15 Sep
Chocolate Biscotti
Posted by Chelle as Chocolate, Cookies, Italian | 16 Comments
I made these biscotti as part of the package I put together for Operation Baking GALS (sorry it’s taken me a while to get this post up!), which also included plain vanilla biscotti and chocolate chip biscotti. These biscotti come courtesy of Dorie Greenspan and were actually the second-ever Daring Baker challenge, back in December of 2006. Since I’ve been wanting to tackle all of the old DB challenges as part of My 100 list, and given that I had already decided to do a biscotti theme for my package, I thought throwing in these biscotti only made sense. I wouldn’t be a good baker if I didn’t taste test what I was shipping off (*wink*), so I made sure to give these a try. I thought they were absolutely fabulous and plan on adding them to my list of things that will go in my Christmas packages this year.
05 Sep
Operation Baking GALS: Biscotti
Posted by Chelle as Cookies, Italian | 14 Comments
I have seen posts about Operation Baking GALS for the last month or so, and finally emailed Susan at She’s Becoming DoughMessTic and wanted to find out how to get involved. As a bit of background, Operation Baking GALS has hosts that have a personal connection to a military personnel overseas and coordinates groups of bakers to send these guys as many tastes of home as possible, in an effort to lift morale and let them know they are appreciated and thought about. I really commend Susan for this huge coordination, as I know it has meant so much to the troops who have already received packages in the last round.
I was assigned to Susan’s group this round and shipped off my package to Christopher, who is currently overseeing a group of young soldiers. After thinking long and hard about what I wanted to send over, I decided I wanted to send a little piece of who I am. And what most represents me when it comes to food (aside from chocolate)? My Italian-ness, of course! To that end, I decided to send an assortment of biscotti, as well as some drink mixes to enjoy the biscotti with. Not only are they very Italian, but they keep pretty much forever! Here is everything, getting ready to get packed up and shipped off:
- Plain vanilla biscotti
- Chocolate chip biscotti
- Chocolate biscotti (recipe will follow in a separate post - it’s up! CLICK HERE to go to that post)
- Tea and individual coffee, cappuccino, and hot cocoa mixes
I actually got a little choked up taking this package to the post office, thinking about these troops, and hoping to brighten their day. I can’t even fathom the sacrifices they make and the horrible things they see, all so the rest of us can rest safely in our beds at night. A big THANK YOU to all serving in the military, and to all of their families, as they make huge sacrifices as well. If you’re interested in taking part in the next round of Operation Baking GALS, check out the link above for all of the information!
11 Aug
Italian Bread
Posted by Chelle as Italian, Yeast Breads & Baked Goods | 13 Comments
With the uncharacteristic cool August weather here, it’s been feeling like fall is nipping at summer’s heels, and with that, I was hungry for spaghetti and meatballs, which is traditional fall and winter Sunday dinner fare. As a result, I spent most of yesterday afternoon in the kitchen making a big pot of sauce, meatballs, and fresh pasta. As if a light bulb went off, I realized the only thing missing was a fresh loaf of Italian bread to soak up all the extra sauce on my plate. I had made Italian bread once before, and it was very very good, but it also required a preferment, meaning that it had to sit overnight. So I went in search of a recipe that could deliver some fresh bread in a few short hours. I found one, and it was fabulous - a perfectly crisp outer crust and a soft, chewy interior with a tight crumb.
02 Aug
Fettuccine Alfredo with Fresh Pasta
Posted by Chelle as Chicken, Italian, Pasta | 14 Comments
I was on the hunt for a special sort of dinner tonight, and was trying to steer clear of beef or filets since I made Beef Wellington last Friday night. I was stumped, so I pulled up my 100 List to see if anything on there could provide some inspiration. As I browsing I saw fettuccine alfredo, which is one of my favorite dishes to eat when out to a restaurant, and also something that I have yet to master at home. Sweet, I had my dinner! Then on my list I saw “homemade noodles”… hmmm… That sure would make fettuccine alfredo infinitely better, would it not? This was an absolutely delicious dinner - I might be officially addicted to fresh homemade pasta, and this alfredo sauce was just perfect!
16 Jul
Pasta Fagioli
Posted by Chelle as Italian, Soup/Stew | 18 Comments
Well, after not really getting sick for two years, I’ve been hit with a whopper of a cold, in the middle of a July heat and humidity wave, no less. Regardless of the heat, what do most people crave when they’re buried under blankets on the couch all day (assuming there is central A/C involved)? Soup! And so soup is what I made tonight, and let me tell you - it soothed me just as I hoped it would. Pasta Fagioli reminds me of a small little cafe on the campus of my college (which I attended all too long ago) - I always used to stop there if I had a night class and get a cup of pasta fagioli. This soup is the ultimate in comfort - full, hearty, and paired with the garlic herb breadsticks I made, totally deserving of being a complete meal.
