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How to Poach a Pear – Pere martine al Toscano Rosso
How to Poach Pears in Red Wine
If peaches are the Queen of Summer fruit, then surely pears reign in Winter. Poached Pears, served whole, halved or sliced, delight family and guests. Bart walked into the kitchen the other night, and I shooed him out saying I had a surprise dessert for him. (By the way, that is a really good way to get people out of the kitchen – works better than anything else I have tried.) I poured Creme Anglaise on a plate, placed a jewel of a poached pear in the center, decorated it with some poaching syrup, and presented it to Bart. His face lit up. This one is a winner.
Poached pears are especially welcome now as we look for lighter desserts. Bosc and D’Anjou are the pears most often recommended for poaching, but Bartletts, red d’Anjou and Comice are my favorites. Select firm, unblemished and slightly under ripe fruit. Pay special attention to the stems of the fruit you buy; look for nicely formed ones, and be certain they are firmly attached. Read the remainder of this entry »
Maccheroni alla Chitarra con Ragù d’Agnello
From Abruzzo comes Guitar Cut Pasta with Lamb Ragù
Abruzzo – from the majestic Gran Sasso to its beaches on the Adriatic Sea this part of Italy has postcard perfect terrain. To walk in the mountains of Abruzzo is to walk the age old route of the transumanza – the seasonal sheep migration, and indeed, sheep figure prominently in the socioeconomic history of this region and its cuisine.
Gaetano Alfonso Crocetti
Born 1894 Montesilvano, arrived New York 1913, died 1967 Los Angeles, California
My grandfather, Gaetano Crocetti was born in Montesilvano, Abruzzo. He loved the food of his homeland, and although I have written previously about Ferratelle, the Abruzzese take on Pizzelle, this region has as its most singularly recognizable contribution to Italian cookery an implement known as the chitarra, a tool used to cut pasta. In her book Food and Memories of Abruzzo Anna Teresa Callen writes that this tool appears in manuscripts dating as far back as the thirteenth century.
Indeed la chitarra is part of Abruzzese culture, Read the remainder of this entry »