Ciao a tutti e ben tornati nella mia cucina!
Hello all and welcome back to my kitchen!
This week I’ve been busy preparing for a family double birthday celebration.
Believe it or not, my older daughter Bridget and her husband Rich were born 10 days apart. I host a party for them every year on the Memorial Day weekend, which falls in between their birthdays. And, every year, they tell me to not overdo it but, every year, I don’t listen! I am Italian after all!
Here are a couple of pictures of Bridget as a toddler. She always had a big smile on her cute face and was the most perfect child!
She still is….
Kidding aside, I love to cook, bake and host parties. I grew up that way in Italy where there was always a reason to celebrate: a holiday, a birthday, a new baby, a baptism, a first communion, a confirmation, a wedding, or one of the many Saints’ days that our Catholic Church held holy!
Making a lot of food and eating it with loved ones is the equivalent of ultimate joy for me and most Italians. I’m sure you’re curious to what I made for the party, right? Of course, I’ll share the menu and especially the dishes I got more creative with.
We started with assorted appetizers. I like to use puff pastry to create different cute appetizers.
We also had an antipasto platter (nowadays they call it a charcuterie board, but we Italians have been making antipasto for many centuries!).
I made my famous focaccia, because my grandson absolutely loves it! He can live on that alone, and he knows nonna will make it for him (and no one makes it like nonna, he says ).
I also made my homemade ragù with sausage, braciole (for my son-in-law who loves them) and my melt-in-your-mouth meatballs (for my grandkids).
Everyone in my family prefers cavatelli to any other pasta, so of course, that’s what I made.
Next, I decided to serve Saltimbocca alla Romana.
These are thin cutlets with prosciutto and sage.
I will post that recipe for you this week. It’s quick, easy and delicious!
As the side, I made red peppers and onions in a balsamic sauce.
And, the cake! Now, with the cake, I have the most freedom.
This year I think I outdid myself! My family was in awe when I brought it out.
I will leave the cake as a fun surprise,
because I plan to make a step by step video of it for you.
Well, it’s time to say Arrivederci.
I hope you enjoy this week’s recipe and will be here next week, as always, in my kitchen!,
Bacioni (big kisses),
Nonna Antoinette
SALTIMBOCCA ALLA ROMANA
Ingredients:
8 thin sliced cutlets, veal, pork or chicken
8 slices of prosciutto
8 large sage leaves
1/2 cup flour, for drenching
5 oz white wine
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp butter
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Begin by assembling one slice of prosciutto over each cutlet.
Place one sage leaf over the prosciutto, and hold in place with a toothpick.
Lightly flour each cutlet but only on the meat side.
Repeat with all.
Place the olive oil and butter in a large sauté pan. When the butter has melted, add the cutlets, prosciutto side down.
Cook on medium heat for a couple of minutes.
Turn cutlets, add salt and pepper to taste and cook until golden.
Add the wine and cover.
Turn heat to low and slowly cook the meat for 5 minutes longer.
Serve saltimbocca hot with the pan juices drizzled over them.
Serves 4 to 6
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