Sunday At the Giacomettis

Nothing says Merry Christmas, then a plateful of these wonderful treats.   They look like snow balls.  Once baked, they should be soft and melt away in your mouth.  Texture is everything.  These Buttery treats are ready in no time.  Just takes a few ingredients.  Many of you make these buttery cookies with Pecans due to their abundance and availability in the United States.  Truth be told, you can even make them with strictly, good quality flavoring.  These are made Regionally in Italy and are made with almonds.  I had some Walnuts on hand and that worked out fine.  Whichever way, they will always be finished in a hurry because you just can't eat one.   From Our house to yours, wishing each and every one of you a very, Merry Christmas ! Buon Natale!    Ingredients:  Makes about 20-24 cookies One stick of good quality, unsalted butter A pinch of salt 2/3 cup confectioners sugar plus abou...

Get ready~ These almond cookies will take you back in time for sure! Consistency is everything here. I tested three recipes, with slight variations.  I do not think my grandmother or mother were worried to much about exact amounts.  They just cooked.  My mother said I should have added some Pinoli~ hehe I thought I would keep these Sicilian~ This is a great holiday cookie.  You can make it as large or as small as you like.  My first intention was to prepare a small enough cookie to make my chocolate Truffles.  That did not happen until the third try. (That is a future post).    Make sure your batter is thick and sticky but not runny. If you need to, add more ground almonds.  If you are using almond flour, add some freshly ground almonds as your batter should look more like cormeal rather than flour.  Preheat your oven to bake: 350 degrees.    INGREDIENTS: 5 CUPS OF...

I had my share of Lentils growing up.  They say eating Lentils brings great wealth.   For this recipe, Italian or French lentils are in order.  Lentils from China that are all over the markets just won't do.   You need tiny green lentils from France or tiny brown Lentils from Umbria, Italy.  They are the best kind.  Give two cups of lentils a rinse, then leave them in a bowl with water covering them by two inches.  Italian lentils from Umbria are best as they are smaller and full of flavor.  They also cook faster and do not require soaking overnight.   Wait 30 minutes.  Your bad lentils will float to the top.  You might find an occasional rock floating away on  the top too.  Skim these away and set aside your bowl.  You will even begin to notice your Lentils have expanded some.  Do not worry. In a deep pot, large enough to accommodate your soup, heat 3 tablespoons of olive...

I love Pasta bakes, don't you?   You can get this ready a few hours ahead, dab with butter and keep covered until it's time to go into the oven.  How simple can that be? This recipe serves a good amount.  Make it a one dish meal,  any weekend night. It makes a beautiful impression too if you are having company for a crowd. Ingredients:  One pound of Pasta with a wide center like Rigatoni One pound of assorted, cleaned,  mushrooms.  It's better to brush the dirt off and wipe with a paper towel.  Mushrooms retain lots of natural liquid and shrink when cooking.  Use any combination of mushrooms.  I used  baby Portabella. 2 cups of green peas (blanched) and optional 2 cups of Bechamel (recipe  below) 2 tablespoons chopped white onion several pats of butter  (thin slices (6)) to add to your baking dish. Salt for your pasta water (2 tablespoons) one teaspoon of pepper. One cup plus extra for serving of Parmigian...

This baked pasta is so delicious you will find yourself making excuse's to cook again.  Pasta is pre-cooked for several minutes, drained and added to bowl where bechamel, mozzarella, parmigiano, cooked ham and cut up asparagus are added and mixed.  Poured into baking dish and baked in the oven.  This beautiful dish serves up perfect every time.  The tricky part is the bechamel,  but with a little practice and patience, you can do it too.  A meal in a pasta bowl.  Buon Appetito Ingredients: Preheat your oven at bake 350 degrees One baking dish large enough to acommadate  your assembled ingredients. 1 pound of cooked ham, sliced thick. You should be able to get pieces.  Cube into small pieces and set aside. 1 cup Parmigiana Cheese 8 oz of Mozzarella sliced thin 1 pound of asparagus, trimmed (woodsy bottoms thrown away), blanched in salted water with a pinch of baking soda. *The baking soda will help the asparagus retain i...