What's Cookin' Italian Style Cuisine: February 2017

Appetizer Meatballs and Homemade Sausage Skewer Recipe

If you have picky eaters and have to feed a crowd that are meat lovers, here are two great appetizers to make. I bake mine but you can fry them if you wish. I prefer not standing over a hot stove and take the easy way out. Parchment paper and a large cookie sheet rules! Mom made the best sausage homemade. I always loved her meatballs, no matter how many recipes are written some things can never be replaced in taste not even the exact recipes. Love lasts forever in the kitchen no matter how you make it, if it's made with love.

If you would like a copy of an Authentic Italian Cookbook see below for our families recipes that I adapted through the years.

First make a batch of each below:

1 meatball recipe
1 mom's homemade sausage recipe

Toothpicks or short skewers
Marinara dipping sauce click here for homemade

Roll meatballs into 2 inch size balls. Shape the sausage into a torpedo shape. Bake at 375 degrees until browned and crispy or fry them.
Spear them with toothpicks or use short skewers.
Place on a large platter and serve with warmed marinara sauce for dipping.

Cookbook Limited time offer "A Taste Of Love"

Italian Bake Fried Lemon Chicken Cutlet Recipe and Cookbook Offer

I have baked my cutlets forever! Always worried about fat and everything else the media tells us. Mom's original way to cook these fried and they taste fabulous. As time went on we all became so health conscious on frying foods we never made the cutlets like the original recipe just baked. Flavorful and the authentic version once in awhile is going to happen to bring us back to our childhood days when mom cooked and I think it's fine to splurge once in awhile. This is the recipe that she made and will always be loved by all of us in our family.
I adapted them to the bake version.
For more of mom's recipe you can purchase my cookbook

A Taste of Love

Italian Bake Fried Lemon Chicken Cutlet Recipe

Flour
Egg whites beaten
Italian Flavored Bread Crumbs
White wine around 1/2 cup or chicken broth
Fresh Lemon slices
1/4 cup lemon juice
Fresh rosemary, basil, parsley
Butter
Olive oil
Canola oil for frying
Boneless chicken breasts sliced thin ( I used 3 sliced around 1/2 inch thick)

Shake the chicken in a ziplock bag of seasoned flour. I add granulated garlic, salt, pepper and a pinch of cayenne.

Dip each piece of chicken in egg whites then into the flavored bread crumbs.

Place the chicken in a large greased or parchment lined 13 x 9 casserole dish.
Drizzle each piece with olive oil. In a small microwave safe bowl, measure 1/4 cup olive, 2 tablespoons butter, add wine or broth. Heat around 30 seconds in the microwave. Pour around the bottom of the casserole dish. Bake for around 30 minutes at 400 degrees. Remove from oven. Sprinkle with herbs on the top, add the fresh lemon slices to the top and serve. See below to purchase A Taste Of Love Cookbook

Whats Cookin Italian Style Cuisine Cookbook

During the last 8 years of blogging
I am proud to offer you a chance to purchase
my family's recipe cookbook. The recipes are all inspired by the late: Mom, Margaret Fanelli Colenzo, Dad, Carmen Colenzo and Grandma Victoria Ferraro Colenzo all who inspired me to cook and this book. They all taught me a little of everything I know about authentic cooking from the Regions their parents came
from. Bari and Rome Italy.

When they resided in Utica, New York, the years of living in what was referred to as "little Italy" became one of the best areas to eat Italian food. The Utica area is also noted for fabulous bakeries that make tomato pie, pastaciotti, fried dough, lemon ice, Italian pastries and cookies that are the area's specialties. There is a special section just for the Utica ,New York Specialties that mom made and handed down.

The meaning of true Italian cooking and traditions, great food and great conversation.

Their memory lives on everyday in our kitchens. It brings me great joy to dedicate this book in memory of all of them for the joy their foods have brought to all of us in our families. The traditions will live on with my children, their future children and all my loving family members.

I want to thank all my readers who have also inspired me to finally do this. I am grateful to all of your support through the years.

I hope you enjoy this book and new venture with me. A softcover cookbook with 150 recipes. Think of my mom, dad and grandmother during the journey of cooking in your own kitchens as they live on in spirit.

If you would like to purchase a copy, I thank you in advance you will see the buy it now button on this posted on this website below.

A TASTE OF LOVE COOK BOOK OFFER

Again thank you all for your continued support and I hope you enjoy the recipes.

A Taste of Love

What's Cookin Italian Style Cuisine

Author Claudia Colenzo Lamascolo

Strawberry Cream Pie Recipe

This is my go to recipe when strawberries are in season. I love the freshness of this pie and the creamy texture. It's a true sign of spring and summer that brings a smile to every picnic and family gathering especially during the cooler times of the year. It always warms me up to think of the summer days ahead. This one is sure to cheer you up and it's no bake !!

Strawberry Cream Pie Recipe

1 - 8 ounce package cream cheese room temperature
1 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/3 cup sugar
8 ounces thawed whipped topping
1 store bought graham cracker pie shell
1 pound fresh strawberries sliced lengthwise
Strawberry jam warmed
Whipped cream for garnish

Beat cream cheese and sugar together. Stir in the vanilla, sour cream. Fold in the whipped topping.
Pour into pie crust and refrigerate until firm.

Spread with whipped cream.
Decorate with strawberries and brush with warm jam.

Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken Bourbon Wing Sauce Recipe

One of the easiest sandwich recipe for pulled chicken. The ingredients are usually always on hand in our home and after you make this they will be for you too. This recipe can feed a lot of people and great for family gatherings, picnics and game day! You will be asked for this recipe over and over again, it's very tasty!

Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken Bourbon Wing Sauce Recipe

4 boneless good sized chicken breasts
1 cup chicken wing sauce
2 cups barbecue sauce any kind
1/2 cup bourbon (if you don't want to use bourbon you can substitute black cherry cola or root beer)
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
1 teaspoon mustard

Toasted Buttered Sandwich Buns

Place the chicken breasts on the bottom of the slow cooker. Add all ingredients together in a bowl. Pour over the chicken. Cook on low for 6 hours or high around 4 hours.
When chicken is very soft pull apart using two forks.

Split buns, butter them and broil until toasted.
Serve on toasted butter sandwich buns

Mom's East End Sausage Pasta Sauce Recipe

Well this has a little story behind the recipe. Back in my hometown, Utica New York and often called little Italy, my family made a special sauce with meat and fresh tomatoes. After simmering slow either on the stove top or using a slow cooker, you get this special over the top flavored bolognese style sauce. Of course she made her own homemade sausage, meatballs and sauce from scratch. You can adapt anyway you like it.
Served over linguine it's absolutely delicious.

Mom's East End Sausage Pasta Sauce Recipe

2 lbs plum tomatoes put through food processor leaving chunks
1 - 28 ounce can of either tomato puree or crushed tomatoes
2 green peppers sliced thin
2 lbs sausage links sliced into chunks click here for homemade sausage recipe
1 1/2 pound ground sirloin
4 garlic cloves finely minced
1/2 cup Cabernet or Merlot
salt, pepper and cayenne pepper to taste
1 tablespoon each chopped fresh basil, parsley
1 teaspoon dried oregano
olive oil
grated cheese

Favorite pasta of choice cooked to package instructions

In a large sauce pan, add 1/4 cup oil, saute the meat and chunks of sausage till almost all the pink is gone then add the peppers, garlic and saute another 2 minutes. (If using a slow cooker transfer to the pot.) Add all the rest of the ingredients and simmer on low heat for around 2 1/2 hours or more until sauce is thick. (If using a slow cooker around 6 to 8 hours on low.)

Boil your favorite pasta to package instructions.
Drain, plate the pasta and add the sauce on top of the pasta. Sprinkle generously with grated cheese.

Slow Cooker Italian Bottom Round Roast Recipe

If you have never tried cooking in a slow cooker, you are missing out on a easy delicious meal. This roast beef cut with a fork. Nothing else to do other than add some herbs, spices and some liquid and you will come home to a fabulous meal. They will think you cooked all day and made gourmet style beef.
We don't have to tell them the truth! You can make any sides your family loves but this goes great with mashed potatoes and corn.

Slow Cooker Italian Bottom Round Roast Recipe

3 lb to 4 lb bottom round roast
1 cup of Red Wine: use any kind Burgundy, Merlot, Chianti, Cabernet
2 garlic cloves
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon minced granulated garlic powder
1 teaspoon parsley
1/2 teaspoon of oregano
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
salt, pepper to taste
flour

Optional: add par boil boiled carrots and potatoes to the pot with the meat ( you can also add canned peas, mushrooms

Roll the meat in flour. Slit meat in several area's and place pieces of sliced garlic cloves in the slit pocket of meat. Place meat in a 4 to 5 quart slow cooker. If using any vegetables add them now.
Pour the wine in. Sprinkle with herbs, salt, spices, oil both peppers.

Slow cook on low 6 to 8 hours or high 4 to 6 hours. This great with cooked pasta tossed with butter, olive oil and garlic.

Orange Cherry Chocolate Loaf Recipe

Classic flavors in this quick bread that never get old. Perfect with tea of coffee. Great breakfast treat! These also make great bars using a brownie sized pan instead of a loaf pan!

Orange Cherry Chocolate Loaf Recipe

2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup pure orange juice no pulp
2 tablespoons shortening
1 tablespoon orange peel grated fine
1 egg well beaten
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup dried cherries
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat oven at 350 degrees. Heavily grease a loaf pan.

Mix all the dry ingredients together along with shortening.
Add all the flavorings, egg and juice. Fold in the chips an cherries. Bake in the greased pan until the middle is set around 55 minutes to an hour. I always use the toothpick method to see if the middle is dry inside.

About Me

My blog was created in 2009. I work full time as a Store manager by day and blog by late late night! I am an author of Taste of Love Cookbook inspired by my late family members who were fabulous Italian cooks! When I first started blogging my main inspiration was keeping Mom's memory alive through her recipes she left behind. Cooking those recipes keeps her with us. My two grown sons and family members now have all the family traditional recipes in one place. This blog is dedicated to the memory of Margaret Ann Fanelli Colenzo, Carmen Colenzo and his mom Victoria Colenzo. I was inspired to make a cookbook by them in their memory available on this web page.

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