Any full blooded Italians out there?

Question

My husband is Italian and I would love to surprise him and make him a great Italian meal. Something other than the norm ya know? Does anyone have any good Italian recipes? I can't spend an arm and a leg on the ingredients though. So any inexpensive Italian dishes would be great. desserts? whatever. Thank you for the help

Answer 1

Osso Bucco for Two

This is really good for a romantic dinner for two and Veal Shanks aren't very expensive. Just get ones that look meaty and not too fatty.

2 servings 4½ hours 4 hours prep

4 teaspoons olive oil
2 beef shanks
4 teaspoons French dry rub
2 stalks celery, sliced 1/4 inch thick
4 medium carrots, sliced 1/4 inch thick
1 large onion, sliced into thin wedges
1 (14 ounce) can roma tomatoes, mush them up a bit-or when in season use 6 fresh and chop them (with juice)
1/2 bottle dry red wine, drink the rest
1 can beef broth
fresh cracked black pepper
2 sprigs rosemary, stripped and use only the leaves
2 sprigs thyme, stripped and use only the leaves

4 hours before cooking or the night before rub the French Dry Rub into the shanks, both sides.
In a large dutch oven over medium high heat add the oil and sear the shanks on both sides.
Reduce heat to medium and add the carrots, celery, and onions and cook, as is, for 5 minutes.
Now add the tomatoes, broth, wine and pepper and fresh herbs.
Bring to a boil, cover and reduce to a simmer for 30 minutes.
When done remove shanks to individual plates along with the vegetables and over high heat quickly reduce the liquid.
Pour this over top.
I serve this with a Cesar Salad, Garlic Bread and roasted potatoes.
Don't forget the wine!

Answer 2

How 'bout seafood? -Ingredients- 1 bag mussels
bottle dry white wine
1 lemon
2 cloves garlic
You'll need a steamer pot.
Simply pour 2-3 cups wine into bottom pan. Ad lemon slices to your taste. Crush garlic cloves and add to liquid. Meantime, clean mussels. Pull off the "beards" and discard any open ones. When wine is boiling, put mussels into top of steamer for 5-7 min.,( covered) or until all mussels open. Any longer and they turn to rubber. Serve them, still in the shell, with some nice warm crusty bread, and thats it! He'll love it.