Orecchiete with Artichokes

I just adore Lidia Bastianich of…Lidia’s Italy.  Watching her show is just so relaxing, so low-key as she prepares the simplest of  Italy’s regional foods, turning them into a gourmet feast.  When I make some of her spectacular dishes, armed with one of her wonderful cookbooks, it’s like having her there with me in my kitchen. 
With Spring’s arrival this coming Sunday, March 20th, one of my favorite veggies is the Artichoke; mix it with some imported pasta and you have a meal fit for a king, queen, prince or whichever assorted royalty sits at your table….. 
                                                             
I give you…..Orecchiete with Artichokes…you will just love this one, trust me!
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Juice of 1 lemon
3 cups water
8 small spring artichokes, (about 3/4 pound)
6 quarts salted water
salt
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
½ cup spring onions, chopped
4 scallions , including 3/4 of the green part, trimmed
1 teaspoon peperoncino, (crushed red pepper)
1 cup young zucchini , diced (1/2-inch)
2 cups young fava beans, shelled, blanched and peeled
1 cup young peas, blanched
2 cups chicken stock, hot
1 pound orecchiette
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
½ cup Pecorino Romano, freshly grated
In a small bowl stir the lemon juice into 3 cups of water. Pluck all the tough outer leaves from the artichokes, stopping when the leaves are all yellow. Cut off the tough tips of the leaves. With a vegetable peeler or paring knife peel the stems and the bases of the leaves down to the pale green flesh. Then cut the artichokes in half through the stem. With a teaspoon scrape out the furry choke and the purple-tipped leaves, leaving only the yellow leaves attached to the heart. Slice the artichoke lengthwise into very thin slices and quickly immerse in lemon water to prevent them from turning brown.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

In a large, deep skillet heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the onions and scallions and saute’ until wilted, about 2 minutes. Drain the artichokes well and add to skillet. Season the artichokes lightly with salt and stir in the peperoncino. Sauté the artichokes, stirring continuously, until they are softened and begin to brown around the edges, about 10 minutes. Add zucchini, fava beans, and peas to the skillet. Reduce the heat to medium and continue stirring until the zucchini is softened, about 5 minutes. Add a small amount (about 1/4 cup) of the hot stock. Cook, stirring frequently, until the liquid is almost evaporated. Continue adding stock and stirring, until all the stock is added and the vegetables are very tender, about 15 minutes. There should be enough of the liquid to make a sauce that lightly coats the vegetables. Add salt to taste.

Meanwhile, stir the orecchiette into the boiling water. Cover the pot and reheat to boiling, stirring once or twice. When the water returns to a boil uncover the pot. Cook the pasta, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 12 minutes.

Reserve about 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta well and return it to the pot over low heat. Add the artichoke sauce and the butter, tossing until the butter is melted. If necessary, add enough of the reserved pasta water to make enough of a creamy sauce to coat the pasta. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the grated cheese. Toss well and transfer to a warmed serving platter or individual bowls. Serve immediately.

Note: If spring onions are unavailable, omit them and double the amount of scallions called for and….I sometimes add Swiss Chard instead of Peas. 

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Fuzzy Lemon Cocktail

Don’t know about you but I seriously need some Spring and even more Summer right now!
One of my favorite, easy-to-whip-up drinks is what I call a Fuzzy Lemon!  Simple and slushy!
I use either regular frozen Lemondade, Pink Lemonade or other flavors, fresh juicy Peaches, crushed ice and….Vodka. 
 
For 4 servings…..
 
4 cans of frozen Lemonade
16 Peaches, all sliced, skin ON, and cut into small pieces
4 oz. Vodka
Crushed Ice
Fresh Mint
 
Fill your blender halfway with crushed ice, add frozen Lemonade, Peaches and Vodka.  Blend until all smooth and slushy.
Serve in a pretty glass, top off with a Peach slice and a sprig of Mint.
Think of me, here in New York, under a constant cloud cover with rain falling.  Sounds a lot like “Twilight” doesn’t it?
Enjoy!
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“St. Patty’s” Colcannon

For St. Patty’s Day I’m sharing a yearly favorite that I make for my hubby’s club when they have their annual Corned Beef Dinner; it’s called…Colcannon.  Of course we serve the usual Cabbage, Carrots and Boiled Red Potatoes to go along with all the Corned Beef but this dish brings absolute raves from everyone.  I whip up fairly large quantities to serve the 60+ people who attend this dinner and there is never a drop left.

I’m talking 4 huge serving trays full here…these people can eat!

 

                                   

This is also a great way to get kids to eat veggies they might otherwise turn their little noses up at, especially with the gobs of butter and bacon added to the dish.  My recipe uses Cabbage but Kale, Spinach or other green veggies can be worked in, also, using a low-fat milk as well as margarine or other butter substitute…just use plenty. 
If you want the full-blown, to-hell-with-the-calories version, go for it!

                          
                                    

Ingredients…..

  • 3 pounds potatoes scrubbed well, not peeled ...I prefer Yukon Gold for their buttery taste.
  • 2 sticks butter…Trust me, I don’t measure, the more butter, the better!
  • 1 1/4 cups hot milk ...or more, as needed when mashing potatoes
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 head cabbage, cored and finely shredded.
  • 1 pound Bacon (or Chopped Ham) or both, cooked the day before…I save some of the drippings, not healthful but tasty
  • 4 scallions, finely chopped
  • Chopped parsley leaves, for garnish
Next…..

Cut potatoes into quarters and boil until very tender…scrubbed with skins left on!

Mash thoroughly to remove all the lumps. Add 1 stick  (or more) of butter in pieces.

Gradually add hot milk, stirring all the time.  Remember that when adding the buttery Cabbage to this mixture, it will thin out the mashed potatoes; in a too-thin emergency, just add some instant mashed potato flakes to thicken.

Season with a few grinds of black pepper.

Core the Cabbage and slice into fine, fine shreds.

Gently simmer until it turns a darker color, drain well and return to saucepan.

Add 2 tablespoons butter, bacon and/or ham drippings, simmer gently, to tenderize it. Cover with lid for 2/4 minutes.

Add shredded, cooked, cabbage, scallions, and Bacon (and/or Ham) to mashed potatoes, stirring them in gently.

Serve in individual soup plates. Make a little well on the top by swirling a wooden spoon.

Put 1 tablespoon of butter into each indentation.

Sprinkle with parsley.

Enjoy!!

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