Showing posts with label ITALIAN AMERICAN. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ITALIAN AMERICAN. Show all posts

Friday, June 14, 2024

Jersey Shore Crab Sauce Recipe


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JERSEY SHORE CRAB SAUCE

 
There are plenty of Maryland Blue Crabs down on the Jersey Shore, as well as plenty of Italian-Americans. The two go together, and this Crab Sauce for pasta is a specialty of Jersey Italians who love seafood, along with their Brooklyn and New York neighbors. They all love it! So will you. 


RECIPE 

12 Hard Shell Blue Crabs 12 tablespoons Olive Oil 12 Cloves Garlic
1 for each Crab, peeled and chopped 1 Small Onion, peeled and chopped fine 
 1 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes 
 1 – 28 oz. can whole San Marzano Tomatoes 1 – 28 oz. can Crushed Tomatoes 
 1- 16 oz. can Tomato Puree 
 ½ teaspoon dry Basil 
 ¼ cup chopped fresh Italian Parsley 
 1 pound Lump Crab-Meat, fresh frozen or canned 
 1 pound imported Italian Spaghetti or Linguine 


 Put olive oil in a large pot and heat to high. 

Place the Crabs in the pot and sauté at high heat for 10 minutes. 

 After browning the crabs, remove from pan and set aside. 

 Put onions in pan and cook on medium heat for 5 minutes. 

 Add the garlic and red pepper to pan and cook on low heat for 3 minutes. 

Add whole tomatoes to pan and cook on high heat for 4 minutes whole stirring with a wooden spoon. Add crushed tomatoes and tomato puree. 

Add the Crabs back to the pot. Cook for 90 minutes on low heat. 

 Remove the crabs from pan and let cool on the side. 

Remove all the meat from the crabs and discard the shells. 

Add crab-meat to sauce with your extra pound of lump crab-meat and simmer on low heat for 10 minutes. 

Cook pasta according to directions on package. 

Drain pasta and put back in the pot it cooked in with 8 tablespoons of reserved pasta cooking water. 

Sprinkle pasta with a little olive oil and mix. 

Add 2 cups of crab sauce and half the parsley to pasta and mix. 

Plate the pasta with sauce on 4 plates in equal portions and top with some more sauce and some parsley. 


 Notes: Do not serve with cheese! Italians never have cheese with Seafood Pasta. This is enough sauce for 2 to 3 pound of pasta, or about 12 portions, so after you make this Pasta with Crab Sauce with 1 pound of pasta, you still have plenty left over for another day.



 


The Finished Sauce

"Yummm" !!!



 
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Pasta with Jersey Shore Crab Sauce





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JERSEY CRAB SHORE SAUCE
and Other Great Recipes
in
SEGRETO ITALIANO

by Daniel Bellino Z





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Thursday, November 10, 2022

Godfather Fans Christmas Gift Ideas

 



The GODFATHER

Mario Puzo

NATIONAL BESTSELLER





The GODFATHER

Mario Puzo’s classic saga of an American crime family that became a global phenomenonnominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read.

A #1 New York Times bestseller in 1969, Mario Puzo’s epic was turned into the incomparable film of the same name, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture. It is the original classic that has been often imitated, but never matched. A tale of family and society, law and order, obedience and rebellion, it reveals the dark passions of human nature played out against a backdrop of the American dream.

With its brilliant and brutal portrayal of the Corleone family, The Godfather burned its way into our national consciousness. This unforgettable saga of crime and corruption, passion and loyalty continues to stand the test of time, as the definitive novel of the Mafia underworld.





The GODFATHER

Don Vito Corleone








SUNDAY SAUCE

alla CLEMENZA

CORLEONE RECIPES

CLEMENZA MOB WAR SUNDAY SAUCE

ITALIAN GRAVY - MEATBALLS

And More ...






The GODFATHER Movie




The GODFATHER

5oth ANNIVERSARY Deluz Edition 







The GODFATHER Trilogy

50 YEARS

COLLECTORS EDITION



Celebrating 50 years, this deluxe limited edition set offers, for the first time in one collection, the essential, definitive saga of the Corleone family, overseen by director Francis Ford Coppola and based on the bestselling novel by Mario Puzo. A global cultural touchstone captivating fans across generations, the enduring cinematic legacy of THE GODFATHER has immeasurably influenced popular culture, and rightfully earned its legacy as one of the greatest in the history of motion pictures. Remastered and restored in 4K UHD with HDR-10 and Dolby Vision, this collection includes Best Picture Academy Award winners for Best Picture THE GODFATHER and THE GODFATHER PART II, alongside the acclaimed conclusion MARIO PUZO’S THE GODFATHER CODA: THE DEATH OF MICHAEL CORLEONE. Includes both the Theatrical and 1991 cuts of THE GODFATHER PART III, as well as a special features Blu-ray featuring all-new content.



AMAZON.com




CLEMENZA



CLEMENZA

The GODFATHER

"DON't FORGET The CANNOLI"


















Monday, August 10, 2020

Homemade Pizza and Dough Recipe





Make Pizza at Home

"Yes You Can" !




PIZZA

    

Italian all over Italy, as well as their Italian-American cousins in America,love to make this tasty homemade pan pizza at home. It’s absolutely delicious, and a lot easier to make than you’d think. This is the basic recipe for a Pizza with Tomato & Mozzarella, and you can add other toppings like; Sausage, Pepperoni, Mushrooms, and / or Sweet Peppers if you like. You can even make some delicious Rosemary Focaccia by eliminating the tomato and mozzarella, and adding fresh Rosemary instead. Once you know how to make this basic pizza, you can do a lot of things with this recipe. so give it a shot. Make it a few times and you’ll become a pro, and a hit at the Friday Night Pizza Party, or anytime at all. Buon Apettio!

Enjoy.




Ingredients for the Dough :

1 packet Dry Yeast (2 ¼ teaspoons)
1 teaspoon Sugar
1 cup Warm Water  (about 110 degrees)
3 cups Bread Flour
2 tespoons Kosher Salt (or Sea Salt)
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil for dough & more for pan

You will need a Food Processor to make this dough.

Place the water, Sugar, and Yeast in a small bowl, stir it a little, then let it rest at room temperature until it starts to foam (about 10 minutes).

If your food processor has a plastic dough hook use that. If it doesn’t, then insert the metal cutting blade onto your processor.

Add the Flour and Salt to the food processor and pulse for 2 seconds.

Add the water / yeast mixture and 1 tablespoon of Olive Oil to the processor.

Turn the processor on and let it run until the dough starts to form a ball, and is pulling away from the processor bowl. Then turn the processor on again, for exactly 30 seconds and stop.

Get a large glass or ceramic bowl and lightly coat the whole inside with some Olive Oil. Place the dough in the bowl and move it around so it gets coated completely with olive oil. If you need it, add a bit more olive oil.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and leave the dough to rise for one hour, in a draft-space. Usually somewhere on the kitchen counter is fine.

After one hour to 1 hour & 15 minutes, your dough should have risen to double its original size. The dough is ready ro roll out and make pizza.

PIZZA TOPPING :

A jar of Italian Passata di Pomodoro (Tomato Sauce)
Olive Oil
Sea Salt
½ pound whole milk Mozzarella Cheese (Polly-O)
¼ cup grated Pecorino Cheese
8 Basil Leaves, torn by hand

Note : Passata di Pomodro is puree of Italian Tomatoes, aka Tomato Sauce. I recommend getting a good quality Italian product like, Mutti, or anything labeled San Marzano for best results.

MAKING THE PIZZA

You will need a half sheet pan (16.5” x 11.5” ) to make the Pizza.

Turn your oven on to 400 degrees.

Place 2 tablespoons of Olive Oil in the sheet-pan, and spread with your fingers so the whole bottom surface of the pan has a thin coat of oil.
Remove your dough from the bowl and place it in the center of the sheet-pan. Pussh the dough down with your hand, and push and stretch the dough until it forms into the size of the pan, and is completely covering the bottom of the pan.

Cover with plastic wrap and let the dough rest inside the pan for 10 minutes.

Take a spoon and spread enough of the tomato passata (tomato sauce) over most of the pizza dough, leaving a half inch around all sides without tomato, as a border that pizzas always have. 

Drizzle a couple tablespoons of Olive Oil over the pizza. Sprinkle a little Salt over the whole pizza. 

Sprinkel the grated Pecorino Romano Cheese evenly over the whole pizza. 

Evenly spread all the torn Basil over the pizza. 

Then evnenly spread shredded mozzarella evenly over the pie. Don’t over do it with the cheese. There should be spots where ther is just tomato and no cheese over it. You don’t want the cheese to completely cover the pied or it will be out of balance.

Place the Pizza in the oven and bake for about 16 to 20 minutes, until the crust looks nicely browned. Serve and enjoy.

Note : Naturally you can add other toppings to this basic tomato pizza, such as Pepperoni, Sausage, or Mushrooms, whatever you like.

You can make tasty basic focaccia by not adding the tomato and cheese as the toppings on the dough. Instead, add a little more olive oil, some extra Kosher or Sea Salt sprinkled on top. Then add some chopped fresh Rosemary on top, throw it in the oven and bake, and you’ll have some tasty Rosemary Foccacia.






RECIPES From My SICILIAN NONNA


CAPONATA - ZUPP -PASTA

ARANCINI (Rice Balls)

And More ... 





Sicilian Pizza 






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Wednesday, July 3, 2019

New Orleans Triple Header on Decatur Street

CentralGrocery

CENTRAL GROCERY

DECATUR STREET

 

"My Decatur Street Triple Header New Orleans" what is it, you ask? It's quite a wonderful thing and one I suggest you do if you find yourself in the fare city of New Orleans, Louisiana. I've been going down there for some time now, and know a thing or two about this, one of America's great cities, and certainly the most unique. As most people know, New Orleans is renowned for its food and restaurants, along with wonderful architecture and of course great music. But, you got to know which restaurants and other eateries are best, and the same goes for the music. 

Now, down to the food and drink, and my Deccatur Street Triple Header. OK, you still want to know, "what the Hell is It?" Well I first discovered that great sandwich, the Muffuletta at Central Grocery, along with the wonderful ritual of Beignets and Cafe Creme (Coffee) at Cafe du Monde on my first trip to the Big Easy with my Brother Michael, way back in 1995. We went to both these places, as well as the 3rd spot in my Triple Header, when we went for dinner at Tujague's after my sister-in-law Eileen won a little money on a Slot Machine on the Paddle Boat Casino that we took a ride on. "Thanks Eileen," we had a great time there at Tujague's, all having their famous Table d' Hote Dinner.

Now back to My Decatur Street Triples Header. First off, the first thing is heading over to the Central Grocery for their World Famous Sandwich, the Muffuletta which was invented there over 100 years ago by the Sicilian immigrant owner Salvatore Lupo. The sandwich is made, first off we start with the bread which the sandwich gets its name from, a large round loaf Sicilian "Muffoletta Bread" is a large flat loaf of bread. The bread is cut in half horizontally, then stuffed with Italian Provolone Cheese, Mortadella, Ham, and Salami and topped with the famous Olive Salad, made with large Green Sicilian Olives, Celery, Roast Peppers, and pickled Vegetables dressed in olive oil and Oregano. The Sandwich is one of the World's Great Culinary Delights and the perfect way to start my cherished Decatur Street Triple Header.

I must warn you that the current owner of Central Grocery who married into the Lupo family is one "Miserable Bastard," who has the personality of a Dead Fish. Just Horrible. Don't worry, the sandwich makes up for it. Order your sandwich, give the miserable bastard the money for the sandwich, don't let his "Horrible Attitude" bother you, get your sandwich, take it to the counter and eat it in delightful Bliss.

 

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My MUFFULETTA

And a Barq's ROOT BEER

CENTRAL GROCERY

READ More About The MUFFULETTA

 

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Cafe Du Monde

Decatur Street

 

BeignetsCafeDuMONDE

Cafe Creme & Beignets

CAFFE du MONDE

NEW ORLEANS

LOUISIANA

 

The next stop on my Triple Header of Decatur Street New Orleans, is to me, one of the greatest places, not just in New Orleans, but of all of Gods Good Earth, "seriously, I Love this place." Why's it so great? Well it's one of those places were everybody and anybody who goes to New Orleans goes here, to do what you do, when you got to the Cafe du Monde, and that's to eat Beignets covered with tons of Powdered Sugar every day 24/7, 365 days a year, "Cafe du Monde never closes." And to go with your tasty fresh fried French Beignets, you get a Cafe Creme chicory coffee, that taste so good. And it's all cheap enough for everyone to partake. This is my # 2 in my New Orleans Triple Header.

 

TujaguesArt

TAJAGUE'S

No. 3 on "My DECATUR STREET TRIPLE HEADER"

NEW ORLEANS

   

Now on to # 3, as we head back down Decatur Street to the oldest restaurant in New Orleans, "Tujague's" and their stand-up bar for a Grasshopper Cocktail. Yes, I said a Grasshopper Cocktail. And you're wondering why a Grasshopper(? Well, the drink was invented right here in 1918 by bartender Philip Guichet. Most people who go to the "Long Bar" at Tujague's have no idea the drink was invented here, and the 3 times I came here and ordered one, and everyone started to ask me what I was drinking, and after I told them, everyone in the bar started ordering Grasshoppers too. "I love doing this."

   

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Having a GRASSHOPPER COCKTAIL

with a Friend at "The LONG BAR"

at TUJAGUE'S

MARDI GRAS

2006

 

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Me & My MUFFULETTA

CENTRAL GROCERY

2009

NEW ORLEANS

LOUISIANA

Thursday, February 16, 2012

ITALIAN AMERICAN ... WHAT IS IT?


There has long been a debate, fights, and Mud-Slinging in regards to Italian and Italian-American
food served in restaurants in New York and the rest of the U.S.. Culinary Snobs, people who "Think" they know what they are talking about and what not. I can set the record straight, being an
 Italian-American who has been eating Italian and Italian-American food for more than forty years, who has been professional Chef and someone who has eaten all over Italy on some 15 trips to the great peninsular. In addition to studying Italian Food in Italy for some 25 years, I am constantly reading all sorts of articles , cookbooks, and historical facts on this subject, in addition to being one of the countries foremost authorities on Italian Wine.
   Anyway, let me tell you. I myself was once a uninformed Food Snob who badmouthed and was slightly disdainful of unauthentic Italian food being served in restaurants all over the city. That's just in restaurants. Of course I Loved eating Sunday Sauce, Eggplant Parmigiano, and Meatballs that my aunts made at our frequent family get together s. And on the occasions that we weren't at one of the family's homes but in an Italian restaurant in Lodi or Garfield, I usually ordered Chicken  or Veal Parmigiano. Yes I loved it, but these dishes, for me at the time (1985-1993) had their place, and it was not in the kitchen or on the plates of any serious Italian Restaurant in Manhattan.
   Eventually as I learned more of the history of food in New York, Italy, and the World, I realized that there was actually a real true Italian-American Cuisine and that it was completely valid.
  Do you realize that if you think there is not a true valid Italian-American Cuisine, then you also must concede that there is No True French Cuisine, because the origins of what we now know as French food and Cuisine is really Italian. Yes, I said Italian. For the food and cuisine of French was quite primitive and did not begin to form into what we now know as French Food and French Cuisine until Caterina Medici of the Noble Florentine Family of the Medici married the King of France and brought her Florentine Chefs with her to the French Court way back in the 15th Century. So there. Many dishes which most people think of as French in origin, like Duck ala Orange, Bechamel, and others, are really Italian. "So there!"
   Anyway, back to Italian-American food. Food and cuisines are constantly changing and evolving. This is how Florentine Chefs of Italy, went to France with the newly crowned French Queen who was of the Italian Peninsular in one Katherine Medici  and taught the French how to cook. Thus Italians immigrating to the United States in the early 20th Century brought their ingredients and techniques from mother Italy to cook the dishes from their homeland, with some modifications do to financial issues (being poor) and the unavailability of certain ingredients, and started forming what would one day be known as Italian-American  food (Cuisine).




"to be Continued"


Daniel Bellino Zwicke









FRANK SINATRA
ONE of THE GREATEST
ITALIAN AMERICAN'S of ALL