Putting together an Italian dinner party starts with freshly baked bread and pre dinner appetizers and then when choosing a starter I have gone for a traditional Tuscan soup followed by a pasta dish and a meat dish. We finish with a selection of a Torte, a Tiramisu and fabulous Biscoti biscuits to go with your after dinner espresso coffee.
Pre-Dinner Appetizers
Starters
Main Course
Dessert
The pre dinner starter is by one of our founding members John B who went often to Italy and has a selection of Italian recipes that he has experienced and developed. The Arancini is Deep fried saffron and thyme flavoured risotto balls stuffed with mozarella – the perfect pre dinner snack -best with really cold Pecorino wine!
John’s recipe for Focaccia brad is lovely and full of history – he first started eating focaccia when he was courting his wife in a restaurant in Preston. Focaccia is rather popular in Italy and is as a rule seasoned with olive oil and sometimes herbs, and might be served with a topping of onion, cheese and meat, or flavored with a few vegetables.
Daijohn has a traditional Tuscan tomato soup with sage and served with Parmesan and Basil leaves and a drizzle of olive oil to garnish.
I have chosen a seafood pasta with mussels and prawns – this recipe has been added to our collection by an Italian restaurant in Glasgow – La Lanterna. They give a step by step guide on how to make this really scrummy pasta dish.
The recipe for Veal Italienne can be substituted with Pork cutlets – it is a thin piece of meat (hammered under cling film ) and pan fried. Served with spinach in a tomatoe sauce and topped with melted cheese.
Now for some traditional Italian dessert I have chosen Valentina Harris Italian Apple cake, Tota di Mele which is a light sponge cake with half the slices of apple folded into the cake and the remaining slice placed on top. In addition Marathan Mum created a variation on a theme with ginger biscuit Tiramisu which uses ginger biscuits instead of the traditional sponge fingers. This is combined with a cream cheese and condensed milk mixture flavoured with coffee and liquer of your choice.
Now to finish of this feast – with a traditional dark coffee try some of rebeccabakescakes Chocolate Espresso Biscotti with choclate chunks.
If you have any great menus you will have a chance to be featured in our dinner party book and win a cooking holiday for 2 courtesy of Go learn to – just send us your menu at ideas@mydish.co.uk
Fancy learning to cook fresh pasta in Tuscany, making tarte tatin in France or tapas in Spain? www.GoLearnTo have a variety of cookery holidays in destinations worldwide, all hand-picked for quality, authentic, inspiring cooking experiences, great flavours, fun and friendly chefs and wonderful settings in some of the world’s best culinary locations.
www.GoLearnTo.com are specialists with a great range of inspiring holidays around the world where you can learn a new skill or pursue an existing hobby from dancing, photography, painting or jewellery making to cooking, wine tasting, yoga, Reki, guitar playing, language courses, horse riding and much more.
