Salami and Mozz Panini

Another homage to my beloved Italy...the panini! The panini is a small and thin sandwich, maybe one or two slices of meat, cheese and a vegetable, usually on a ciabatta. This is an actually shot of paninis we had in Florence:

And as usual, I use this to get those lovely grill marks!

The Griddler by Cuisinart!

Today's panini was simply:

• Trader Joe's Tuscan Pane bread 
• sliced genoa salami
• Basil
• fresh mozzerella cheese
• Basil leaves
• olive oil
  

Drizzle the inside of the bread with the oil, then stack the ingredients. Grill til melted. Lunch!

Sunday Sauce

I've been making this for a few years now, and I think I've perfected it enough that I can share it on my blog. It is a mixture of family recipes I've tried along the way, but I've added my own methods as well. I am so proud of this sauce! My family demands it. I make it for my roller derby league the night before a bout for the perfect "carb-load"! This time, I made it for an Italian Mafia Pajama Party. Everyone loves it, and I hope you do too!


I used to squeeze my tomatoes by hand, which is a very valiant effort, but there is an easier way. Buy a food mill. It will cut your prep time in half.


To start, you'll need the food mill, 3 cans of whole tomatoes (get a good brand), and a large bowl to catch the juice. I found the italian style tomatoes render much more juice than the regular. Use the finest blade.

Sauce:

• 3 (28-ounce) cans whole plum tomatoes
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, pressed
• 1 onion, chopped
• a pinch of red pepper flakes
• couple cranks of freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• • 1/2 cup red wine
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan (the good stuff)
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 can tomato paste (6 oz.)
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, julienned
  • 1 pound of italian link sausage (sweet)

Meatballs:
1 lb of meatloaf mix (ground pork, veal, beef)
2 eggs
1 cup of seasoned bread crumbs
1/2 cup Parmesan
1/2 cup milk
3 garlic cloves (pressed)
2 pinches of kosher salt
couple cranks of freshly ground pepper

Using the food mill, extract the juice from the 3 cans of tomatoes. Your pulp can be discarded. Set all the juice aside.


Start your sauce! In a large dutch oven over medium heat, add the olive oil. Add the garlic and onion, then saute til soft. Add the red pepper and black pepper and salt. Add in the tomato juice, red wine, water, Parmesan. (Don't add the tomato paste yet!)


Go make your meatballs. Preheat the oven to 400F. In a large bowl, beat the eggs. Add the rest of the ingredients. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper (if you have it). Wetting your fingers, roll the mixture into 2-inch balls. Add them to the cookie sheet, and bake for 20 minutes. 


As soon as your meatballs are done, add them to your sauce. Cut up the sausage links into 2-inch pieces and add them straight into the sauce (uncooked). This is the secret to extremely tender sausage! Finally, add your tomato paste. Your meatballs will float. And don't forget your wooden spoon! Every Italian cooks with a wooden spoon!



Stir occasionally, uncovered, for 2 1/2 to 3 hours over low heat. You want a steady bubble, but not too rapid. 


It will reduce into a delicious silky sauce, with the most tender meat you can imagine. (You can also add a pork rib at the garlic/onion stage if desired.) Now add your basil!

Serve over your favorite pasta. As you can see, this isn't a lot of hassle for a really delicious result.

Mangia!

Moussaka

Remember that scene in My Big Fat Greek Wedding?

Mean girl: What is THAT?

Toula: It's Moussaka.

Mean girl: Moose ca-ca?

All means girls: HAAAHAHAHAHA!

I love that movie.

And I loved this recipe I tried from Ten Dollar Dinners. And it was SUPER cheap, and really good. I served with a romaine salad. Simple Sunday dinner!

Fudgy Double Chocolate Cake

I baked! If you know me, you know I cringe when it comes to baking, because most of the time, my attempts are FLOPS and I find it a complete waste of my day.

I couldn't chance a flop today - it's my husband's 40th birthday! So I went to the interwebs and found an awesome recipe that is semi-homemade. The only change I made, was I substituted the devil's food cake for a double chocolate cake. The sour cream and the raspberry preserves really set this one apart!

Thanks Epicurious! <--- Recipe there!

Happy 40th birthday, Justice!