Monday, April 11, 2016

I is for.....Italian Recipes

For many years, my church supported a couple who were working in Italy, and one afternoon after a carry-in meal they shared with us, the wife gave those who were interested a packet of Italian recipes she had collected over the years.  I treasure those simple pages stapled together, though I haven't made all the recipes. Mostly I make the "Italian" bread - however, in Eva's words it is only "the nearest thing without their good flour!"


I was planning to make the Italian bread for this post, but had a busy weekend planned and while I was flipping through the sheets, I found a recipe that I hadn't tried with a note that said, "This is an excellent recipe for church fellowship meals.  Can be made ahead and reheated.  Often flavor actually improves with reheating."  This seemed perfect for me, as we were having a carry-in on Sunday, and I could make it Friday night and reheat it Sunday morning.  So I made Sicilian Meatballs from my Italian recipe pack.  I doubled the recipe -- so I could eat a couple Friday night, and it worked out quite well. Looking forward to making them again.

Gathering the ingredients. 
Checking the recipe.
Meatballs, waiting for the sauce to boil. 
Simmering.
Cooked and ready to eat...or ready to be chilled and await Sunday...

12 comments:

  1. I love Italian food--who doesn't? I have a recipe for Puttanesca that a friend brought back from Naples that is one of the best thing I've ever made.

    Meet My Imaginary Friends
    #AtoZchallenge http://www.kathleenvalentineblog.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That sounds good, I had to look it up, since it is not one of the recipes in my packet and it looks tasty.

      Delete
  2. I absolutely love Italian food, particularly the stuffed pastas from Southern Italy (where the Italian branch of my family came from). Since I've mostly given up dairy, I've found some awesome vegan versions of dishes which ordinarily use cheese.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do dairy most the time, but I have had some vegan dishes and I am surprised at the things you can substitute.

      Delete
  3. Those stapled together recipes sound like a great find for those who love Italian food. I too am a vegan like others who have posted, so I would probably just replace the cheese with vegan cheese, or something else.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Most the recipes in my packet take parmesan cheese, but there are a couple that are vegan without any adaptations - a Refreshing Summer Salad - which I am looking forward to trying once I have fresh tomatoes from my garden this summer and a Fillet Di Pollo, although several of the recipes just have grated parmesan on top, so you could easily skip it.

      Delete
  4. This looks so delicious. I have had the privilege to visit Italy often and I was in Southern Italy last year. They are some of the best cooks I know.

    Shalom,
    Patricia @ EverythingMustChange

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have never been to Italy, maybe someday, it sounds wonderful.

      Delete