Italian Recipes - Mamma Mia

Italian Recipes | Authentic Italian Cooking

Easter Bread - Pane di Pasqua

Posted by: Mamma  :  Category: Italian Bread Recipes

This is a specialty sweet bread that Mamma makes only at Easter time. This sweet bread has a heavier consistency than your typical bread and the finished product has a yellow color tinge to it. The Kids will gobble it up and it will soon become an annual Easter tradition.
easter-bread

Ingredients

7 Eggs (whisk)
7 teaspoons Baking powder
3 cups sugar
Flour (approx 5 cups)
2 cups vegetable oil
1 cup milk
8 ml Salt or 1/2 tbsp
6 eggs (for decorative purposes, twist dough over raw egg)

Directions

  • Beat the 7 eggs well with whisk.
  • Add 3 cups sugar, add 2 cups of vegetable oil, 8 ml salt or little more than 1/2 tbsp salt, 1 cup milk. Whisk well to add more air.
  • Add flour to make a dough consistency (approx 5 cups) and add 7 teaspoon baking powder.
  • Roll and twist the dough in strips, add decorative egg (raw, shell still intact of course), shape as per above image.   Use thinner strip of dough to wrap the egg on the top or for the last layer.

Bake at 300 deg F  for about 35 minutes.

Makes about 6 loaves.

This sweet bread is a treat Mamma gives to all the grand-children each year and it is also known as pane di pasqua in Italian.

Mustazzoli - Honey Bread

Posted by: Mamma  :  Category: Italian Baking, Italian Bread Recipes

This authentic Italian honey bread recipe is from Concetta and it is called Mustazzoli. It is often served at weddings and special events.

concettaMUSTAZZOLI (Concettas’ recipe)

1 medium sized jar of liquid honey
5 eggs
1-1/2 cups water
4 tsp (heaping) baking powder
Flour

Mix in enough flour to absorb the liquids.  Knead to make a firmer dough than bread.   Concetta makes it in the evening, leaves it over night and then cooks it in the morning.  Bake at 325 deg F till firm and brown.

You can use 1/2 jar honey for a smaller batch of Mustazzoli. This will make a few long narrow loaves, but they freeze well.  The more times you make this Italian Honey Bread the better the recipe will turn out so stick with it.  Mangiare!!

Scawaylay - Italian Pastry

Posted by: Mamma  :  Category: Italian Baking, Italian Dessert Recipes

skawaylay21These tasty treats are called Scawaylay and are worth the effort. You  will not find these Italian pastries in any North American Pastry shops or Bakeries so make the effort to perfect them.

Ingredients

4 eggs
4 tbsp olive oil
8 tbsp Sugar
1 tbsp Vanilla extract
2 tsp baking powder

Flour - enough to make a pie dough consistency.

Instructions

In a mixing bowl add eggs, olive oil, sugar, vanilla extract, baking powder and blend together.  Slowly add flour until the consistency is same as pie dough.

Roll pastry with rolling pin until thin. Cut the pastry in strips and then twist.  Deep fry, let cool and coat with honey.  You may find it beneficial to have several plates to move your pastries to during each stage. Let stand and sprinkle with sugar…Mangiare!!

mamma-desserts

Mushrooms - i funghi fritti col formaggio parmigiano

Posted by: Mamma  :  Category: Easy Italian Recipes

This is a very tasty side dish Mamma makes for family dinners. Simple, quick and easy!

mushrooms

Ingredients

  • Bag of Mushrooms - Agaricus Mushrooms like a Portabello
  • Grated Parmesan Cheese
  • Butter

Instructions:  Heat a medium size frying pan, add some butter.  When pan is ready, add sliced mushrooms and cook for approximately 5 minutes.

Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.  Mangiare!!


Boconotti - Jam filled Italian cookie

Posted by: Mamma  :  Category: Italian Baking, Italian Dessert Recipes

bocanotta or cookie molds for jam filled cookieIngredients:

5 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 package Bertolini Lievito Vaniglinato (16 g)
4 cups flour
jam of choice

Directions:

  • Beat eggs, add sugar and vegetable oil and mix until sugar is dissolved
  • add 1 package of Bertolini lievito vaniglinato
  • add flour little at a time until it is a consistency of cookie dough
  • spray cookie molds with non stick spray like Pam
  • stretch dough with fingers into mold
  • add 1/2 tsp of thick jam per mold
  • cover jam with dough and pinch edges
  • brush with eggs
  • place filled molds onto cookie sheet
  • jamfilledcookieCook at 500 deg F for 4-5 minutes. Keep close watch and remove when they are golden brown. These are Italian cookies Mamma style, Mangiare.

    These Italian cookies are typically made at Christmas time and are filled with your favorite jams.

    Rosetta’s Pickled Zucchini

    Posted by: Mamma  :  Category: Easy Italian Recipes, Special Italian Foods

    This is a specialty recipe from our Aunt Rosetta

    1. Cut Zucchini into small pieces. Mix with pickling salt in large bowl. Place a weight on top and let sit for one day or more.
    2. Bring 2 parts water and 1 part vinegar to boil in large pot. Place zucchini in and boil for 2-3 minutes. Drain well and turn onto a cloth to cool.
    3. Steam cauliflower and beans for 4-5 minutes in water. Transfer to vinegar / water for 1-2 minutes. Cool and mix with zucchini.
    4. Allow to cool. Mix with olive oil, garlic and oregano. Press contents into jars. Pour any remaining juice on top. Top with oil.
    5. Place seals in boiling water to heat. Close jars and boil for 5 minutes. Store.

    Enjoy and Mangia !!

    Ultimate Vegetable Salad - insalata di verdura

    Posted by: Mario  :  Category: Italian Salad Recipes

    This is a seriously scrumpous salad … insalata di verdura. Without a doubt a real Italian classic.

    Ultimate Salad

    Ingredients

    Broccoli
    Cauliflower
    Black Olives, pitted (use a quality brand)
    Tomatoes
    Mushrooms, Porcini
    Celery

    Olive Oil - Extra Virgin
    Garlic
    Salt to taste

    After cutting up vegetables into your serving bowl, add pitted olives and crushed garlic cloves. Apply olive oil liberally and salt to taste. Stir frequently and what is great about this salad is you can make it few hours ahead of serving as you will want the olive oil to soak into the vegetables to help accentuate the taste … Mangia

    Fried Italian Bread aka Croustoweele, Pane Frita, Fritto

    Posted by: Mamma  :  Category: Italian Baking, Italian Bread Recipes, Italian Recipes, Special Italian Foods

    There are many types of Italian breads, Ciabatta, Pane carasau, Pane casareccio, Panino, Focaccia, Pane toscano (without salt), Michetta, Rosetta, Ciriola, Pane pugliese, Pane di Altamura, Pane Fritto,  Grissini torinesi, Tigella, Crescentina, Piadina, Pita to name a few. The following is an authentic age old Italian recipe for fried bread Mamma style.

    Ingredients:
    2 cups of warm water
    2 tbsp active dry yeast
    1 tbsp salt
    2 cups of flour

    Vegetable oil (for frying pan)

    making the dough

    cooking the dough

    Directions:

    • Wait for yeast to float on top of the water then add flour
    • Mix till no lumps (not like pancake dough)
    • The dough should stick to your hands and fingers for the consistency to be correct
    • Leave until ready to fry do not touch it!!
    • If the house is hot/warm the dough will rise faster
    • Fill the frying pan ¾ full with vegetable oil and set burner or stove up as high as 8.
    • On the side fill a little bowl with some oil to dip your fingers in so the dough does not stick too badly to your fingers. Remember to frequently oil your fingers and hands to prevent dough from sticking.
    • Pinch a bit of dough, quickly spread it or stretch it then carefully place it into the oil in the pan (see photo).
    • Can cook quickly so do not leave unattended.
    • Flip when underside is golden brown.

    Let cool and enjoy! Mangia!