It has been quite the start to the month of December. Luca and I put up our first Christmas tree together just a few days ago. We went to the large local grocery store just outside of town to get a nice big fake plastic tree ( a tree is better than no tree). His parents were kind and lent us some of their old decorations and they remind me of my mom's old ornaments that were passed down to her. We stuck to my family's tradition of having pizza and putting the tree. Luca tackled making a deep dish pizza by hand, and I have to say it turned out delicious enough for seconds!
Then this weekend we had the annual "Cooking Contest." A fun contest between friends, however taken quite seriously. This year there were two categories, has everyone had decided it was just too easy to win a whole contest with a dessert. You could make an "antipasto"(appetizer) "primo piatto" (first dish such as pasta or risotto) or a "secondo piatto" (second dish of meat) and of course a dessert.
Luca and I both participated in both categories.
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| Luca made Paccheri Rusticano, large round noodles stuffed with a leek, sausage, ricotta filling topped with beschemel and placed in the oven to make a delicious pasta bake. I made gorgonzola chicken cooked up with some white wine, rosemary, and olive oil, tossed in melted sweet gorgonzola and sprinkled with green peppercorns. For dessert Luca made molten chocolate cakes, and I attempted my first cheesecake ever- brownie cheesecake with a chocolate ganache. |
There were 15 people at the contest, however 8 people were there just to judge, because we couldn't have those cooking voting with biased opinions ;)
Appetizers
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| Matteo introduced Corn Dogs with French Fries to Italians homemade and delicious! |
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| The picture may not be the best but Barbar's "Sformato" of potatoes, bacon, and cheese Not pictured: Giani's Pastry Puffs filled with prosciutto cotto, zucchini, and cheese. Primi Piatti |
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| "Paccheri Rusticano" Luca's pasta bake, the picture doesn't give it justice |
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| "Orecchiette broccoli e bacon" |
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| Lorenzo's "Pasta Risottato" pasta prepared like risotto with heavy cream and spinach Not Pictured: Leopoldo's Vegetarian Cannoli with cauliflower , nutmeg, and cream Secondi Piatti |
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| "Spezzatino di Pollo alla Gorgonzola" - My chicken |
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| "Triple Chicken" - Vittoria made three types of chicken Curry, Almond, and Mint Desserts |
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| Matteo's Classic Italian Tiramisù |
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| The 4 German girls who were visiting made a Macedonia Fruit Salad  Brownie cheesecake with Chocolate Ganache Not Pictured: Luca's Chocolate Molten Cakes, the German girls Apple Crumble, and Vin Brûlée. |
