NET RECIPES
Italian Semifreddo Cassata
In Northern Piemonte, the land of "Dinner starts with eight appetizers," where I worked with the inimitable Piero Bertinotti, at Pinocchio, he epitomizes the heart of Mediterranean cooking: Use good ingredients, not too many, don't do too much to them, and always always cook with love - or don't even send it out. This is a standby on the dessert menu, included on dessert samplers, and always on a birthday plate sent out to a friend, it takes the concept of the Sicilian candied fruit and ricotta cake, cassata, and turns it into an ethereal cloud on your tongue.
4 egg whites
1 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream, chilled
2 oz. chopped nuts (almonds or pecans)
8 oz. candied fruits, chopped
Combine sugar with about 1/4 cup water and place over medium heat in a heavy saucepan. Stir to combine. Let sugar melt and boil, approaching candy temperatures as you beat the egg whites to medium peaks. Watch sugar saucepan carefully... just as the sugar begins to turn golden (you still want it to be mostly clear), remove pan from heat and drizzle into egg whites while beating. The heat from the sugar will stabilize and cook the egg white, so you can continue beating egg whites on high without worrying about overbeating. Some of the sugar will have created clumps in the egg whites, so continue beating until all sugar is smoothly incorporated, about 5 minutes. Let this "italian meringue" cool to a cool room temperature.
Soak chopped candied fruits in hot water for 2 minutes to remove the sugar coating. Drain.
Beat whipping cream to very firm, then fold in italian meringue, chopped nuts and fruits.
Spread mixture into a plastic wrap lined mold (bowl, pan, whatever) and freeze for at least 4 hours.
Unmold, slice and serve... possibly drizzling with chocolate, caramel and/or creme anglaise.
Dinner Menus by Samsunshine Levy
NET RECIPES
Appetizers
Fantastic NET Caesar Salad
Orange-Ginger Shrimp Ceviche
Salt Cod Brandade (Baccala/Bacalao)
Main Dishes
Chipotle Pork Posole Stew
Dover Sole (or Tilapia) "Meuniere"
Tenderloin Filet Au Poivre
Easy Summer Grilled Pizza
Aglio, Olio e Peperoncino con Gamberoni, Zest and Body!
Soup & Sides
Famous NET MAN Steamed Broccoli
Perfect & Easy Tuscan White Bean Soup
Bacon Mustard Brussel Sprouts
Creamy Polenta
Crunchy Vegetarian Quinoa Tabouli
Drinks
Limoncello
Dark and Stormy cocktail
Homemade Santa Fe Hot Cocoa Mix now with the power of chipotle
Dark Rum Egg Nog
Sweets
Apple Scone Cobbler
Nina's Birthday Cardamom Peach Cobbler
Italian Semifreddo Cassata
Rich & Dark Pecan Pie
Easy No-Bake Chocolate Pots de Creme
Moistest German Chocolate Cake
Christmas Morning Bacon Doughnuts
Paste di Meliga (Italian Cornmeal Cookies)
Even More Foolproof Vodka Pie Crust
Ginger Pecan Pie
