Posts Tagged Italian

Linguine with Garlic, Prawns and Spinach

Posted 14 February 2012 by
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In a recent search for healthier recipes, I came across Italian chef Gino D’Acampo’s book The I Diet (“The Italian Diet”). The recipes look pretty good, some low-calorie, some not so much, but all based around tasty and nutritious Mediterranean ingredients. This is a recipe for linguine (or any long pasta) with garlic, prawns and spinach (aka linguine con gamberi e spinaci). As much as I resist the thought of pasta without some kind of cheese, this was actually very tasty, filling and comes in at 449 calories a portion.

A plate of garlic, prawn and spinach linguine.

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Panna Cotta and Florentines (Daring Bakers)

Posted 27 February 2011 by
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It’s time for February’s Daring Bakers challenge. Unfortunately real life got in the way a little this month, and I will need to do this one again to get the full range of photos!

The February 2011 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Mallory from A Sofa in the Kitchen. She chose to challenge everyone to make Panna Cotta from a Giada De Laurentiis recipe and Nestle Florentine Cookies.

Florentine with chocolate drizzled on

I’m not too keen on Florentines usually, but luckily this recipe was a little different.

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Butternut Squash, Leek and Blue Cheese Risotto

Posted 27 January 2011 by
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Here’s a recipe for butternut squash, leek and blue cheese risotto that will surely warm the cockles on a cold winter’s evening. Nigel Slater has a recipe for pancetta and blue cheese risotto that I made once; it was really tasty but unfortunately so salty that I could only eat a couple of mouthfuls at a time. Here, the butternut squash and leek flavours are both mild and sweet and complement the blue cheese brilliantly. I used Stilton but you could use any blue cheese. Gorgonzola would make it a little more authentically Italian! A squeeze of lemon juice at the end finishes it off nicely.

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Mushroom and Parmesan Risotto

Posted 30 November 2010 by
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Really, this should be Risotto ai funghi e prezzemolo, but the prezzemolo means parsley, and this ain’t got none. This is a Jamie Oliver recipe, from Jamie’s Italy, and it’s fab. I’ve made it four or five times now, it may even become my “signature dish” as it were. Maybe. It’s takes a little bit of time. I did read that risotto is actually supposed to be a quick and easy  dinner for busy Italian mamas to cook up for their bambinos. I’ve not really got the quick and easy bit down, but it’s well worth the time and effort.

Mushroom and parmesan risotto

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Spaghetti with Lemon, Goat’s Cheese and Thyme

Posted 19 November 2010 by
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This is a quick, simple pasta dish: cheesy, lemony comfort food. I adapted the recipe from In Erika’s Kitchen (mostly just added thyme). If you like a refreshing, citrussy pasta dish, this is great. It would probably be particularly nice in the summer-time.

A plate full of lemon, goat's cheese and thyme spaghetti

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Spaghetti alla Carbonara

Posted 14 November 2010 by
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Spaghetti alla Carbonara is a classic Italian dish with cheese, pancetta, black pepper and eggs. There are lots of Carbonara recipes on the internet, and several in my cookbooks. One thing seems certain: the seemingly more-authentically Italian recipes don’t include cream, deriving all the creaminess from the cheese & eggs. This is perfect comfort food for a chilly autumn Sunday evening; cheese, bacon, garlic—what’s not to love?! I say bacon as, being a last minute dinner idea on a Sunday night, I have no pancetta and no reasonable chance of getting any. So, bacon will have to suffice. Also, I have no pecorino, just parmesan. Still, I’m doing pretty well!

It looks quite yellow, I think they were particularly yellow eggs.

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