L'Italo-Americano

What to eat before Midnight mass? On Christmas Eve that is a l w a y s t h e q u e s t i o n i n o u r house. We've eaten a big feast just hours before, but by the time 10:00 rolls around, as the rest of the relatives arrive for a visit and the drive to our family parish, everyone is ready for "a little something" to tide us over. Why not have a Prosecco cocktail with Cappelletti or a Spritz, and a few light nibbles? Cappelletti, also known as "Lo Specialino" hails from Alto- Adige. Citrusy and full-flavored, aromatic and bittersweet, think of this vibrant red vino aperitivo as the kinder, gentler cousin of Campari. It is wonderful with soda or tonic water, Prosecco, or in a Negroni, in place of the usual Campari. Pair your Cappelletti cocktail with Mezzelune ai funghi, flaky puff pastry filled with cooked m u s h r o o m s , a n d a d u e t o f Gorgonzola crostini, one topped with fragrant toasted hazelnuts and a touch of voluptuous hazel- nut oil, the other topped with luscious Mostarda di Fichi. This light meal will get you to the church on time. Prosecco & Cappelletti makes 1 Fill a flute ¾ full with well- chilled Prosecco. Add a splash of Cappelletti, and a dash of o r a n g e b i t t e r s , i f d e s i r e d . Garnish with an orange twist. Serve. Cappelletti & Soda makes 1 Fill a rocks glass ¾ full with ice. Add 2 ounces Cappelletti, or to taste, and top with soda or tonic water. Garnish with an orange wheel. Serve. Mezzelune ai Fungi makes about 50 These antipasti can be prepa- r e d w e e k s a h e a d a n d f r o z e n unbaked. They are perfect to have on hand for surprise guests. Use any mushroom you like, white button, cremini or Italy's famous funghi porcini. • 1 ½ pounds of prepared puff pastry • 1 p o u n d c r e m i n i m u s h - rooms, wiped clean with a damp towel • ½ cup minced Italian parsley • 2 shallots • ½ cup grated Parmigiano- Reggiano • ¾ cup dry bread crumbs • 2 ounces unsalted butter • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt • ¼ teaspoon black pepper • 1 large egg Place the shallots in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade. Pulse to mince. Add the mushrooms and parsley. Pulse to mince. Over a medium flame heat the butter and oil in a 10-inch skillet. Add the mush- room mixture, and ½ teaspoon A Late Night Nibble ADRI BARR CROCETTI f i n e s e a s a l t . C o o k u n t i l t h e liquid has evaporated, about 10- 11 minutes. Combine the mush- room mixture, cheese, bread crumbs, and pepper in a medium b o w l . T a s t e f o r s e a s o n i n g , adding more salt and pepper, if desired. Set aside to cool. Roll the puff pastry to 1/8- inch thickness. Cut into 3-inch rounds. Place rounds on a parch- m e n t l i n e d b a k i n g s h e e t . Refrigerate 15 minutes. Place 1 teaspoon of filling just off-cen- ter on each round. Moisten the edge with water, and fold over t o f o r m a h a l f - m o o n s h a p e . Press the edges together with a fork. Place the mezzelune in 1 l a y e r o n a b a k i n g s h e e t a n d refrigerate for 1 hour prior to b a k i n g . F o r l o n g e r s t o r a g e , place the mezzelune in the free- zer in one layer, and freeze until solid, about 3 hours. Transfer them to an airtight container, and keep frozen until ready to bake. They may be baked strai- ght from the freezer. To bake, adjust the oven rack to the center level, and preheat t h e o v e n t o 3 7 5 d e g r e e s F . Lightly beat together the egg and 1 teaspoon water. Place the mezzelune on a parchment lined baking sheet and brush with the egg wash. Bake 15 to 20 minu- tes until golden. Serve warm. Crostini with Gorgonzola Dolce and Hazelnuts • ¼ -½ inch thick slices of baguette • 8 oz. Gorgonzola dolce • 4 oz. whole milk ricotta • ½ cup hazelnuts, toasted, skins removed • basil leaves • 1 clove of garlic, peeled and sliced in half lengthwise Pariani hazelnut oil H e a t a g r i l l p a n f o r f i v e minutes over medium heat. Slice the bread on the bias into pieces about ¼ to ½ inch thick. Grill on both sides until slightly warm and lightly marked. Rub one side of the warm bread with the cut surface of the garlic. (If you prefer no garlic, omit this step.) Break the gorgonzola into s m a l l p i e c e s a n d c o m b i n e i t with the ricotta. If you prefer a smooth mixture, blend further, using a fork to mash the cheeses t o g e t h e r . F o r a c o m p l e t e l y smooth mixture, place the chee- se in the food processor fitted with the metal knife and pulse until smooth. Spread a bit of the mixture on the garlic rubbed side of each slice of bread. Place basil (either tiny leaves or larger leaves cut in chiffonade) atop the cheese mixture. Dot the cro- stini with the chopped toasted hazelnuts. Arrange the crostini on serving plates and dribble a bit of hazelnut oil over them, allowing it to pool in the nooks and crannies of the cheese top- ping. Serve. Crostini with Gorgonzola Dolce and Mostarda di Fichi Prepare the crostini as above, omitting the garlic. Spread soft Gorgonzola dolce atop the cro- s t i n i a n d s p o o n M o s t a r d a d i Fichi over. Serve. P a r i a n i H a z e l n u t O i l a n d Mostarda di Fichi are available f r o m M a r k e t H a l l F o o d s (MarketHallFoods.com) Cappelletti Vino Aperitivo is a v a i l a b l e f r o m K & L W i n e s (KLWines.com)and other pur- veyors of fine wines and spirits Q u e s t i o n s ? E m a i l m e a t AdriBarrCrocetti.com or visit AdriBarrCrocetti.com Crostini with gorgonzola dolce and hazelnuts www.italoamericano.com 14 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014 L'Italo-Americano

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