How to impress the best?

Question

Alright, my boyfriend is from Italy (Roma) and when I go there to live I want to impress his mama with my cooking. I'm a southern girl heart and soul (with artistic and intellectual mixed in there somewhere) and don't really know much about Italian cooking.....so, any Italian recipes would be appreciated, from deserts to main dishes. Thanks!

Answer 1

Chicken Piccata
Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

2 skinless and boneless chicken breasts, butterflied and then cut in half
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
All-purpose flour, for dredging
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/4 cup brined capers, rinsed
1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Season chicken with salt and pepper. Dredge chicken in flour and shake off excess.
In a large skillet over medium high heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter with 3 tablespoons olive oil. When butter and oil start to sizzle, add 2 pieces of chicken and cook for 3 minutes. When chicken is browned, flip and cook other side for 3 minutes. Remove and transfer to plate. Melt 2 more tablespoons butter and add another 2 tablespoons olive oil. When butter and oil start to sizzle, add the other 2 pieces of chicken and brown both sides in same manner. Remove pan from heat and add chicken to the plate.

Into the pan add the lemon juice, stock and capers. Return to stove and bring to boil, scraping up brown bits from the pan for extra flavor. Check for seasoning. Return all the chicken to the pan and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove chicken to platter. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to sauce and whisk vigorously. Pour sauce over chicken and garnish with parsley.



Penne with Vodka Sauce
Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

1 quart Simple Tomato Sauce, recipe follows, or store-bought marinara sauce, blended until smooth
1 cup vodka
1/2 cup heavy cream, at room temperature
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
1 pound penne

Simmer the tomato sauce and vodka in a heavy large skillet over low heat until the mixture reduces by 1/4, stirring often, about 20 minutes. Stir the cream into the tomato and vodka sauce. Simmer over low heat until the sauce is heated through. Stir in the Parmesan cheese until melted and well blended.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Drain the pasta and transfer it to the pan with the sauce, and toss to coat.


Simple Tomato Sauce:
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
2 (32-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
4 to 6 basil leaves
2 dried bay leaves
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, optional

In a large casserole pot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until soft and translucent, about 2 minutes. Add celery and carrot and season with salt and pepper. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, basil, and bay leaves and reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and simmer for 1 hour or until thick. Remove bay leaves and taste for seasoning. If sauce tastes too acidic, add unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, to round out the flavor.
Pour half the tomato sauce into the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth. Continue with remaining tomato sauce.

If not using all the sauce, allow it to cool completely and then pour 1 to 2 cup portions into plastic freezer bags. Freeze for up to 6 months.



Strawberry Bruschetta
Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

3 slices (1/2-inch-thick) rustic white bread
2 to 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
10 strawberries, sliced
3 to 5 teaspoons sugar

Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Grill the bread until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Spread the butter over the toasts. Arrange the sliced strawberries over the toasts. Sprinkle the strawberries with the sugar. Broil until the sugar begins to caramelize, about 2 minutes.



Verdure al Forno
Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
5 medium zucchini, (about 1 1/2 pounds) sliced lengthwise, 1/4-inch thick
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup grated mozzarella
1 cup grated fontina
1/4 cup grated Romano
1 cup plain dried bread crumbs
4 tablespoons unsalted butter

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Coat the bottom of a 9 by 13-inch baking dish with extra-virgin olive oil. Arrange zucchini slices on the bottom of the dish and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Evenly pour 1/3 cup of the heavy cream and sprinkle with 1/3 of a cup of mozzarella, 1/3 cup fontina and 2 tablespoons of the Romano. Sprinkle with 1/3 cup of the bread crumbs. Repeat layers, ending with the bread crumbs. Cut the 4 tablespoons of butter into 1/2-inch cubes and sprinkle over the top of the dish. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, place the baking dish on top and bake for 40 minutes until bubbling and the top is golden brown.



Chicken Parmesan
Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 teaspoon chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 (3-ounces each) chicken cutlets
1 1/2 cups Simple Tomato Sauce, recipe follows or purchased marinara sauce
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
16 teaspoons grated Parmesan
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
Stir the oil and herbs in a small bowl to blend. Season with salt and pepper. Brush both sides of the cutlets with the herb oil. Heat a heavy large oven-proof skillet over high heat. Add the cutlets and cook just until brown, about 2 minutes per side. Remove the skillet from the heat.

Spoon the marinara sauce over and around the cutlets. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of mozzarella over each cutlet, then sprinkle 2 teaspoons of Parmesan over each. Sprinkle the butter pieces atop the cutlets. Bake until the cheese melts and the chicken is cooked through, about 3 to 5 minutes.


Simple Tomato Sauce:
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 (32-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
4 to 6 basil leaves
2 dried bay leaves
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, optional

In a large casserole pot, heat oil over medium high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until soft and translucent, about 2 minutes. Add celery and carrots and season with salt and pepper. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, basil, and bay leaves and simmer covered on low heat for 1 hour or until thick. Remove bay leaves and check for seasoning. If sauce still tastes acidic, add unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon at a time to round out the flavors.
Add half the tomato sauce into the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth. Continue with remaining tomato sauce.

If not using all the sauce, allow it to cool completely and pour 1 to 2 cup portions into freezer plastic bags. This will freeze up to 6 months.



Lemon Spaghetti
Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

1 pound spaghetti
2/3 cup olive oil
2/3 cup grated Parmesan
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (about 3 lemons)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil leaves

Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk the oil, Parmesan, and lemon juice in a large bowl to blend.
Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid. Toss the pasta with the lemon sauce, and the reserved cooking liquid, adding 1/4 cup at a time as needed to moisten. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with lemon zest and chopped basil.

Answer 2

Well if you want an honest opinion, you should not make her an Italian dish. She already knows how to make everything I'm sure, and is probably a pro at it. What i would do if i were you is make something you're good and and familiar with. Try making a wonderful dish from the South (since you said that's where your heart and soul is). Show her alittle bit of your culture and tastes, something that will be new and delicious to her. Good Luck :)

Answer 3

I have to agree that you need to cook your style foods, to come in cooking like an italian would seem so phoney. Besides she would probably enjoy the different flavors as much as we enjoy the italian flavors.

Answer 4

I would think it would be difficult to impress a true itallian with an itallian dish. Maybe you should cook her a Southern favorite of yours, rather than try and diplicate something she is already good at.

Answer 5

Why not cook some good southern food for her? She might enjoy trying something different. And then you wouldn't be 'in competition' with her cooking.

Answer 6

Northern Italian alright? CHICKEN MARSALA - In a frying pan, butter (melted) sliced mushrooms (Lots). cook until mushrooms start to soften. In a second frying pan cook Chicken (boneless, cut into pieces or strips and coated with flour) in butter, until edges on all sides start to brown. In first frying pan, add finely diced garlic and a generous amout of Marsala wine to mushrooms and heat vigorously for about two minutes, add chicken from second frying pan and cook until sauce thickens (flour from chicken will thicken sauce). To finish, add a spritz more Marsala wine (important, to sharpen Marsala flavor) and serve. - ENJOY

Answer 7

I dont know any recipes but you could try to check out a recipe book at the library. Or ask him wats his mom into den look up how to make it. So you could already have something in mind at least

Answer 8

girl just be yourself being that you don't know how to cook Italian food maybe that will bring you close with her just ask her to teach you some of her recipes

Answer 9

In true Italian tradition I think Mamma will be more impressed if learnt from her.

Answer 10

don't impress her with her foods, impress her with your foods (southern foods)

Answer 11

This should do the trick! : http://www.italianfoodforever.com/