danistrulytheman

I'm STILL a self confessing, self professing know-it-all, or so I think!


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Polpette con Gomiti

… and properly fancied it up, tired of always mangiacaking it down … oh what the hell – Meatballs with pasta, lol!! This creation came courtesy leftovers (once again), a coupla days back I made a batch of my famous meatballs and homemade sauce. And later looking to vary and extend it further, came up with this … it’s a baked pasta dish (my favourite way of cooking it btw), and that sliced tomato (I’ve NEVER done that before, but I had a very ripe one – and remember; waste not, want not) inspiration was something I’ve seen … I think it was from Lidia (Bastianich), maybe it was Giada (De Laurentis) though?! Cooked the pasta in my stock pot full of boiling water and with a ladle full of sea salt – should taste like the ocean, until very al dente, then drained (but with a bit of the pasta water reserved) and finally combined with the meatballs and sauce … oh, I did layer Auricchio before finishing with the tomato (and that’s Grana Padano grated on top when I pulled it out of the oven) … some pics, enjoy – mangia mangia!! 😀

my balls are simmering …

outta the oven …

drizzled with Acropolis, lotsa Grana Padano too …

the money shot – YUMM

scooped out with a spoon shot – love this …

onto my plate …

and served with toasted garlic bread …


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Formaggio

Today talking Paisano, but I ain’t delving too deeply either, kinda scratching the surface … don’t even get me started on my fave Romano Lupa ’cause I won’t stop! And I can’t begin to tell you how I have this disease unable to go into any of my wonderful markets without wandering *wink wink* by the cheese section AND buying cheese … any cheese … EVEN if my fridge is already fully stocked ‘n stuffed, lol! If lovin’ cheese is wrong I don’t wanna be right … if this an addiction I don’t wanna be cured, lol!!

And finally want to chime in with my 2¢ (which is what I wanted to say in the first place) about the Parmigiano-Reggiano vs. Grana Padano debate that I recently caught wind of, but apparently has been raging for quite some time now (who even knew there was a cheese war, lol?). Reggiano was always the king … the undisputed king of ALL Italian cheeses, every Goddamn Italian TV Chef segment had to include those words … Parmigiano-Reggiano  Parmigiano-Reggiano  Parmigiano-Reggiano … uh, can you say overkill? And just ’cause you can parrot saying it over and over and use it doesn’t make you a great chef!! But recently I noticed a trend, the great Italian chefs (including the matriarch herself – Lidia Bastianich) have been steering away from it, and instead incorporating and praising its lesser known (and less expensive) relative – Grano Padano in their recipes?! Damn Motherfuckers!! Been slummin’ for years buying Grano Padano getting more bang for my denaro and NOW y’all are following suit, lol?! All aboard the danistrulythemantrain everyone … choo choo!! 😉