Oretiko – Chilled Cheese Appetizer

Ingredients:

• 1 C  Feta Cheese
• .5 C  Lucini Organic Stravecchio Pamigiano Reggiano (grated)
• 12   Kalamata olives (sliced, pitted)
• .5 C  Onion (rinsed well in cold water)
• .25 C Lucini Extra Virgin olive Oil
• 1      Green Pepper (chopped small)
• .5 tsp Black Pepper (fresh, ground)
• .25 tsp Paprika (optional)

Preparation:

In electric mixer, beat the olive oil and cheese until they reach the consistency of whipped cream.  Remove from mixer and add black pepper, paprika, olives, onion and green pepper. Taste for salt, paprika and pepper.  Pack mixture solidly in small bowl or oiled mold. Refrigerate until firm.  Serve sliced.

Tortino con gli Asparagi – Asparagus Flan

Ingredients:

• 1 LB  Asparagus (fresh)
• 2  Eggs
• .5 C   Milk (whole or 2% – use high quality milk as it is a key ingredient)
• 2 TB  Lucini Organic Stravvechio Parmigiano Reggiano
• 2 TB  Lucini Extra Virgin Olive Oil (plus enough to oil your small pan)
• Salt (to taste)
• Nutmeg (just a pinch)
• Breadcrumbs to line the pan

Preparation:

Wash the asparagus spears and trim away the fibrous white section at the bottom with a peeler, then boil in lightly salted water for about 10 minutes, or until they soften but retain some crispness. Remove them to a plate, and, as soon as they’re cool enough to handle cut them into inch-long lengths, setting the tips aside.

Preheat your oven to 375.  Liberally oil a small pan and then coat the insides with the breadcrumbs.

Beat the milk, eggs, nutmeg, oil and grated cheese in a bowl. Pour the mixture into the pan and add the asparagus stalks (they’ll float).  Bake the mixture for about 10 minutes, then add the tips, sprinkling them over the top, and bake for another 20 minutes, or until it has firmed up throughout.  Cool in the pan and then serve warm.

New Potatoes with Parmesan Sauce

Ingredients:

• 12 New Potatoes (small, unpeeled)
• 1 TB  Lucini Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 TB  Flour
• .5 C   Milk
• .5 tsp Salt
• .13 tsp  Nutmeg (optional; fresh, ground)
• .25 C  Lucini Organic Stravecchio Parmigiano Reggiano (grated)

Preparation:

Cover the potatoes with water in a large saucepan, bring to a boil, cover, lower heat and simmer until tender, about 8-12 minutes.  Drain and keep warm.

In medium saucepan over medium-high heat, whisk the flour into the olive oil.  Whisk in milk, stirring constantly until thickened.  Season the sauce with salt and nutmeg.  Stir in cheese.  Pour sauce over potatoes and stir to coat.

Strawberries with Balsamic Vinegar

Ingredients:

• 1 QT  Strawberries (fresh, stems removed and sliced)
• 6 TB  Lucini Gran Riserva Balsamic Vinegar
• 2 TB  Sugar
• .25 tsp  Black Pepper (fresh, ground)

Preparation:

Toss the strawberries with vinegar, sugar and black pepper.  Serve immediately.

Campari Glaze for Ham.

Ingredients:

• .25 C  Lucini Pinot Grigio Vinegar
• .5 C    Campari
• .5 C    Apricot Preserves (Peach Preserves and Orange Marmalade will also work)
• 1 TB   Brown Sugar

Preparation:

Combine all ingredients in a small sauce pan.  Cook on low heat for approximately 10 minutes, stirring frequently.  Taste for preserves, sugar and salt.  Spread glaze on ham during the last 30 minutes of baking. Tent ham with foil to avoid scorching the glaze. Apply glaze again, if desired, during the last 15 minutes of baking.  Serve extra glaze as an additional topping for the ham.

Piccalili

Ingredients:

• 2 C Fresh Green Tomato (chopped small)
• .5 C  Red Bell Pepper (chopped small)
• .5 C  Green Bell Pepper (chopped small)
• .75 C  Onion (chopped small)
• 2 C   Cabbage (chopped small)
• 1.5 TB Salt
• 1 tsp Coriander (fresh, ground)
• 1 tsp Black Pepper (fresh, ground)
• 1 tsp Mustard Seed (yellow or black)
• .13 tsp Allspice (fresh, ground)
• .13 tsp Cinnamon (ground)
• 1.5 C    Lucini Pinot Grigio Vinegar
• .75 C    Brown Sugar

Preparation:

Combine the chopped vegetables with the salt and cover with hot water.  Refrigerate and let stand for 12 hours.

Drain the vegetables and softly press out all possible liquid.

Add the spices to combined vinegar and brown sugar and heat to a boil in a sauce pan.

Add vegetables and boil gently 30 minutes or until the mixture is reduced by one-half.

Refrigerate overnight.

Gentleman’s Relish

Ingredients:

• 1 Tin  Anchovy Fillets

• .5 C   Lucini Extra Virgin Olive Oil

• .25 tsp  Chili Powder

• .25 tsp  Ginger (ground or 1 tsp minced fresh)

• .25 tsp  Dried Oregano

• .13 tsp   Nutmeg (fresh, ground)

• Black Pepper (fresh, ground, to taste)

Preparation:

Add the anchovies a mortar and pestle and pound to a paste.  Stir-in the spices and pepper then spoon the resultant paste into a large ramekin.  Add the olive oil and mix well.  Cover and chill then serve.

Extra Virgin Mayonnaise

Ingredients:

• 1 Egg
• 1.5 TB Fresh Lemon Juice
• 1 tsp Mustard (Homemade or Dijon would be best)
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 C Lucini Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Directions:

Combine the first 3 ingredients in a blender.  Slowly add the olive oil as the blender runs at a slow speed.  Add olive oil until the mixture is fully emulsified.

Mustard

Ingredients:

• 4 TB  Mustard Seed
• .25 C  Lucini Pinot Grigio Vinegar
• .25 C  White Wine
• .5 tsp  Salt
• 1 TB   Shallots (optional)
• 2         Allspice Berries (optional)

Preparation:

Combine all of the ingredients, making sure the solids are submerged in the liquids.  Allow to marinate overnight.

Blend well.  Ready to serve.

Ketchup

Ingredients:

• 1.5 C   Lucini Organic Whole Tomatoes
• .5 C    Red Onion (chopped small)
• 2 TB    Lucini Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 TB     Tomato Paste
• .33 C   Dark Brown Sugar
• .25 C   Lucini Pinot Grigio Vinegar
• .25 tsp  Salt

Description:

Saute the onion in oil in a 4-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, 6-9 minutes. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, brown sugar, vinegar, and salt and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until very thick, about 1 hour (stir more frequently toward end of cooking to prevent scorching).

Purée the ketchup with a hand or regular blender until smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids). Allow to cool to room temperature then refrigerate.   You can use it right away, but the flavors will improve if you allow to sit overnight.