This is a tasty summer treat, appetizer or snack. Bruschetta literally means toasted bread in Italian.

Ingredients
1/2 fresh garden tomato or plum tomato
1 oz Feta cheese, diced
1 tbsp olive oil
1 basil leaf
Salt and Pepper

Serves 1 person

Second time around try adding sweet or white onion, diced and a sprinkle of oregano.

In a bowl, add cheese, tomato and olive oil. Salt and pepper to taste and place on your favorite cracker or bread. Garnish with basil and Mangiare!

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.

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.

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

MUSTAZZOLI (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!!

These 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!!

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

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!!

Ingredients:

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

Cook 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.

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 !!

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

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

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)

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!

This pasta recipe takes a bit of work but if you are having a dinner party and you are wanting to WOW the crowd this Italian recipe will suffice.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lbs Fresh Spinach or 2 (10 oz) packages frozen chopped spinach
2 green onions finely chopped
1 cup parmesan cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 egg
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
36 each Jumbo shells
3 cups Marinara sauce or spaghetti sauce
8 ounces sweet Italian sausage (this item can be left out if wish to have without meat)

Directions:

• Place fresh spinach in large saucepan, cover and cook over moderate heat until wilted. About 4-5 minutes. Drain and cool. When cool squeeze dry and chop fine.
• With a large skillet on moderate heat cook the 8 ounces of Italian sausage (remove casings first), until brown or about 5 minutes. To reduce grease use a slotted spoon to place the meat onto a plate with paper towel. Cool and chop fine.
• Using same skillet saute 1 small finely chopped onion, 1 clove garlic (minced). Stir frequently for about 5 minutes.
• Using a large bowl combine onion mixture, sausage, spinach, 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, 1 cup ricotta cheese, 1 egg, 1 tbsp minced parsley, 1/2 tsp oregano, 1/2 tsp black pepper.
• Cook pasta as per package instructions…do not overcook. Drain off about half of the water and refill the pot with cold water. Remove shells and place on kitchen towel.
• Preheat oven 375 deg F.
• Spread tomato sauce over bottom of shallow 2 quart casserole dish. Stuff pasta shells with sausage and spinach mixture and place them on the sauce. Spoon remaining (2 cups) of sauce overall and sprinkle with rest of parmesan cheese (1/2 cup).
• Bake uncovered for 20 minutes or until heated and bubbling

Serves 4

Let Mamma Feed you … Mangia