So, Italy is now the default country for the Alphagenarians. Yes, we have now visited thrice. However, it was the third visit, just the other day, that may have been the most interesting for reasons culinary and more. The main purpose was to watch The Godfather film trilogy as several in our group of six had not seen all or some of the three movies. However, as is our want, we decided to feature some wonderful food along with the viewing for our own pleasure. We started eating at 4pm...and finished around 2am or so as we were finishing the final film of the trilogy. Poor Michael...how is it that my heart can go out to a gangster?
In any case, here are some of the highlights of the evening...err, night...10 hour food-a-thon?
Antipasti platter
Plum tomatoes, sliced
Bocconcini, sliced
Avocado, sliced
Basil, chopped and sprinkled on the above
Heavenly olive oil, drizzled on all
Sicilian Caponata
1/2 cup olive oil
2 eggplants, cubed
1 onion diced
1 celery stalk chopped
1 garlic clove
salt and hot pepper flakes.
Fry all together at high heat for 5 minutes.
When softened and goldened, add 3tbs capers, handful of olives and 3tbs pine nuts. Stir.
Add 4tbs of red wine vinegar. Stir and cook for a short while.
Add 1 can of plum tomatoes chopped. Bring to boil, then simmer for 25 or 30minutes.
Alicia also used a food processor to make the consistency more consistent (I can say that, right?!?!).
Rob and I got to the point of actually not using the crostini provided as a vehicle for caponata delivery, but instead just heaped it on a plate and used a spoon. I am definitely making this for lunches to take to work in the near future. Looks like an easy multi-tasking dish, too.
I made the Arancine (or risotto balls) that we made our on first official visit to Italy, and they were very tasty!
More to follow on the dinner and dessert. We had a ravioli course, a spaghetti course, a salad course (Italians eat their salad after the entree - don't worry this is still chronologically organized!) and dessert.
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