In September, my friends and I will be hosting our group camping meeting. Every month, other members just do potluck and we wanted something different so we come up with an Italian potluck. Everyone bring your favorite italian dish. We are supplying dessert and the bread. Does anyone have a clue what an italian dessert would be(easy)? Also what would be easiest bread to do for a group of 35 people.
Combine the cream cheese with remaining condiments, garlic and herbs.
Spread the mixture thickly on the buttered slices and top with a sprinkle of mozzarella. Put 2 halves back together, and slice into 1" slices. Wrap in foil, place next to (NOT IN) grill or fire for approx 5 minutes, turn and repeat on other side.
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Not a dessert, but it could be!
Mozzarella Caprese:
Sliced tomatoes
sliced mozzarella cheese (1 slice per tomato slice)
marinated/roasted bell peppers (cut piece to cover tomato/cheese)
fresh basil leaves (1 per tomato/cheese/pepper)
balsamic vinegar over all to taste
olive oil over all to taste
Layer ingredients on plate in order given, serve room temperature, enjoy. Goes EXCELLENT with garlic bread!
Very easy, especially in a RV kitchen! Common ingredients, too.
Italian Apple Cake
Pine nuts and grapes give this apple cake a genuine Italian taste.
Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
Grated rind of one lemon
1/2 cup seedless red or green grapes
1/4 cup pine nuts
1/3 cup, plus 3 tablespoons, sugar
2 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/2 cup sifted flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Method
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place apples in greased 9" oven proof glass pie plate. Sprinkle 3 tablespoons sugar and lemon rind over apples. Cover with foil and bake 20 minutes. Cream butter with 1/3 cup sugar and then add egg. Sift flour and baking powder together and blend into butter. Remove apples from oven after 20 minutes and mix in with grapes and pine nuts. Spread batter over fruit and bake until cake is golden brown, about 20-25 minutes.
Notes: Many European cultures have an apple cake but the pine nuts and grapes make it uniquely Italian.
We had cheesecake for our Italian feast dessert. Very easy nowadays with the pre-made filling available in the refridgerated section of the grocery store. Add a graham cracker crust and a can of pie filling and instant cheesecake. Not exactly homemade, but still pretty tasty.
My favorite Italian dessert is Tiramisu. It's not too difficult to make, although it can be difficult to find the Mascarpone cheese. Here's a basic recipe.
Ingredients
POUNDCAKE, 6 oz. (about half of a 10.75 ounce package), cut into 1/2-inch cubes
MASCARPONE CHEESE, 8 ounces
HEAVY CREAM, 1-1/4 cups
EGGS, 2
SUGAR, 2/3 cup + 1/4 cup, divided
UNFLAVORED GELATIN, 1 envelope
KAHLUA or AMARETTO, 6 tablespoons
VANILLA, 1/4 teaspoon
UNSWEETENED COCOA POWDER (optional)
SWEETENED WHIPPED CREAM (optional)
SHAVED CHOCOLATE for decorating
Directions
Divide cake pieces evenly among 12 1/2-cup capacity custard cups; set aside.
In bowl with mixer at high speed beat cheese with heavy cream until mixture falls from spatula in thick ribbon, about 1 minute; set aside.
In another bowl with mixer at high speed beat eggs until fluffy, 6-8 minutes.
Meanwhile, in pot over high heat, combine 2/3 cup sugar with 1/4 cup water; bring to a boil.
Cook until sugar dissolves and temperature reaches 250 degrees Fahrenheit on candy thermometer.
Gradually beat the boiling sugar syrup into beaten eggs.
Continue beating until slightly cooled, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl; set aside.
In a small bowl, combine 3 tablespoons of water with gelatin; let stand 5 minutes.
In a small pot over high heat, combine 1/2 cup water with remaining sugar; bring to a boil.
Cook until sugar dissolves, 3-4 minutes.
Remove from heat; stir in liqueur, vanilla and reserved gelatin until gelatin dissolves.
Fold 3/4 of the liqueur mixture into the egg mixture; fold in the cheese mixture.
Drizzle the remaining liqueur mixture over the cake in thecustard cups, dividing the cheese mixture evenly among the cups.
Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour.
Garnish each with sprinkling of cocoa, whipped cream and chocolate shavings, if desired.
Insted of Kahlua or Amaretto, you can just use extra strong coffee. The last time I made it I stopped at the local coffee shop and bought a small cup of expresso and used that.
Julie
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A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving. ~ Lao Tzu
fordsooperdootydieselsmoker wrote: Very easy, especially in a RV kitchen! Common ingredients, too.
Italian Apple Cake
Pine nuts and grapes give this apple cake a genuine Italian taste.
Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
Grated rind of one lemon
1/2 cup seedless red or green grapes
1/4 cup pine nuts
1/3 cup, plus 3 tablespoons, sugar
2 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/2 cup sifted flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Method
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place apples in greased 9" oven proof glass pie plate. Sprinkle 3 tablespoons sugar and lemon rind over apples. Cover with foil and bake 20 minutes. Cream butter with 1/3 cup sugar and then add egg. Sift flour and baking powder together and blend into butter. Remove apples from oven after 20 minutes and mix in with grapes and pine nuts. Spread batter over fruit and bake until cake is golden brown, about 20-25 minutes.
Notes: Many European cultures have an apple cake but the pine nuts and grapes make it uniquely Italian.
1 pkg. Duncan Hines yellow butter cake mix
1 pkg. Jello instant vanilla pudding
1/2 c. dark rum
1/2 c. water
1/2 c. salad oil
4 eggs
RUM GLAZE:
1/2 c. butter, not butter
1/4 c. water
1 c. sugar
1/4 c. rum
Mix cake as directed on package. Pour in greased and floured Bundt pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 50 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately prick the surface with a fork and slowly pour rum glaze over top until it is absorbed.
To prepare glaze, boil butter, water and sugar together for 3-5 minutes. Add 1/4 cup rum to mixture and boil 1 minute longer. Pour onto cake while very hot. Let cake set in pan for 1 hour. Invert and remove pan.
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