All Posts By: NANCY DeLUCIA REAL

Lasting eight days, Chanukah, also known as the “Festival of Lights”, is a Jewish holiday  which commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple (Second Temple) in Jerusalem. At Chanukah, one of the traditions occurring in Jewish homes is the lighting of a candle on a Menorah – a candelabrum – in a prayer at dinnertime. Over the years, I have been invited to my Jewish friends’ homes in order to participate in such a joyous celebration.

A popular side dish served at Chanukah dinners consists of potato pancakes called “latkes”. Latkes are crunchy on the outside and deliciously sweet inside. I finally learned how to make them with an added accent of chives. Serve these latkes as tradition has it – with applesauce and sour cream. Enjoy.

Active prep time: 10 to 15 minutes
Inactive prep time: 4 minutes
Cook time: 16 minutes
Makes: 6 to 7 latkes

Ingredients:
1 pound Russet potatoes (approx. one large)
1 small white or brown onion
1 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
Dash ground black pepper
1 tablespoon all-purpose, unbleached flour
1 to 2 tablespoons minced fresh chives
¼ cup vegetable oil
¼ cup olive oil
8 ounces (1 cup) ready-made applesauce
8 ounces (1 cup) sour cream

1. Peel and grate potato into a large bowl with cold water. Peel and grate the onion into the same bowl; stir in ½ teaspoon of the salt. Let mixture soak 1 to 3 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, in a 4-quart mixing bowl, beat together the egg, remaining ½ teaspoon of salt, black pepper, flour and chives. Set aside.

3. Drain the potato-onion mixture in a colander, pressing down to remove excess water.

4. Transfer the drained potato-onion mixture to a cheesecloth or clean white kitchen towel; roll up and squeeze out excess water.

5. Stir the potato and chives into the egg mixture and blend with a fork until uniform.

6. Heat both oils in a 12-inch, nonstick skillet until oil is hot but not smoking.

7. Measure ¼-cup potato mixture into hands and form a round, flattish shape.

8. Place the flattened potato mixture in hot oil, pressing down with a spatula to form a 4-inch pancake (latke).

9. Measure and prepare 2 more flattened potato mixtures in skillet and cook 3 to 4 minutes per side, on medium-high heat, until latkes are golden brown.

10. Drain on paper towels on a platter.

11. Serve latkes hot, accompanied by applesauce and sour cream. Latkes usually accompany beef brisket or other roasted meats.

Note: If oil is not hot enough, the latkes will be oily.

Text and Photographs ©2010 Nancy DeLucia Real

This recipe is the perfect solution for a quick fixin’ of turkey leftovers – in the gourmet mode. The Cranberry Orange Sauce should be made ahead of time and, of course, goes well with our upcoming Thanksgiving dinner. The next day or for the entire post-holiday week, simply sauté some shredded turkey with onions, heat up a few tortillas et voila! The combined flavors of roasted turkey and cranberry orange sauce intertwined with a hot tortilla will satisfy any palate. Buen Provecho!

Prep time: 15 minutes (for the turkey filling & burrito assembly)
Cook time: 15 minutes (for the sauce – makes 2-1/2 cups)
Recipe makes: 4 burritos

For the Cranberry Orange Sauce:
1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons cold water
2 cups fresh cranberries
Juice of one orange
1 cup cold water
3/4 cup granulated sugar
One 3-inch cinnamon stick (optional)

1. In a cup, stir together the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water; set aside.

2. Meanwhile, in a 2-quart saucepot, stir remaining ingredients together.

3. Set saucepot on stove burner, uncovered, on high heat setting. Bring to a boil.

4. Reduce heat to low setting and cook, stirring occasionally, for 4 to 5 minutes or until cranberries pop and a sauce has formed.

5. While sauce is simmering, stir in the cornstarch mixture; cook and stir 1 additional minute.

6. Remove and discard cinnamon stick. Transfer the sauce to a Pyrex or porcelain bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, set on a counter and cool completely.

7. The sauce can be made up to one week ahead, stored and covered in a glass or porcelain container and refrigerated.

For the Burritos:

1. In a 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil. Add turkey and onion.

2. Cook on medium high heat, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent and turkey meat toasts and becomes light golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes.

3. Transfer cooked turkey filling to a glass or porcelain bowl, cover and keep warm.

For the Turkey Filling & the Burritos:
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 cups shredded, cooked turkey meat (light or dark meat)
1/2 cup chopped white or brown onion
1/2 cup vegetable or chicken broth
Four 10-inch flour tortillas*

1. Wipe the same skillet clean and place on stove burner on medium low setting.

2. Warm up the tortillas in skillet, two at a time, inverting them occasionally until warmed through.

3. Transfer both warmed tortillas to a flat working surface.

4. With one tortilla in front of you, place 1/4 of the turkey filling one inch from edge closest to you. Slightly spread the filling to the sides, horizontally, until it is one inch from tortilla sides.

5. Beginning the burrito roll up by picking up the tortilla edge closest to you.

6. Roll up the burrito halfway. Fold in the tortilla sides and continue the roll up until you have formed a burrito.

7. Warm up remaining two tortillas and repeat burrito assembly.

Gobble up the burritos immediately!

*Preferred tortilla brands: Guerrero or Diana (other types tend to be dry). Tortillas can be found in most supermarkets or in Latin American markets.

Text and Photographs ©2010 Nancy DeLucia Real

During the week before Thanksgiving I usually make pumpkin bread. This year, I reinvented this Autumn coffee go-with. I made a traditional pumpkin cake with an added cream cheese filling. Some of the white flour has been substituted with whole wheat flour. And, although I eliminated the oil, this dessert is still moist and scrumptious. Serve this “no fuss” cake for Thanksgiving – and don’t forget the coffee!

Prep time: 20 minutes
Bake time: 40 to 50 minutes
Makes: One 10-inch cake

FOR THE CREAM CHEESE CAKE FILLING:
One 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened at room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg

1. In a 2-cup mixing bowl and with a hand mixer, beat together the cream cheese, sugar and egg.

2. Set aside until ready to assemble into the raw cake batter.

FOR THE CAKE:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
One 15-ounce can pumpkin
1 cup nonfat, plain yogurt
4 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup (4 ounces) Dulce de Leche*

1. Preheat oven to 350˚F. Grease and flour an 10-inch round spring form pan and set aside.

2. In a 4-cup mixing bowl, combine the flours, salt, baking powder, cinnamon and allspice; set aside.

3. Meanwhile, in a 2-cup mixing bowl, using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a bowl, beat together the cream cheese, sugar and egg; set aside.

4. In a 3 or 4-quart mixing bowl, mix together the pumpkin, yogurt, eggs, sugar and vanilla on low speed.

5. Gradually add the combined dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and beat at low speed until the batter is uniform, about 1 to 2 minutes.

6. Pour half of the pumpkin batter into the prepared pan, spreading it evenly with a spatula; set aside.

7. Spoon the cream cheese mixture evenly over batter in pan followed by remaining half of pumpkin batter. Make sure the top pumpkin batter layer covers the cream cheese mixture evenly.

8. Place springform pan with batter on a rack positioned in center of oven and bake 40 to 50 minutes.

9. After 40 minutes, check doneness of cake by inserting a pointed knife in its center. If knife has sticky batter around it, bake cake for an additional 5 minutes. Check doneness once more. Knife inserted should come out clean. If not, bake another 5 minutes.

10. Cool cake completely in spring form pan on counter.

11. If making a day ahead, cover pan with aluminum foil and refrigerate. Remove cake from refrigerator 2 hours before serving.

FOR THE CAKE GARNISH:
5-Minute Sweetened Whipped Cream (found in our recipes, under Desserts, Creams & Sauces)

1. When cake is completly cook and at serving time, remove sides of spring form pan and set cake on a platter (do not remove cake from pan bottom). 

2. Serve individual pieces of cake on your guests’ plates, topped with a drizzle of dulce de leche and the whipped cream.

*Dulce de leche is a caramel sauce from Argentina and can be found in Latin American supermarkets. It is usually packaged and sold in a 15-ounce glass or plastic jar.

Text and Photographs ©2010 Nancy DeLucia Real

In Italian cuisine, gnocchi are treated as a first course and are featured among the pasta dishes on a menu. Classic gnocchi are made of potatoes and flour and served with different sauces. Since it’s difficult for me to be limited to one sauce and one flavor, I serve gnocchi with a duo of sauces. This recipe calls for a tomato sauce and a walnut-olive oil drizzle over the gnocchi. It’s simple to make and a delight to the eye and palate.

Prep time: 15 to 20 minutes
Serves: 3 to 4

Ingredients:
One pound (16 ounces) ready-made gnocchi (vacuum-packed or frozen)
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup tomato sauce, made ahead (see tomato sauce recipe for spaghetti, previously published on this blog on 8-25-10)
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Dash ground black pepper
1/2 cup freshly ground walnuts
4 walnut halves (for garnish)
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino Romano cheese

1. In a 5-quart saucepot, bring 3 quarts of water to a boil. Add the gnocchi and salt.

2. Cook on medium-high heat, uncovered, until gnocchi rise to the surface (about 3 to 4 minutes).

3. Transfer saucepot to a cool surface. With a slotted spoon, gently remove gnocchi from water, dividing them equally among three or four dinner plates.

4. Working with one plate of gnocchi at a time, drizzle one tablespoon of the oil on half of the gnocchi, followed by some black pepper and a sprinkle of walnuts.

5. Garnish with a walnut half. Spoon some tomato on other half of the gnocchi in plate and garnish with a parsley sprig.

6. Repeat with remaining plates of gnocchi. Ask each guest to add their own cheese.

Wine suggestion: Bordeaux (red or white).

Note: Do not overcook gnocchi, as they will become mushy and fall apart. When buying gnocchi, you may have to experiment with different brands until you find one that you like.

My favorite Italian brands are: Ferrara® and DeCecco®. Both varieties are vacuum-packed and found in the pasta section of supermarkets or international markets.

As for a frozen brand, I recently found La Salteña® gnocchi at an Argentine market/restaurant called Buenos Aires, located in Van Nuys, California.

Text and Photographs ©2010 Nancy DeLucia Real

I’d like to share a recent culinary experience in Italy, the land of my heritage.

Last month, while in Perugia, I was highly recommended by “Paolo the Hair Stylist” to seek out Magnavino, in a town called Bastia, located in the heart of Umbria, Italy’s central region. Since Paolo told me that he was from Bastia, I heeded his advice based on two things: 1) when an Italian mentions a restaurant in his hometown, it means he is a regular there; and 2) if an Italian eats at a restaurant, it means the food is as good as Mamma’s and it’s homemade.

The proprietor of Magnavino is Mario, a chef/artist who reinvents his homeland’s traditional foods with flair. The cuisine presented by Mario boasts bold flavors and a commanding presentation. Upon our arrival, we were greeted by Mario’s right hand, Stefania. She immediately served us a local Umbrian red wine with a deep oak bouquet and smooth finish. The restaurant was filled with regulars, and since Italians are demanding of fresh, high quality foods, this was definitely a good sign.

The appetizers were exquisite – we enjoyed warm homemade paté and a napoleon filled with an exquisite asparagus tapenade. We could taste each ingredient in Mario’s recipes.

The highlight of our “pranzo” or lunch that September day was the black gnocchi infused with squid ink, served with calamari and fresh tomatoes. While traditional potato gnocchi are bland, deriving their flavor from the sauce and ingredients around them, the gnocchi served at Magnavino contain nuances of fresh seafood. At first bite, one can immediately tell that Mario adds “just the right amount” of squid ink to the gnocchi.

I asked Stefania if I could meet the chef in order to compliment him on his quasi-orgasmic foods. My husband and I were escorted to the kitchen where Mario was working so hard to please all his patrons. Because he was short-staffed that day, we witnessed a multi-tasking Mario creating a zillion dishes in a furious frenzy. Nevertheless, he managed to please everyone to the max.

At Magnavino, one dines like a local and is treated as a member of the family. The ambiance is medieval-chic, the people are warm and the food – HEAVENLY!

MAGNAVINO WINE & FOOD
Bastia & Assisi (two locations in the province of Perugia)
Telephone: Bastia – 075 8011569; Assisi – 075 816814.

Text and Photographs ©2010 Nancy DeLucia Real