Italy Part 30

Mushroom walks into a bar. 

Bartender says, "We don't serve mushrooms." 

Mushroom says, "But I'm a 'fun guy!'" 

Bartender says, "I just said that don't serve fungi." 

Mushroom says, "No, no, not 'fungi,' 'fun guy.' I made a pun!" 

Bartender says, "Get the *bleep* out of my bar."

Mushrooms may not be as witty as they are 'fun guys' to eat! Hehe. Last week I prepared the following recipe, Sauteed mushrooms with garlic (p. 100).  This dish paired nicely with warm, crusty bread as an elegant appetizer. 

Mushrooms sauteed in oil and garlic.

More cooking with fresh thyme, followed by high and low
temperature cycling to allow the mushrooms to release and
evaporate their juices. The final step required stirring in
fresh parsley, salt and pepper to taste.

Sauteed mushrooms with garlic.
This Italian cooking challenge is
now 99% complete!

In my last Italian entry I mentioned that I have been tallying all of the recipes listed for this cooking challenge using a separate word file on my desktop. Today, I cut and pasted it below so that you can observe how far this challenge has come since early June. Please note that I was forced to modify this challenge a smidgen by throwing out seven recipes (listed at the bottom) due to equipment, budget or ingredient availability constraints.   Current standing: 74 recipes down with only 1 to go!! 

RECIPES TO MAKE (n = 1)

Panettone (p. 146)

COMPLETED RECIPES (n = 74)

Sautéed mushrooms with garlic

Zuppa inglese

Rabbit with rosemary and white wine

Involtini of swordfish

Olive bread

Herb baked ricotta

Zabaglione

Chicken liver crostini

Polenta squares with mushroom ragu

Green beans with garlic breadcrumbs

Seafood risotto

Spaghetti with sardines, fennel, tomato

Stuffed crepes

Penne alla napolitana

Biscotti

Roasted rosemary chicken

Baked radicchio

Cassata alla siciliana

Caponata with tuna

Veal steaks with prosciutto

Panzanella

Minestrone with pesto

Mussels in tomato and herb sauce

Gnocci romana

Insalata di frutti di mare

Honey and pine nut tart

Orecchiette with broccoli

Roman lamb

Rosemary potatoes

Sautéed silver beet

Fried olives

Stuffed sardines

Baked eggplant with tomato and mozzarella

Espresso granita

Mozzarella in carozza

Marjoram salmoriglio

Spagnettini with garlic and chilli

Sicilian rice fritters

Fennel fritters

Pork chops in marsala

Carciofi all romana

Macerated oranges

Almond semifreddo

Tomato and basil crostini

Semi dried roma tomatoes

Bean and rosemary dip

Grilled squid with salsa verde

Focaccia

Bucatini alla norm

Lingunie pesto

Bucatini amatricana

Pizza rustica

Mushroom risotto

Arancini

Chicken caccitori

Shaved fennel salad

Frittata di asparagialla menta

Strawberries with balsamic vinegar

Figs and procuitto

Stuffed peaches

Pappa al pomadoro

Rocket and pecorino salad

Parmesan and rosemary crusted veal chops

Salsa rossa

Lemon granita

Roasted balsamic onions

Baked peppers with anchovies

Spaghetti puttanesca

Olive crostini

Napolentana crostini

Tuna and cannelloni bean salad

Chimneysweeper’s gelato

Insalata caprese

Homemade pizza (seen here)

RECIPES NOT PREPARED (n = 7)

Sicilian cannoli (p. 144)

Reason: Did not have proper equipment to roll cannoli shells, however, I did purchase all of the ingredients for the creme filling to put into pre-made cannoli shells. These were forgotten about during my stay in Minnesota so perhaps my mother will be the guest chef to present this recipe in the future. 

Fritto misto di mare (p. 125) 

Reason: Mullet and cuttlefish not available

Fried whitebait (p. 100) 

Reason: Whitebait not available

Stuffed zucchini flowers (p. 88)

Reason: Flowers not available. At the farmer's market I was told by multiple zucchini growers that the act of picking the flower from the squash kills the zucchini, so they do not harvest these flowers since the demand for zucchini is greater. 

Fegato garbo e dolce (p. 121)

Reason: I couldn't find organic, grass-fed cattle from which these calves livers are taken from. Calves livers are available at specialty delis, however, I just can stomach the idea of eating an organ that filters out toxins from poorly reared animals.

Homemade pasta (p. 106)

Reason: Can't afford to invest in the equipment

Herb filled ravioli with sage butter (p. 112)

Reason: Can't afford to invest in the equipment