Italians meals, especially celebratory ones, often consist of various courses. For your Sopranos-style celebration, start off with an antipasti, which literally means "before the meal" and often consists of a mixture of cheese, smoked meats, salamis, olives and vegetables. While antipasti are not normally part of a traditional family meal, they are almost always present at formal dinners or celebrations. The primi piatti, or first course, comes next and often consists of a soup, pasta or rice dish. The second piatti, or second dish, commonly includes a meat or fish dish. Contorni, or side dishes, usually consist of vegetables that complement the secondi piatti. Insalatas, or salads, are often served after the final course, and every extra special meal should end with a dolci or dessert. Buon appetito!
Antipasti:
- Fried Zucchini
- Baked Clams Oreganata
- Stuffed Artichokes: Carciofe Ripieni
- Pizza Dough
- Marinated Fresh Anchovies: Alici Marinate
- Arancini di Riso
Pasta:
- Linguine with White Clams
- Macaroni with Meatballs and Braciole in Tomato Sauce
- Baked Ziti
- Basic Marinara Sauce
- Eggplant Timballo with Cavatelli
Soup:
Fish:
- Gamberoni al' Acqua Pazza: Shrimp in "Crazy Water"
- Fried Calamari
- Zuppa di Pesce from Amalfi
- Baccala Fritto: Fried Salt Cod
Meat:
- Neapolitan Meat Sauce: Ragu Napoletano
- Neapolitan Onion and Beef Ragu---la Genovese
- Sausage and Peppers
- Veal Saltimbocca
- Pork Chops in the Style of Beneventana: Costole di Maiale Beneventana
- Chicken Cacciatore
- Rabbit in the Style of Ischia: Coniglio All' Ischitana
Sides:
- Roasted Potatoes
- Roasted Tomatoes
- Sauteed Broccoli Rabe
- Sweet and Sour Eggplant---Melanzane in Agrodolce
Dessert:
- Zuppa Inglese: Trifle
- Baba au Rhum
- Limoncello
- Chocolate Tiramisu
- Zeppole
- Nocciola Gelato: Hazelnut Gelato
And last, but not least
