When dinner is down to the wire or you're too tired to cook, a meal straight from the pantry is the way to go! Michael teaches us the essentials of a well stocked cupboard to make quick and impressive meals for impromptu guests. Who knew it was so easy?
Gameplan
Hour Before Dinner (made with guests):
Mash anchovies and capers for puttanesca sauce
Steam skins off of canned tomatoes for bruschetta
Put marinara sauce, clam juice, black pepper in sauce
Pit and chop olives and add to the sauce.
Add mashed anchovies and capers combination to the sauce. Add fresh oregano.
Chop steamed tomatoes for bruschetta.
Chop prosciutto and cook on stovetop to add as bits to salad.
Mix salad dressing: chopped tarragon, Dijon mustard, gray salt, sherry vinegar
Make poached eggs for salad. Prepare greens.
Make bruschetta on grill and then top with chopped tomatoes, basil & olive oil
Make pasta
Dinner Party:
Serve salad, pasta puttanesca with bruschetta
After dinner, make espresso
Make dessert: hazelnut gelato with steamed milk, biscotti and then add hot espresso
Wine Recommendation
Chiarello Vineyards Cabernet
Island Shrimp and Pineapple Skewers with Rum Butter Sauce; Caribbean Style Chicken with Peanut Spice Rub; Grilled Sweet Potato Salad; Grilled Strawberry and Goat Cheese Pizza. Bar Guest: Sal Passalaqua.
When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, it's time to put on some Sinatra and bring out the red checkered tablecloths for the cozy Italian food we grew up on! It's fast and simple and just like mama's!
Gameplan
Day Before Party:
Make and simmer chicken broth for Pastina d’Ambrodo
Prepare the Red Sauce Gravy for the Meatballs
Prepare and cool risotto for Spinach Arancini
One Hour Before Party:
Roll, stuff and coat Spinach Arancini
Prepare, mold, and poach meatballs
Fry and cool Spinach Arancini
At Party:
Combine Meatballs and Gravy
Assemble Pastina d’Ambrodo
Wine Recommendation
Garguilo Vineyard Pinot Grigio; Chiarello Chianti
Seared Beef Fillets with Blue Glacage, Seared Salmon with Wild Mushroom and White Bean Ragout & Merlot Reduction Sauce, BBQ Rock Shrimp over creamy grits. Musicians: Doc Gibbs & Cliff Bar Guest: Michael Green
homemade candy so easy you won't believe it. From a rich and crunchy almond toffee bar, to chocolate-covered coconut balls and one chocolaty rich sauce that you can serve three ways!