| |
| |
|
Recipes Information |
|
|
|
Sicilys Great Eggplant - Tomato Stew
I ran into a friend yesterday, who tells me that he should be harvesting eggplants from his garden any day now. Of course, this got me thinking about Caponata, the famous Sicilian eggplant and tomato stew. This is a terrific 'contorno', vegetable course, and also a great topping for 'bruschetta', Tuscany's grilled bread. Of course it's one of the quintessential Italian antipasti too. And when you can walk into your own garden and harvest the vegetables to put it together, Caponata becomes all the more magical. Italians have a particular fondness for 'le primizie', the smallest of the first crop of vegetables. So if you have access to a garden-either your own or a friend's-or if you can get to a farm stand, now is the time for you to be thinking about caponata too. The recipe below is excerpted from my first cookbook, "La Cucina dei Poveri." My Grandmother's Caponata When the garden was in full swing during the summer, Noonie (my grandmother) would harvest-well, more accurately, she would direct Pop (my grandfather) to harvest some eggplant, tomatoes, and peppers for this delicious antipasto that she referred to as 'Caponatina. My recollections fail as to how she served it, but I'm betting that it was over a piece of Italian bread that Pop had fried in olive oil. Nowadays, I serve it over bruschetta made from some good Tuscan bread which-I'm happy to report-seems to be turning up more and more frequently at supermarket bakeries. Ingredients:
Preparation: Heat the olive oil in a sauté pan over medium-high heat, then add the garlic. Sauté until the garlic just begins to give off its aroma-perhaps a minute or two. Add the onion and sauté for about five minutes, until it becomes translucent. Add the eggplant and sauté for about five minutes or until it begins to soften, but still has plenty of texture. Add the peppers, olives, and capers and sauté until the peppers become tender. Add the tomatoes and continue cooking to incorporate the tomatoes with the other ingredients and to begin to form a sauce. Add the sugar, spreading it evenly over the pan, then the vinegar, raisins, mint, and red pepper flakes. Stir well to blend all the ingredients, then remove from the heat. Italians typically serve Caponata at room temperature. Serves four to six. About The Author Skip Lombardi is the author of two cookbooks: "La Cucina dei Poveri: Recipes from my Sicilian Grandparents," and "Almost Italian: Recipes from America's Little Italys." He has been a Broadway musician, high-school math teacher, software engineer, and a fledgeling blogger. But he has never let any of those pursuits get in the way of his passion for cooking and eating. Visit his Web site to learn more about his cookbooks. http://www.skiplombardi.com or contact Mr. Lombardi at
MORE RESOURCES:
Recipes - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Do You Know How Many Ways There Are To Eat A Cat Head Biscuit? A time honored Southern tradition, the infamous "Cat Head" biscuit has become as much an icon of southern cooking as fried chicken. Just say the words "Cat Head Biscuits" almost anywhere in the South and you will instantly conjure up memories childhood and of mouthwateringly delicious meals. Vegetarian Diet Tips: Make Your Vegetarian Diet A Balanced Diet! The world has opened eyes to the harmful side-effects of non-veg food like red meat and is now opening arms to Vegetarian Food. A very common myth found among common man is that vegetarian food doesnt provide you with necessary nutrients but a Vegetarian Diet, in no ways, is deprived of necessary nutrients, only if you have a balanced Vegetarian Diet. Serendipity Frozen Hot Chocolate Serendipity frozen hot chocolate is a signature dish at the Serendipity 3, nestled in the heart of the upper east side of New York. The place is a general store and restaurant combined with a coffeehouse and soda fountain and serves the most famous dessert in New York. The Creamy Taste Of Fudge! Fudge is a treat that everyone loves. It doesn't matter if you're young or old, the taste of a smooth, creamy piece of delicious Fudge appeals to everyone. Home Made Ice Cream Recipe for Coffee Can Ice Cream The very best thing about having birthday cake is the ice cream that goes along with it. This delicious home made ice cream recipe can be made with a few simple ingredients and a couple of coffee cans. Crockpot Cooking - Advantages and Disadvantages In my 'un-biased' opinion, the crockpot / slow cookeris one of the most convenient and easy to use appliancesin my kitchen. The time savings features of theslow cooker and the delicious dinners that haveresulted more than offset any minor drawbacks. My Grandmothers Heritage Recipe The whole thing started when my sister-in-law called to say that she needed a special dessert for her Mother's 75th birthday party. "Don't you have a family recipe that would be meaningful as well as delicious. Digging Up Earthnuts (Conopodium Majus) The custom of grubbing for Earthnuts, or Pignuts is as ancient as mankind itself. Although these tasty tubers are beloved of pigs (hence the name) they are a most unusual and rewarding woodland snack and there was a time when they were a popular nibble for country children on their way to and from school. Texas Pecan Treats Come August, there is nowhere I'd rather NOT be than in Texas. Steamy, sultry, and hot, living in Texas in August is like trying to breathe in a tightly-covered pressure cooker. Homemade Cinnamon Rolls from Scratch (in 2 hours or less!) If I've heard it once, I've heard it a dozen times: "Make homemade cinnamon rolls? From scratch? Are you crazy? That takes all day!"Actually, it depends upon the recipe.I have several recipes for homemade cinnamon rolls that do, indeed, take at least all afternoon, if not all day -- scald the milk and let it cool to room temperature (30 minutes); mix the dough and let it raise for an hour (1. Holiday Leftover Ideas The holidays are a time for friends and family and good old-fashioned home cooking. Who can resist the tempting smells coming from the kitchen at this most favorite time of year? Holiday dinners were among my favorite, most memorable meals as a child. Easy-Cheesy Casserole I have always loved mac-n-cheese, and this variation is one of my favorites!1 pound of browned hamburger1 1/2 cups of grated cheddar cheese2 cups cooked macaroni (or egg noodles; I prefer to use egg noodles myself)Parmesan cheese to sprinkle on top1 can cream of mushroom soupCombine hamburger and macaroni (or egg noodles) in a large baking dish.Add cream of mushroom soup and mix well. Toasted Spiced Walnuts You can trust me that I make sure to take care to have as EnergyRich? a vacation as possible (why come back from vacation feeling bloated, a few pounds heavier, experiencing heartburn etc, right?) and wanted to share one of my favorite recipes to help make that happen!First you need to be ready to .. Making Whoopie! Whoopie Pies that is! Other known as "Moon Cakes"Wicked WhoopiesAmy who loves to bake would have never thought to earn a living baking whoopie pies?! It sounds crazy now, she says because no one else has done such a thing. She loves to bake (even now, four million whoopie pies later. Kid Party Food - Without the Stress! Kid party food doesn't have to take hours to prepare or completely blow your budget. When it comes to kids and party food, variety and presentation are the answer. Steamed Bread: Apricot-Date Nut Bread with Caramel Sauce Steamed breads are so versatile. We love the outdoors and are always looking for interesting and different foods that we can cook while camping and steamed breads can be cooked as you lounge around the campfire. The Perfect First Date Meal For The Culinary Illiterate The Microwave Generation of the 1990's has now finished school and stands ready to step forward into the competitive marketplace. It goes without saying that the workplace is a fiercely competitive place but the marketplace most young adults (and, unfortunately, the newly divorced) have the most difficulty with is "formal" dating. Burmese Shrimp Cake Recipe Little pounded shrimp balls seasoned and fried till lightly brown. This dish is quite popular as a finger food and is also a good accompaniment to a variety of dished, like the famous Mohinga - A spicy noodle soup with fish sauce. Limes Limes were originally grown in Asia,introduced by the Arab traders to the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa and then brought to Americas by the Spanish and Portuguese explorers. They are a great source of vitamin C and their zesty flavor refreshes the palate. Whats So Great About Slow Cooking Anyway? As I walked through the grocery store aisles a few weeks ago, I noticed the increase in prepackaged slow cooker meals. I've been using my slow cooker and reaping the rewards for years, so it was no real surprise to me when others started proclaiming the benefits of cooking with a crock pot.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
