Scenes from an Italian Dinner

 

Last Monday I wrote this post about the cookbook whose journey around the world was to begin in my kitchen (well, technically Hen's kitchen, but you know what I mean). I promised to cook on Saturday night and report back on Monday. I perused the cookbook and chose a menu. I invited a guest. I generated a shopping list. I failed to consult a weather report. It was close to 100 degrees here on Saturday.

We've established that deviating from the plan is not in my nature. So concessions were made. I would prep at my house (which has no air conditioning), but cook at my bff, Other Mother of my Kids or OMomK's house (which blessedly does have a.c.).

So here you have it . . . a recap of the most documented meal I've ever cooked!

First, from page 87, I prepared the Torta di cioccolato.

     Makeshift double boiler courtesy of one of my children breaking the middle section and never confessing.

  

Next, to make the Arancini de riso e ricotta (rice and cheese balls), page 358. 'Cause nothing says cooking in a heat wave like breading and frying something!

Giving the breadcrumbs a whirl  . . . the flour, egg, breadcrumb assembly line

The shaping, the frying, the finished product . . .

Prepping the main dish, Agnello con Olive (lamb with olive), page 387, which came especially recommended by Hen was next. I won't torture you with pictures of me (sweat dripping from my brow) chopping the lamb into bite size pieces. I did, however, chop up this beauty. Mr. Fix-it and MVP were stunned to discover that our local Vons has a gourmet olive bar when I sent them out for last minute supplies. "Who knew," they said? "We did," said Jenn and OMomK.

Then it was time for me to shower and take my cooking show on the road . . .

 

For the second time in a week, I am wishing for smell-o-vision--garlic, onions, red chile, lamb, olives, white wine . . . heavenly!

It just wouldn't be dinner (or hors'douevres or Friday or . . .) at OMomK's without a bottle (okay, usually 2) of this . . .

'

The finished product . . .

 

The verdict . .  . delicious! The lamb dish was a resounding success. The chocolate was to die for. We had some vanilla ice cream with it--next time we'll add raspberry sauce, too. The rice and cheese balls got mixed reviews. They were quite good, but not great. I might try them again with Gorgonzola instead of Mozzarella--they needed a stronger cheese taste to me. The dessert will henceforth be a standby of mine--how can something so easy taste so good? Butter, sugar and good quality dark chocolate I guess!

Mr. Fix-it, OMomK and I ate together, then MVP came by after work to scarf down every morsel we left behind. I think all the kids got to sample the dessert after returning from various and sundry activities that are more fun than eating dinner with your parents.

Now, as to where the book is going next. I could a) use a random number generator b) pick a name out of a hat c) write everyone's name on a big piece of paper and throw a dart at it or d) be completely arbitrary and pick BipolarLawyerCook.

I choose . . . D! As soon as I got the book from Hen, I thought of BLC. I love to read her descriptions of food and cooking. She's on the other side of the country, which furthers the book's journey nicely, she might come visit me and cook me something this summer, and really it's my party and I can cry if I want to blog and I can be arbitrary and capricious if I want to. Except, I'm usually not, so please don't think I'm a beyotch and a hater . . . it's just that my heart is telling me to send the book to BLC, so that's what I'm gonna do. Still, I love you all the same just in different ways!

This doesn't have anything to do with cooking or dinner or my capriciousness, but it is very pretty. In addition to being my best friend, and an amazing mom, surrogate mom, person, etc. OMomK can make these rebloom--I just toss mine and buy new ones.

Oh yeah, she beat me 3 games to 1. And I didn't even care . . . it must have been the Champagne!

Comments

[CC]

WOW! That looks amazing!! I would love to cry and whine and beg for you to reconsider who to give the book to next... but then I'd realize that I would never have any time to cook like that (or at least not until my school gets out in exactly one month!)

[tacoma flowers]

that looks delicious.

[kcinnova]

You don't have A/C????? It took me a few minutes to recover from that news! (I used to live not far from "tacoma flowers" above, and I had A/C when I lived there!)
My surprise aside, the meal looked lovely and I'm so glad you had a wonderful evening, complete with backgammon & champagne. :)

[Mary Alice]

I am drooling - that looks so good. What a fun idea.

[Suzanne]

Oh my gosh, that really looks like a lot of work. But the end result....gorgeous.
Thanks for sharing.
How do you live with no a/c. really. Does it usually stay that cool there? I suppose you have NO humidity then??

[gary]

Chocolate, yeah! Magnificent set of pics, really.
100 degrees? Man, this part of NY will see 50 today, blech.

[Bipolarlawyercook]

Wow. That looks incredible-- especially the rice balls, that golden crusty goodness. (Wipes drool off keyboard) I am so excited to try more of these recipes out, and to make the lamb with olives myself. Thank you, thank you!

[The Girl Next Door]

OMG you are amazing - to cook like that, to live without AC, to take things on the road. Wow! And Champagne and backgammon - can I be your new BFF??

[MamaMo]

Sounds like a wonderful meal/evening all-around.

[Minnesota Matron]

Wow--that food looks fabulous! I remain impressed by everyone's photo-taking abilities. Really! These look professional, mine always look as if my hands are shaking (which they might be).

[Mrs. G.]

My stomach is growling and I just had breakfast. Everything looks incredible.

[Heidi]

Hungry now. Thanks a lot.

Heidi :)

[melissa]

Have slobbered all over my keyboard. You did well on this and totally deserved to win Hen's contest! I'm not at all envious now because of what you made with it! Kudos!

[debbie]

Oh...my...goodness!! That was such a lot of work, but...oh my!!! The rice and cheese balls looked really good...and that chocolate stuff....mmmmmmmmmmmmarvelous (she said, speaking from her imagination!!)
The pictures were great!!
Bravo!!

[Domestically Challenged]

MMMMMMMMMMM, oooops, oh crumbs - how DO you get drool out from between the buttons of your keyboard?

Caro, Your supper looked tutto bellissimo! Thank you so much for starting off the book's journey with such style and effort! Thank you too, to BFF for loan of chilled cucina!

I'm really looking forward to seeing what BLC creates....but do write lots of comments in it before it leaves you!

Bloggy love and appreciation,
Hen
x

[MereCat]

I can't believe you made all that food from scratch! That's wonderful!

[phd in yogurtry]

I.Am.So.Impressed !!!!

Wow! What a total dining experience! I dont' think I've ever taken on such big cooking challenge. Yours sounded so worth it.

[phd in yogurtry]

P.S. Big backgammon fan, here.

[Claudia]

Any cookbook written by someone named Claudia MUST be fabulous. ;)

[Angie]

Lamb - YUMMMMY. I love lamb. I love playing games, too, and I rarely care if I win or lose - not competitive here.

KEEP BELIEVING

[Jamie]

Good grief that makes my stomach growl. Bravo to you and your skills!

[Kristen]

Oh that meal looks and smells stunningly delicious! Yum-my.

[Kristen]

I mean sounds...

[Angela]

Sounds yummy and I don't know if I would have done the cooking in that heat, but good for you

[ms_teacher]

I don't think you're being a beyotch at all. It is your blog and anyone who would think are worthy of your time anyway!

The food looked wonderful. I can't wait to read what bplc choose to fix.

[Jason]

Mmmmm. I just ate dinner and now you've gone and made me hungry again. And I don't even like lamb. But I bet I'd like yours!

[Kellan]

It looks just wonderful - great job!!

Have a good Tuesday - see you - Kellan

[Grandy]

You are my hero!! I'm very impressed with your skillz lady!! :D

[Cheri]

I think BLC is the perfect choice, particularly since I'm jonesing for an invite when she comes to visit you. Dude, think of the good food that will be there, the good women that will be there, and the good blog material. (Not listed in order of importance, of course.)

[Janet]

Mmmmm, all I have to say is I hope she invites me over when she tries out these recipes! Except...not the lamb one :-)

LOVE that shot of the champagne bottle, the light is just awesome. And the dish holding the lamb, it looks like a daisy from above.

[Manic Mommy]

That looked absolutely delicious. I'm not a big lamb eater though. Could you do it with chicken?

The rice and cheese balls look like heaven. What about trying them with goat cheese if you're looking for a stronger taste - mmmmm.

[Grown-Up Girl]

#1: You're cooking that again when I'm down from LA for a spell... I'll help!

#2: I don't buy for an instant that you didn't care about losing that much, no matter how tipsy you were!

Love you <3

[HRH]

I wish I could eat at your house. So much tastier then mine! Now the game...I could be competitive!