,
Angela Reina
2007 organic oregano harvest now available!
News from the Sicilian farm! Angela is proud to announce the availability of her fresh organic oregano in the ground/minced version (in 100, 200 and 300 gram bags). Starting at just 2.50 Euros. But it's only for a limited time!
Angela's oregano's pungent, spicy flavor makes it a perfect match for your tomato sauces, eggplant, seafood and grilled meats. Try sauteing aromatic vegetables in virgin olive oil with garlic and our oregano.
Recipe: Lentils In Tomato Sauce
Lentils In Tomato Sauce
Lenticchie In Umido
Ingredients:
9 oz (250 grams) lentils, soaked in cold water for about 3 hours and drained
18 fl oz (500 ml) passata tomato sauce
1 carrot, chopped
1 celery stalk, chopped
1 oz (25 grams) pancetta, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 oz (25 grams) butter
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 fresh sage leaf, chopped
Salt and pepper
Directions:
Put the lentils into a saucepan.
Add water to cover and bring to a boil.
Lower the heat and simmer for about 1 and 1/2 hours.
Heat the olive oil and butter in a pan.
Add the sage, pancetta, carrot, celery and onion and cook over a low heat, stirring occasionally, for about 5-7 minutes.
Add the tomato passata.
Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Simmer for about 15 minutes.
Drain the lentils and tip into the pan of vegetables.
Mix well and simmer for about 10-12 minutes.
Transfer to a warm serving dish. Serves 4.
That's it!
Recipe: Artichokes with Cheese
Artichokes with Cheese
Carciofi al Formaggio
Ingredients:
1 oz (25 grams) butter, plus extra for greasing
8 globe artichokes, trimmed
8 fl oz (250 ml) milk
3 tablespoons rice flour
5 oz (150 grams) Emmenthal cheese, freshly grated
1 egg, separated
1 fresh thyme sprig, leaves only
Pinch of saffron threads
Pinch of curry powder
Salt
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 180?C (35O?F) Gas Mark 4.
Grease an ovenproof dish with butter.
Parboil the artichokes for about 10 minutes.
Drain well.
Heat the milk to just below the boiling point.
Remove from the heat.
Melt the butter in another saucepan.
Stir in the flour and cook over a low heat, stirring constantly, for about 2-3 minutes until lightly browned.
Gradually stir in the hot milk.
Season with salt.
Add the saffron and curry powder.
Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the Emmenthal cheese, egg yolk and thyme.
Stiffly whisk the egg white in a grease-free bowl
Pour into the sauce.
Fill the artichokes with the sauce.
Arrange the artichokes in the prepared dish.
Bake for 30 minutes.
Remove them from the oven and leave to cool for about 5 minutes before serving. Serves 4.
That's it!
Recipe: Baked Scallops
Baked Scallops
Capesante Al Forno
Ingredients:
12 scallops, shelled
1 garlic clove
juice of 1 lemon, strained
6 fresh basil leaves, chopped
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
Salt and white pepper
Directions:
Scrub the curved half-shells and place in a low oven to keep warm.
Heat the olive oil and garlic in a frying pan.
Add the scallops and cook for about 5 minutes.
Stir and season with salt.
Remove the pan from the heat and place the scallops in the half-shells.
Sprinkle each with 1/2 teaspoon of the cooking juices, a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of pepper.
Sprinkle with the lemon juice and basil and serve. Serves 4.
That's it!
Printer Friendly Version :: Submit Your Thoughts
Delicious and Chewy Almond & Amarena Cookies from Sicily! Italian gourmet almond, fig & pistachio cookies baked and shipped from our little bakery in Italy to you; all natural, fresh, and made to order. Soft and chewy cookies with a crisp outside and tender inside. Your cookies are made exclusively from our own homegrown natural almonds, figs, pistachio, the freshest farm eggs, flour, and sugar.
"Adriana, The cookies have arrived just in time to have a couple with my early afternoon Espresso. The orange flavored are magnificent! My wife's mother is with us for the summer and she says that they are truly wonderful! Thanks again for the great products and superlative service!" Joe S. (South Dennis, Massachusetts)
Only In Italy!
"Only In Italy" is a daily news column that translates & reports on funny but true news items from legitimate Italian news resources in Italy. Each story is slapped with our wild, often ironic, and sometimes rather opinionated comments. And now, for your reading pleasure, a sample of today's edition:
Santa Claus doesn't exist! And as far as godparents are concerned…
Genoa – February 2, 2015 – An elderly priest has set off hysteria and rage among some of his parishioners by telling families gathered for mass that "Santa Claus doesn't exist".
A number of families and children attending a mass in Rapallo walked out in bewilderment when Father Pasquale Limoncini, aged 89, berated in his homily what he called "not exactly sober" Christmas decorations organized by the local town hall two months prior, including the construction of a "Santa Claus house" on the beach of the Ligurian resort.
Fr. Limoncini went on to declare that "Santa Claus doesn't exist" and called for the poverty and humility of the baby Jesus and the Virgin Mary to be taken more into consideration next Christmas.
Absolutely! Grazie, Father Limoncello! It's fun to see this issue still itching you 2 months after the holiday season ended. And it's a good thing no one mentioned Mrs. Claus and her unsaintly upbringing. Maybe she will come up during a sermon for Lent Season when the Father goes off again about that mangy Easter rabbit.While we're at…as good Catholics, we feel there is another important issue that should be addressed with our readers: Godparents!Godparent qualifications (baptisms): A godparent can be anyone 16 years or older, and even appointed by a parish priest.- See how you can avoid family arguments over the choosing which can last up to the child's first communion? Just ask any cousin who's at least a junior in high school and it's done!- However, make sure the teen instructs the child throughout life on Christian values, duties to the church and guaranteeing that all baptismal vows are kept (preferably on video so that everyone can get a good laugh).– By the way, it's not written anywhere in the Gospel that the godparent must give/receive royalty treatment. And there's no need to bathe the Italian infant in milk before trotting down to the Church. It's just a loaf of bread that lies there and does nothing just like any other baby.Godparent disqualifications: The aforementioned teen could be disqualified for the following motives:– He received an official excommunication from the church: The truth will be hard to track down with this one. Google him or ask his high school principal. You might have better luck if he goes to a Catholic high school for they'll never give up an opportunity to reprimand and embarrass a student all in the name of Catholicism.– He's a public sinner: Who isn't!? But in our humble opinion (and we think you'll agree), this should depend on what he was caught doing in public.– He is involved in a mixed marriage AND believes your child has the right to choose his/her own religion: It's safe to assume here that this type could never be considered godparent material. Besides, he'll never have the chance to express his cockamamie belief because, as far as your family and relatives are concerned, he and his mixed wife are outcasts.– He believes all religions are equal: "Porco Giuda," all hope is lost. Italians can't be bothered with these converted peace-loving hippies. Cross him off the candidate list and ship him off to Father Limoncello to see what he can do.