05/07/08 Fettuccine with Shiitake, Peas and Prosciutto from OreganoFromItaly.com
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"Aiutati che Dio ti aiuta." (God helps those who help themselves.) Welcome to another recipe edition from Angela's Organic Oregano Farm!
This week's Italian recipes:
-Spinaci e Peperoni Saltato
-Risotto con Basilico
-Fettuccine con Shiitake, Piselli e Prosciutto
Enjoy the recipes and the complimentary news article report from "Only In Italy.com".
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Yours Truly,
Angela Reina
Recipe: Spinaci e Peperoni Saltato
Spinaci e Peperoni Saltato
Sauteed Spinach and Bell Peppers
Ingredients:
2 yellow (or red) bell peppers
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Six 6-ounce packages baby spinach leaves, trimmed
Directions:
Char peppers over gas flame or in broiler until blackened on all sides.
Enclose in paper bag and let stand 10 minutes.
Peel, seed and cut peppers into matchstick-size strips. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
Melt 1 tablespoon butter in heavy large pot over medium-high heat.
Add roasted peppers and saute until heated through, about 3 minutes. Transfer to medium bowl. Cover to keep warm.
Melt 1 tablespoon butter and 1 and 1/2 tablespoons olive oil in same pot over medium-high heat.
Add half of spinach and cook just until wilted, about 3 minutes.
Transfer spinach to bowl with roasted peppers.
Repeat with remaining 1 tablespoon butter, 1 and 1/2 tablespoons olive oil and spinach.
Toss spinach and peppers to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Serves 8.
That's it!
Recipe: Risotto con Basilico
Risotto con Basilico
Basil Risotto
Ingredients:
2 and 1/2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup packed fresh sage leaves
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (about 1 and 1/2 ounces)
5 and 1/2 cups chicken broth (44 fluid ounces)
2 medium onions
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 and 1/2 cups Arborio rice (about 10 and 1/2 ounces)
1/2 cup dry white wine
Directions:
In a food processor mince basil and sage with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.
In a saucepan bring broth to a simmer and keep at a bare simmer.
Finely chop onions.
In a 4 to 5-quart heavy kettle cook onions in 1/4 cup olive oil, covered, over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until soft but not browned, about 10 minutes.
Add rice and cook, uncovered, over low heat, stirring, 10 minutes.
Increase heat to moderate and add wine.
Cook mixture, stirring constantly, until wine is absorbed.
Stir in 1 cup simmering broth and cook at a strong simmer, stirring constantly, until broth is absorbed.
Continue adding broth, about 1/2 cup at a time, and cooking mixture at a strong simmer, stirring constantly and letting each addition be absorbed before adding the next, until rice is tender and creamy-looking but still 'al dente', about 18 minutes total. (There may be broth left over.)
Remove kettle from heat and stir in herb mixture, remaining tablespoon olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste.
Serve risotto immediately. Serves 6 as a first course or 4 as a main course.
That's it!
Recipe: Fettuccine con Shiitake, Piselli e Prosciutto
Fettuccine con Shiitake, Piselli e Prosciutto
Fettuccine with Shiitake, Peas and Prosciutto
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons butter
6 green onions, thinly sliced
1/4 cup minced shallots
1 pound fresh shiitake mushrooms, stemmed, caps sliced
1/2 cup dry white wine
8 ounces fresh peas, shelled, or 1 and 3/4 cups frozen peas, thawed
1/2 cup whipping cream
1 pound fettuccine pasta
3 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto, cut into thin strips
Chopped Italian parsley
Directions:
Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add green onions and shallots and saute until onions soften, about 2 minutes.
Add mushrooms and wine.
Cover skillet and cook until mushrooms are tender, stirring occasionally, about 6 minutes.
Reduce heat to medium-low.
Add peas and cream; simmer until peas are tender, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Meanwhile, cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite. Drain well.
Return pasta to same pot.
Mix in mushroom sauce and prosciutto; season with salt and pepper.
Transfer to large bowl; sprinkle with parsley and serve. Serves 6.
That's it!
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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:
James Bond Stunt Driver Drives Car Into Lake; Fined
Lake Garda – April 23, 2008 – The man behind the wheel of James Bond's Aston Martin has been fined £400 for dangerous driving after he drove the car into a lake during filming.
British engineer Fraser Dunn, 29, was left shaken and more than a little stirred after the 134,000 GB pound Aston Martin DBS slid off the road and plunged into Lake Garda in northern Italy, where filming is taking place on the new Bond movie Quantum of Solace.
He was knocked out, but regained consciousness still in the car at a depth of 150 feet and managed to swim to the surface.
Now local police have said he has been given a mandatory fine for dangerous driving.
Local police chief Marco Zucchelli said: "This is a standard fine for dangerous driving because the driver lost control of the car."
Dunn, who is from Leamington Spa, was left with just minor injuries after the accident.
"I was very, very lucky," he said. "I do feel lucky to be alive because I was knocked out by the force of the impact and when I came to the car was at the bottom of the lake. I have been told it was 150 feet down.
"The whole thing was a bit James Bond like. I just kicked out of the car and swam to the surface – my lungs felt as if they were going to explode and my chest still hurts now.
"Apart from a few bruises, though, I am fine. It's actually very embarrassing and I'd like to try and forget the whole thing."
Italy…the world has had enough."My name is Bond, James Bond."
"Vaffanculo, Mr. Bond."Local police chief Marco Zucchelli said: "This is a standard fine for dangerous driving because the driver lost control of the car." How could police chief "M", promoted to the top of his incapacity, actually think it was the stunt driver's intention to recklessly drive an expensive car into the lake?"Cazzo", Goldfinger would have been more sympathetic!Then you're forced to go down to the labyrinths of the police station where you attempt to battle the evil forces of Italian bureaucracy. There you'll find the lethargic and indifferent eggplant version of Miss Moneypenny explaining to you that you should consider yourself lucky you were not fined for not wearing a seatbelt and failing to signal the right turn into the lake."Do you expect me to sign autographs?"
"No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to pay!"