MammaMiaRecipes.com

Ingredients
3 cups water
1 1/2 tbsp yeast
1 tbsp salt
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
8-9 cups flour

Toppings
grated cheddar cheese
chopped ham

Directions
Mix all ingredients with exception of toppings into mixing bowl. Let rise for about 30 minutes, depending on your yeast might be longer. Knead and place dough on table and let rise for second 30 minute interval.

Using your rolling pin flatten dough
add ham and cheese to top
roll dough like preparing a cinnamon bun
cut and put on sheet pan
sprinkle cheese on top
let sit for 15 minutes before baking

Bake for 20 minutes until brown at 350 deg F

Variation: substitute ham with spaghetti sauce

Makes about 36 or 3 dozen buns.

Gravy Recipe Ingredients

2 cups turkey juice
1/2 cup flour
1 tbsp beef boullion
pepper and salt

Directions

• in your pot add approximately 2 cups of turkey juice. Stir in about 1/2 cup flour until there are no lumps.
• remove the gravy fat
• add potato or carrot water until gravy consistency is met
• add 1 tbsp beef boullion powder
• pepper and salt to taste

I know what you are thinking…Italians cannot make gravy. Mamma’s gravy recipe is a keeper, which she perfected during the 30 plus years experience running a commercial kitchen !  Mangiare!

Directions

Cut ribs in smaller bite size pieces or about two inches wide
Boil ribs for 15-20 minutes and then remove from water

Add black pepper, seasoning salt, sprinkle with oregano and garlic

Bake in 350 degree F oven for about 1/2 hour
Remove and add your favorite BBQ sauce
Place again in oven at about 200 – 250 degree F for another 30 minutes

Keep in oven on low heat until ready to serve. Mangiare !

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!

36 large fresh dates, pitted
6 oz locally made artisanal blue cheese
2 tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp mulberry syrup (buy at Middle Eastern food stores)
36 whole walnuts, shelled and toasted (optional)

• Preheat oven to 350 deg F
• With a knife, make a slit lengthwise in each pitted date
• Cut the cheese into 36 equal portions
• Stuff cheese into each date. Press in the walnuts
• Pack together closely in a 9 inch x 12 inch baking pan and drizzle with the maple syrup and mulberry syrup
• Bake in oven three to four minutes or until cheese is just starting to soften
• Remove from oven and drizzle the juices in the pan over the dates. Serve immediately on a platter, with napkins

Makes 36 bite-sized servings…Mangiare

Most traditional Italian recipes will vary from one region to another. There are twenty (20) different regions in all and there are provinces within each region which adds up to many different styles and flavors of cooking. This regional variation is what Italy is famous for; it is the local ingredients that give each unique flavor – the spice of life.

Pesto is a great example of how a basic recipe is modified by each region. The basic most famous green pesto comes from the Liguria (northern) area where the fresh basil is crushed into a paste and mixed with olive oil, Parmigiano (cheese) and pine nuts. More currently introduced, the red pesto has sun-dried tomatoes added to the traditional mix in the Cinque Terre area, while the spicy Sicilian variation can contain chilies, cappers, raisins, anchovies, fennel and mint.

The Northern regions’ recipes also tend to use less olive oil, pasta and tomato sauce in favor of more rice, polenta and cheeses for cream sauces. The local recipes seem to express a pride of the unspoiled countryside with the inclusion of local game or wild fowl like rabbit or quail. If it grows well in the area it will likely end up on your plate.

Italian cuisine has two sides, tradition and innovation. Most regional variations take a traditional Italian recipe and add local flavor or develop a new use to create a taste unique to that region. Unlike typical Italian restaurant food found in North America traditional Italian dishes offer much more variety. While you can find the well known offerings of pizza and spaghetti you will find that taking time to sample local recipes worthwhile as it enhances the enjoyment and memories of your experience.

So when considering replicating or creating a traditional Italian recipes in your own kitchen you must take into account the region of Italy that the recipe was developed in and where the ingredients originated. It will still be good but the taste may vary slightly as a result of the chef and the key ingredients.

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.