Italian Christmas

[MadTripper]

I'm planning on doing all italian food for Christmas this year. *Additionally, I'm trying to do nearly everything form scratch. *I expect around 20 guests and this is what I'm planning so far.

2 pans of lasagna - I've started the pasta and I'm working on the mozzerella and ricotta; I'll have to used canned tomatoes for the sauce however next year we should have our own canned.
1 large stroboli ring - pepperoni is purchased as well as veges and ham, cheese will be home made
3 or 4 calzones
Antipasto
cannoli
Possibly spaghetti/fettucine and alfredo/red sauce as well

Anyone think of anything else that should be on the table? *(besides wine)

Tripper

[Naughty_Pines]

I'm coming, what time do we eat?

[MadTripper]

I think I read you are in Colorado. Thats quite a haul so you may want to start next week.

I hope it turns out as good as I'm planning it to be. I've never made cheese so I'm planning on practicing this weekend as long as time permits. I do have some mozzerella in the freezer for backup.

Tripper

[Naughty_Pines]

I'm in So. Cal. but I'm a fast driver. ;D

[Gibbonboy]

Yeah, well I'm closer, and I can smell good lasagna miles away! Seriously, sounds like a great dinner for a family get-together. Just make sure to give yourself time to enjoy the meal with your family and guests, unless of course you'd rather be in the kitchen!

[MadTripper]

Interesting you mention that, time in the kitchen deal. There was an article by Jackie Clay in one of the recent issues that discussed preparation for holiday meals. I pretty much followed it for Turkey Day however it was our first attempt so I still managed to stick in the kitchen. Fortunately, the kitchen is open to the living room so I still stayed in touch.

For the italian meal, I plan on making most everything before hand. Personally, I think lasagna is better on day two. The other pastas only take about 4 minutes to cook when they are homemade so that isn't an issue but the sauces will be done as well.

With 3 kids, I don't really have time to prep on Christmas morning. Too much fun hanging with them.

Tripper

[bookwormom]

:) :)sounds wonderful

[humbug]

Sounds good...I haven't had lasagne in a very long time.

I had an Italian pastry called a lobster tail..kind of like a puff pastry filled with a mixture of ricotta cheese. Have you ever heard of these..Have a recipe?? I would be very happy if I could find a recipe to make these.

[MadTripper]

I hadn't heard of them however does this sound like it?

http://www.recipezaar.com/106012


Let me know as it sounded pretty good to me.

Tripper

[Gibbonboy]

Last year I made a ricotta pie, and my wife's co-workers have made demands for more this year. My grandmother used to make them all the time, I finally looked up the recipe and made one for myself. Very good with a real cappuccino, even though such is anathema in Italy. (cappuccino after dinner)

Here it is, very simple:
1 pint whole-milk ricotta cheese
1 cup white sugar
3 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon lemon juice
salt to taste (maybe a pinch)
3 eggs, separated
1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups milk
1 recipe for two 9-inch pie crusts

1. Place ricotta cheese in strainer. Drain for about 1 hour, or until most of the liquid has been drained.

2. Combine ricotta, sugar, flour, lemon juice, salt, egg yolks, evaporated milk, and milk in a large bowl; mix well.

3. In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until firm (peaks). Fold into batter until smooth. Divide filling into pie crusts.
(I top with a bit of cinnamon or nutmeg at this point, more for the visual than anything else)

4. Bake pies for 15 minutes at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Reduce oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), and bake for an additional 25 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on wire racks. Refrigerate.

[MadTripper]

That sounds pretty good. I have a similar recipe called Easter Pie from a lady I had worked with. She was italian and the recipe made 8 pies. The major difference is it had ham and pineapple in it as well.

Tripper

[humbug]

Mad that looks like what the recipe would be for lobster tails...I don't remember any cinnamon taste though...I will have to give it a try..Thanks

[MadTripper]

I have the sauce cooking down now. *I had to triple the batch to have enough but it is delicious. *I made the pasta last night. *Three batches of angel hair and 2 batches of lasagna. *I didn't have time to make the mozerella and ricotta so that is store bought along with our meats. *I did take a few photos of the pasta and will post them soon.

Tripper

Oh yeah, two loaves of bread are rising as I type.

[Kyhome]

Dang that sounds like a real meal deal. Hope everone had a great visit as it sounds like they had a great meal for sure.

[MadTripper]

I had been wanting to post some pictures of our meal but had been pretty busy. Here are a few:

Pasta hanging to dry:

http://www.madtripper.com/gallery/d/7585-1/Christmas07+042.jpg

http://www.madtripper.com/gallery/d/7587-1/Christmas07+043.jpg

Making sauce:

http://www.madtripper.com/gallery/d/7593-1/Christmas07+046.jpg

http://www.madtripper.com/gallery/d/7595-1/Christmas07+047.jpg

Strombolli:

http://www.madtripper.com/gallery/d/7631-1/Christmas07+067.jpg

http://www.madtripper.com/gallery/d/7638-2/Christmas07+070.jpg

Lasagna:

http://www.madtripper.com/gallery/d/7647-2/Christmas07+073.jpg

Bread:

http://www.madtripper.com/gallery/d/7641-2/Christmas07+071.jpg

This is actually from Turkey day but its the "chef" in action. My wife is just behind me:

http://www.madtripper.com/gallery/d/7491-2/Thanksgiving07+_7_.jpg

Tripper

[Deberosa]

Love the flowered apron! Couldn't get Kurt to wear one of those on a bet!

And what a wonderful meal! I always admire real cooks (unlike my amateur imitation)!

Thank you for the pics!

[AlchemyAcres]

Wow! That looks delicious!
What a bad day to start my 'diet'! LOL

~Martin 8)

[humbug]

Makes you hungry just looking at it doesn't it?

[MadTripper]

Love the flowered apron! *Couldn't get Kurt to wear one of those on a bet!

And what a wonderful meal! *I always admire real cooks (unlike my amateur imitation)!

Thank you for the pics!

That apron is actually Tabasco bottles. Not that I'm above wearing flowers! Glad you all enjoyed the photos. We had some great meals and a ton of work getting things in order but well worth it. I'm not sure what the next attack will be. I've been on a yogurt kick for a while but thats not very exciting.

Tripper

[swampyankee]

Looks like a great job Tripper, congrats. Maybe for your next holiday you can continue your Italian theme. On Christmas eve you can celebrate the vagilia. It is a feast of seven fishes. It's basically a meal including seven fish dishes, your choice, but I suggest you try making fried smelts. They have always been my favorite. ;D good luck

[MadTripper]

Sounds authentic however we don't do a lot of fish in our house. I don't mind it but my wife won't touch it. I was thinking about doing a Mexican/Spanish meal next year. That is probably my favorite cuisine.

Tripper

[FirestarterKY]

Tripper...just getting around to reading all the posts......your dinner was fab, I'm sure..I love italian, my step Dad Geno took us all to NJ to experience the real italian life and I really loved it.
For your next big italian party can I reccomend meatballs???

Lots of beef and veal or sausage, about 4-5 eggs, LOTS of garlic, italian seasonings, but most important is the fresh parsley. Lots of it.
Take about a half loaf of bread and run it under water and then wring it out.
Put that in also.
Combine it all together and let it rest in refr. for a few hours.
Let the tastes marry.
Roll the meat mixture in about 1 1/2" balls and put in a HOT frying pan, so they cook fast and turn them gently until they are golden on all sides. They will be half cooked when you put them in the red sause. The red sause will finish the cooking.
OH a Meat Ball sandwich is SOoooooooo good!
Put the meatball on bread cover with red sause and pram and get napkins!
Italian tradition is usually having bread rising and when we would get hungry Mama Michelini would grab some dough and fry it on the stove, making a mini pizza....she's slap some red sause on and pram cheese, omg!
Always dipping breads in the sause.
What memories!
OH! Also egg plant pram was a main stay.
It is sooooo good!
I miss the italian ice we use to buy on corners.
These are the foods i remember most.
I love cooking different cultures foods also!

We had a cajun Christmas two christmas' ago.
I made a BIG seafood gumbo, everyone liked it.

SO fun!

Take it easy!

[MadTripper]

Thanks for the input on meatballs. I'd like to make some soon.

Tripper