Archive for the ‘Italian’ Category

Bacon and Eggs

Posted by Candace on Monday, April 6th, 2009

I love Pasta Alla Carbonara. It is one of my favorite things to eat when I’m in a good Italian Restaurant. When we were in Rome last year, I had Carbonara almost every day.  I had try all of the different restaurant’s versions! Research purposes, you know??  I’ve noticed many people who make Carbonara add cream and make it almost like an Alfredo. Not me… Eggs and cheese are the only thickening agent I use, along with pasta water. I’ve found that adding a couple egg yolks in addition to the whole eggs makes for a creamier sauce.

Another thing I’ve found (by trial and error) are to toss the egg mixture and hot pasta in a metal bowl instead of the pasta pot. You’re less likely to end up with scrambled egg carbonara, which is not good. I think the pasta is hot enough to cook the eggs, but if you freak out about slightly cooked eggs, do your mixing in the pasta pot.  However, be prepared for bits of completely cooked egg.   Lastly, I add peas, which makes me feel better, like I added a bit of green healthiness to a rich dish. If you don’t like peas, by all means, leave them out.  Also, I cheaped out at the grocery store and bought low sodium bacon instead of the pancetta.  Either one will work, but the pancetta has a better flavor.

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April 6th, 2009 by Candace / Filed under Dinner, Italian / 17 Critiques

A Different Daring Baker

Posted by Candace on Tuesday, March 31st, 2009

This month’s challenge was much different than most of the other challenges. Not only is it savory, it’s an entree. It is “real” Italian lasagne… not the ricotta laden version that most of us are used to.  The March 2009 challenge is hosted by Mary of Beans and Caviar, Melinda of Melbourne Larder and Enza of Io Da Grande. They have chosen Lasagne of Emilia-Romagna from The Splendid Table by Lynne Rossetto Kasper as the challenge.  The recipe is VERY long… you can find it on one of their blogs.  Check out the other Daring Baker’s Lasagne here, and all of my past Daring Baker posts here.
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March 31st, 2009 by Candace / Filed under Daring Bakers, Dinner, Italian / 11 Critiques

Braised Beef Short Ribs

Posted by Candace on Thursday, January 8th, 2009

Another cool blast came through South Florida and I used the opportunity to make braised beef short ribs.  I often order short ribs when I see it on the menu at a good Italian Restaurant, but rarely make them at home.  I love that you can take such a tough inexpensive cut of meat and turn it into such a delicacy.

The smell in the house while these are cooking drove us and the dogs crazy.  I’m going to contact Yankee Candle and see if they will consider adding “Braised Beef Short Ribs” to their collection of scents.  While I’m at it, I think I’ll pitch a new bacon scent.  If Burger King is going to make a meat scented men’s cologne (Flame) then us GOOD food lovers need to band together and demand a more upscale meat fragrance.  Right?

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January 8th, 2009 by Candace / Filed under Beef, Dinner, Italian / 15 Critiques

When the Moon Hits Your Eye

Posted by Candace on Wednesday, October 29th, 2008

Like a Big Pizza Pie….  That’s Amore!

Today you will be seeing homemade Pizza popping up around the blogosphere, as it is the Daring Baker challenge this month.  The recipe came from Rosa’s Yummy yums, one of my favorite blogs that I check regularly.  She chose this Pizza Napoletana from Peter Reinhart’s “The Bread Baker’s Apprentice” which is a book I’ve been considering buying, and now really want.  You can find the recipe on Rosa’s Blog.  The big challenge wasn’t to make the dough, but to learn how to toss the dough, and try to get a photo of yourself doing so.  Check out the other Daring Baker’s pizzas here, and my past Daring Baker Posts here.
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October 29th, 2008 by Candace / Filed under Bakery, Daring Bakers, Italian / 30 Critiques

Eating our Way Through Roma

Posted by Candace on Saturday, September 20th, 2008

As you can see, I’ve put blogging on the back burner… I’m just entirely too busy relaxing and doing the tourist thang.  However, between waking up at noon and eating like a swine, I have found the time to blog about our time in Rome.  Yes, its tough being me… but once we get home, Stephan and I will be working non-stop for several months.

Rome is an amazing city, and the history there is just fascinating.  When you see the Colosseum, which is probably one of the most well known structures in the world, it takes your breath away.  You just sit back and wonder how the hell this was built back circa 70 AD.  The architecture of Rome is simply gorgeous.  Every direction you looked, there is a beautiful sight.  We touched on all of the main tourist spots, Colosseum, Vatican, St Peter’s Basilica, etc… but spent the majority of our time on the side streets, just wandering and drinking in all that is Rome.  Four full days was the perfect amount of time to spend there and see everything we wanted to see.  Also, the weather in September is magnificent in Rome!

One of the totally unexpected moments of our trip was seeing Al Pacino and Robert De Niro at the Rome Red Carpet Premier of Righteous Kill.  The event was held in the theater around the corner from our hotel, and we were fortunate enough to arrive there right before Pacino and De Niro arrived.  What are the odds of seeing two of my favorite actors TOGETHER… in Italy… bliss I tell ya.  I can’t wait to see the movie now!

About the food… Although I did tons of research beforehand, it was difficult to stick to the list of restaurants I had hoped to try.  Unfortunately, when you’re walking around Rome, looking at the amazing sights, you get hungry and it is easy to make the mistake of stopping to eat somewhere that preys on tourists.  This is where you will get a mediocre meal that costs MUCH more than it should.  We found that if we got hungry in a heavily tourist area, it was better to grab a gelato and take time to find a good place to eat.  Perhaps this is not the healthiest alternative, but it sure was yummy!

In choosing restaurants to eat, we were looking for traditional but casual Roman fare, preferably with good prices.  Its easy to find good restaurants that cost an arm and a leg, but my mission was to find some that were actually well priced.  Our best meal was at Antica Boheme, which was just one block from our hotel.  We had an amazing dinner with three courses including wine for about 35 Euros per person.  Trattoria Lilli was a very close second.  Two traditional dishes to try are gnocchi and spaghetti carbonara.  I tried them both… a few times.  It just so happens they are two of my favorite pasta dishes.

Check out some photos we took of food below, and more amazing photos of Rome on Stephan’s blog.

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September 20th, 2008 by Candace / Filed under Italian, Kitchen Gossip, Travel / 10 Critiques
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