Caffè Gelato....Coffee gelato ☕

This is very easy to prepare and just as easy to eat. Perfect on a giornata calda!

5 egg yolks
125ml fresh espresso
110 g sugar
500 ml fresh milk
1 tablespoon Tia Maria.

Whisk the egg yolks with half of the sugar together. Whisk until pale and creamy.

Place the milk, espresso and remaining sugar into a saucepan. Bring to the boil.

Pour the milk mixture over the egg mixture and gently whisk to combine.

Now pour this back into the saucepan and cook over low heat until the mixture thickens slightly. Do not allow it to boil.

Once thicker,  pour into ceramic dish and cool over ice. Stir in Tia Maria.

Once freddo pour into a freezer safe container and let the magic happen.

Check on the gelato and gently stir every 30 minuti to break up any ice crystals forming. This will give it a smoother consistency.

Godere,

MamaG xxx

A Little humour....un po 'di umorismo

Fried ricotta with a little tomato salad...ricotta fritta con piccola insalata di pomodori

Ricotta cakes! These little beauties are the perfect piccola snack. They are easy to prepare and even easier to eat! Created by Jamie Oliver, they really are light gnocchi with a crispy, golden crunch! Godere.....

455 g crumbly ricotta cheese (buy from deli, as supermarket ones won't work)

2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan

1 1/2 tablespoons flour

Sea salt & pepper

1 large egg

A large handful grape tomatoes

2 sprigs of fresh basil

1 fresh red chilli

Extra virgin olive oil

Red wine vinegar

Nutmeg for serving

Mix the ricotta with the Parmesan, flour, a good pinch of salt and the egg. Seasons with a little pepper and place in fridge. 

Halve the tomatoes, chop the flesh up into small chunks and drain off any excess liquid. Chop the stalks off the fresh basil and tear the leaves up roughly, then add the tomatoes with the chilli. Season with salt & pepper, a good swig of olive oil and then red wine vinegar. 

Put a non stick on a medium heat and add a splash olive oil. Drop a few spoonful of ricotta mix into the pan. Fry the ricotta cakes for a couple of minutes or until golden brown, then carefully turn them over using a palate knife and fry them on the other side for a further minute. 

Serve at once, with a light sprinkling of salt, a little nutmeg and a good spoonful of the chopped tomatoes on the side. Drizzle over some olive oil and grate over some Parmesan! 

Delizioso! 

MamaG xxx

Tuna melt Piadina

This is a family favourite in our house. So light, delicious and so Jamie Oliver. It's brillante! Piadina is originally from Northern Italy, it's toasted flatbread and can be filled with anything delizioso! 

250 g self raising flour

Olive oil

1 small red onion

1 green apple

White wine vinegar

1xtin tuna

30 g cheese 

2 tablespn cream cheese

English/Dijon mustard

Place the flour in a bowl with a pinch  of salt, add 125ml water, mix togther with a fork until it starts to come togther. Then roll out onto a floured surface and knead lightly. Divide into 2 balls and flatten each price to roughly 18cm wide. Put a splash of oil in a warm pan and add one price of flattened dough, rubbing a little oil on top.  Cook for 2-3 mins on each side. 

Meanwhile peel and finely chop the onion and apple. Toss in a large bowl with a splash of vinegar. Drain and add the tuna, grate over the cheese and add the cream cheese. Add mustard to give it a boost! 

Gently slide the pane from the pan and carefully run the knife all the way around the edge turning and gradually cutting towards the middle until you end up with due rounds. Slide the top of the bread off then spread one side with half the filling, pop the top on and push down slightly.

Place it back in the pan to cook for 3-4 minutes on each side or until beautifully melted. Cut into 2 and serve with a insalata di giardino. 

Godere... MamaG xxx

Tagliatelle.... Freshly made

Ciao pasta lovers! Freshly made Tagliatelle is delizioso. Si, you buy great tasty dried pasta with the minimum of fuss! But does it taste as delizioso as freshly made No no No! So get out your rolling pin and lascia fare la pasta!!

100 g flour for fresh pasta (tipo "00")

1 egg

1 pinch salt

1/2 teaspn extra virgin olive oil

Work togther all the ingredients to obtain a smooth dough. 

Let dough rest for 30 minutes.

Roll out dough into a thin sheet, dust with flour and roll it up into a long cylinder. 

Using a sharp knife, cut the cylinder into narrow ribbons and open them up on a dry surface. 

Let them dry for some hours. 

Bring a pot of salted water to the boil, cook your fresh pasta for a few minutes and godere with your favourite sauce. 

MamaG xx

Lemon Sorbet....sorbetto al limone 🍋

This is a delightfully refreshing sorbet to enjoy on a warm primavera day. Easy to make, ready in a few hours and no mess is left in the cucina! Thank you Nigella Lawson.

3 cups lemon juice

1 lemon zest

1 1/2 cups caster sugar 

2 1/4 cups of water

Combine sugar and water (and zest if using) in a pan, bring slowly to the boil, ensuring the sugar has dissolved before it comes to the boil! 

If you stir, do so only while it is not boiling. Boil for five verbale. Set aside to cool.

Once cool, stir in juice, strain and refrigerate until cold. Then Place a lidded container until frozen. Once frozen give it a quick whiz now place in the freezer. 

Freeze for 2-3 hours until set. Your sorbetto is now ready to serve. Garnish with freshly cut fette do limone or mint from your garden. 

Godere...MamaG xxx

Tuscan bread...Pane Toscano

Ciao fellow foodies, get your arms ready we are making bread, the mama Italiana way. Yes we live in an age of purchasing fresh pane from our local panificio bakery but where's the fun or should I say challenge in that! Once you get over the sore arms and place that bundle of work into your ready hot oven, just wait... For the aroma of freshly baked bread...delizioso! Godere ...

3 1/2 cups of bread flour

Plus extra for dusting

7g dried yeast

2tblespn olive oil

1 1/3 cups lukewarm water 

Mix flour, yeast & salt together in a large bowl. 

Make a well in a centre.

Gradually mix the liquid into the farina flour mixture with a round bladed knife. Gather the mixture together with your hands to form a soft dough. 

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Now start kneading! Impastare for 5-7 minutes or until the dough becomes very smooth and elastic. 

Return the dough to a greased bowl and cover with cling wrap, then leave to resto in a warm area of your cucina for about an 1 hour! It should double in size roughly. 

Turn out and gently impastare again for 1 minute or until smooth. 

Preheat the forno to 200 c/400 f. Oil a sheet of baking paper. Shape the dough into an oval shape and transfer onto the prepared paper. Cover with a clean tea towel or oiled cling wrap and leave to rise for 30 minutes. 

Make several slashes in the top of the bread with a sharp knife. Bake in the preheated forno for 30-35 minutes. 

To test the pane is cooked. Turn it overand tap it on the base. If it sounds hollow, it's cotto cooked! 

Leave to cool on a wire rack and godere...

MamaG xx