Our weekend of cooking started with a trip down to Highlandtown in
assembled later. Oh yea - while the meat was being assembled we tried a pastachio and a chocolate chip cannoli - can't wait to go back to DiPasquale's. Homerun!
After a visit to an Asia
market for some ingredients, the wine store for some Italian Reds & we were
ready to get serious about our menu.
My uncles, Bob and Mepe Bracalente were in for the occasion and we love to listen to their stories of my late Dad and growing up in
Aunt
Sue's Oven Fried Chicken
Bea's
Potato Salad
Cannellini Bean Salad
Jan's
Orzo Salad
Feta
Salsa
Watermelon Cucumber Salad
Insalata Caprese
DiPasquale's Meats, Cheeses & Olives
What a line up. Needless to say, it got real quiet when everyone started eating. It was a success and Andrew graduated and went on to
Enjoy these recipes as we have and share them with friends. These are great sides individually or do them all together for a big party. They are simple to prepare and fun to prepare with your cooking partners.
Happy Eating and Dress well - Cheers!
Chip Bracalente - T.P.H.E.
Aunt Sue's Oven Fried Chicken
Serves 8
Ingredients:
2 whole chickens cut up; chicken breast split
All purpose flour10 eggs beaten
Salt
Pepper
2 bags Pepperidge Farm stuffing mix
Butter
Directions:
Bea's Potato Salad
Serves 8
Ingredients:
16 red potatoes skin on
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1-4 scallions sliced thin
1 grated carrot
2 Tbsps. fresh dill
1Tbsp. Kosher salt
2 tsps. pepper
Directions:
Boil red potatoes until tender, strain and let cool. After cooled, quarter and place in a large bowl to mix.
Incorporate the sour cream, mayo, scallions, carrot, dill and salt and pepper into the potatoes. May have to adjust your mayo and sour cream to taste. Refrigerate for 2 hours.
Jan's Cannellini Bean Salad
Serves 8
Ingredients:
3 cans Cannellini Beans
2-4 Tbsps. Balsamic vinegar
Jan's Feta Salsa
Ingredients:
1/2 lb. feta crumbled
2/3 cup sundried tomatoes in oil
1/2 cup pitted Kalamata Olives
2 Tbsps. fresh dill
3 Tbsps. parsley
2 Scallions
1/2 cup good olive oil
Directions:
Mix ingredients together and serve with crackers.
Jan's Orzo Salad
Andrea's Watermelon - Cucumber Salad
Jan's great friends Andrea and Charlie are always a welcome site when we visit Baltimore. Andrea is Greek and threw this great Greek inspired salad together for the party.
Ingredients:
2 cups cucumber in 1 in. chunks
1 thick slice of stale country bread
1 med. red onion thinly sliced
3 cups cold watermelon cut into 1 in. cubes
1 cup feta cheese
1 tsp. sherry or raspberry vinegar
ground pepper
fresh mint leaves for garnish
Directions:
Place chunks of the bread in bottom of bowl. This will absorb the watermelon juice. Layer all ingredients. Let stand for 30 minutes. Serve cold.
Insalata Caprese
In Italy, unlike most salads, it is usually served as an antipasto (starter), not a contorno (side dish). We used it as a side dish with our chicken. Because this salad is so simple, fresh ingredients are important.
Ingredients:
Fresh sliced mozzarella cheese sliced 1/4 in. thick
4 lg. Tomatoes sliced 1/4 in. thick
1/2 cup Fresh Basil leaves
3 Tbsps. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Kosher - salt to taste
Pepper - fresh ground - to taste
Balsamic vinegar (optional)
Directions:
On a large platter, alternate and overlap the tomato slices, mozzarella cheese slices, and basil leaves. Drizzle with olive oil. Season with sea salt and pepper. We like to add a drizzle of aged balsamic on our Caprese.
DiPasquale's Deli Meats and Cheeses
Large Deli Tray:
1/4 lb. Salami
1/4 lb. Sopressata
1/4 lb. Mortadella
1/4 lb. Prosciutto
1/8 lb. each of Sharp Provolone, Blue Cheese, Fontina
1/2 cup mixed olives
4 stuffed red cherry peppers
marinated eggplant
marinated asparagus
This is always my favorite dish, not only to shop for, but because there is no wrong way to buy the ingredients for this dish. Assemble and get creative and watch your company be amazed.
Happy Eating and Dress well - Cheers!
Chip Bracalente - T.P.H.E.
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