Beef Involtini - Slow Braised Meat Rolls

February 24, 2011 by Monica in Beef, Cookbooks, Family Cookbook, Main Courses, Meat, Savory

For the past 11 days I have been fighting a cold. I experience every single symptom that every cold medicine list on their packaging. I don’t think I ever had a cold hit me this hard or overstayed it’s welcome - EVER!. I had been, simply put – MISERABLE. And like anyone, when you are sick, the last thing you want to do is cook or be around food - at least that is the case with me. On top of all that I’m in the middle of interviewing for a new job, which has taken over my mental state.

Tomorrow I will be going in for my third interview with this company and I’m about to crack – No joke. To have something that you want so very bad right there for you to take, but still beyond your reach, because other people are making the final decision - well, it’s sucks the big one. I can honestly say that I comprehend what Top Chef contestant go thru doing everything in the power to reach their dream and still not have full control of the final outcome.

So, I know that I have neglected Sweetbites this past week. But, hopefully this weekend I will be back in full swing and cook up a storm, and then you all be sending me emails to stop posting so much. Just you watch.

But what I do have is a recipe that I made over a month ago, and just remember that it has been sitting on my DRAFT box all this time.

GCC: Menu 21 - Mushroom Risotto

February 20, 2011 by Monica in Cooking Club, Dinner, Gutsy Cooks Club, Main Courses

This weeks gutsy cook choice was a favorite of mine – Risotto, in this case with mushrooms.

Most people fear risotto, they think that its complicated and risky. Requiring constant, slow stirring, attention to detail and patience. With no short cuts allowed. Even for a season cook the pressure to turn a great risotto dish may be too much.

You may think that being Italian I cooked this dish many time. Not so, the first time I ever made risotto was last year. As part of a Daring Cook Challenge. Since then, I have made it so many times and can tell you, there is no need to panic. Risotto is not that difficult, in fact, it is one of the easiest dishes to make, but like anything in the kitchen, the trick is organization before hand. Risotto is all about technique. Once you master it, you will be whipping it up and experimenting with countless seasonal flavors.

Timballo

February 13, 2011 by Monica in Dinner, Entertaining, Main Courses, Meat

See that picture above that looks like a cake?

It’s not cake.

Instead is an Italian dish called Timballo.

Timballo is an Italian dish consisting of a filling baked encase in pasta, rice or even potatoes. Usually one or more ingredients (cheese, vegetables, etc) are included. Like everything else in Italy, varieties of Timballo differ from region to region and it’s sometimes called bomba, tortino or sartu (the Neapolitan interpretation). The dish is usually prepared in a dome or springform pan, and eggs or cheese are used as the binder.