Let them eat cake!! This mac-n-cheese is made with truffle butter and enough fancy cheeses to make a cow cry. No Aunt Marie's Velveeta blend here, just decadence, and the non-apologetic kind, too. If you're going to consume an inordinate amount of calories, at least make it worth it, I say! And to top off the creamy and rich cheeses, a layer of crunchy panko flavored with parsley and garlic adds extra texture so the 99% can hear you chow down. This dish will be a winner at any holiday table.
 |
| Looks like a cheeseboard |
Recipe
1 pound pasta of your choice
1/3 pound speck or pancetta (optional)
3 oz truffle butter (6 tablespoons)
1/2 cup flour
1 quart half and half (4 cups)
6 oz young Mahon
7 oz emmentaler
6 oz aged gruyere
8 oz sharp cheddar
3 tablespoons marsala wine
1 medium onion
4 garlic cloves
1/4 bunch parsley
1 1/2 cup panko
EVOO for drizzling
I decided to take advantage of the bountiful fresh local produce in Florence and prepared a meal during my recent trip to Italy. I learned the joy of cooking simply and trusting the ingredients. I haven't tasted produce that tasted so flavorful in a long time, so why mess with a good thing? I restrained myself by not throwing the kitchen sink into every dish and let each element sing. I made a simple caprese salad as the appetizer, a speck and leeks pasta as the first course, and finally, a hearty chicken and cannelloni beans stew as the secondo. Alas, no dessert for us that night, just a big bottle of prosecco.
Recipe
Caprese Salad:
1 pound fresh mozzarella
2 large ripe tomatoes
10 large basil leaves
good EVOO
salt and pepper to taste
Pasta:
1 pound pasta (Gimelli is a good choice)
1/4 pound speck
1 large stalk of leek
1 small tomato
1/2 cup grated pecorino or parmesan
a little oil to coat the bottom of the pan
salt and pepper to taste
Chicken stew:
2 large chicken thighs
1 pound dried cannelloni beans (soaked overnight)
1 medium onion
2 large red bell peppers
1/4 pound speck
2 large ripe tomatoes
1 stalk of sage leaves
3 cups dry wine wine
oil for browning the chicken
salt and pepper to taste
