About Italian Food: Happy San Silvestro!

Italian Food In the Spotlight | More Topics | Top Picks |   from Kyle Phillips I know, I've been talking a lot about the holidays of late, but we are in that season. So here is wishing everyone a happy and safe new year's Eve, and a pleasant New year's Day. We'll be splitting up for the first time, with son R celebrating at a friend's house -- heard him talking on the phone about the video games they've assembled -- while Elisabetta, daughter C and I will likely be at home with the dog, enjoying fish, lentils and bubbly. Incidentally, they said on the news yesterday that fireworks terrify pets, to the point that many run away and get lost, or even have heart attacks. So if you have a furry companion, do reassure it when the noise begins. Again, Happiest & Safest New Years!   In the Spotlight Canederli allo Speck Simple fare from the Dolomites this, bread balls to go into a clear soup. And surprisingly good too. Speck is a similar to prosciutto but smoked. If you cannot find it a mildly sugared Virginia cured ham might work well as a substitute.              More Topics Risotto coi Gamberetti (little shrimp) Tasty, and also romantic Pollastri alla Marengo A simple version of Napoleon's favorite Scottadito alla Diavola, Lamb Chops Alla Diavola Mouthwatering! Costolette alla Valdostana Wonderfully cheesy cutlets Triglie alla Livornese Reef mullet in a zesty tomato sauce Rape Nfucate Zesty Broccoli Raab. Very good! Arance al Marsala Simple, tasty Oranges Bucatini all'Amatriciana This zesty pancetta and tomato sauce is commonly associated with Lazio and Rome, but is actually from the town of Amatrice, which was just over the border into the Abruzzo before Mussolini redrew the maps.   Orecchiette coi Broccoletti A traditional and very tasty Puglian way of dealing with broccoli. Even those who normally recoil from the green florets will enjoy this. I know, because it's one of the dishes that started me eating broccoli.     Sponsored Links   Top Picks - Favorite Winter Stews  from your  Italian Food  Guide When it gets cold out, and possibly wet -- what Italians call tempo da lupi, wolf weather, the best thing to do is break out the stew pot, prepare the requisite meat, herbs, and veggies, and set it all to simmering. The bubbling pot will warm your kitchen and perhaps even your house, the aromas will whet your appetite, and when it all gets to the table, it will being comfort and joy. 1) Pasta with Lentils As I have said before, lentils are a New Year's Eve requirement in Italy, because their shape -- like tiny coins -- augers good fortune for the coming year. They are usually served with cotechino or zampone, pork sausages, but there are other options too, and here are three. 2) Tagliatelle con le Lenticchie This is a rich vegetarian pasta with lentils soup. Quite nice, and warming, too. 3) Lentil Soup with Rice and Spinach Another rich, tasty vegetarian soup. And again, Happy New year!   Feeling Under the Weather? Evaluating Your Cold Symptoms How to tell when a runny nose is just a cold, and when it might be turning into something more serious and require a visit to the doctor. More> Italian Food Ads Italian Pasta Recipe Italian Risotto Cooking Pasta Italian Dessert Finger Food Recipes Advertisement     Visit Related About GuideSites: Home Cooking Europe for Visitors Italian Language Wine Gourmet Food   Search About      Sign up for more free newsletters on favorite topics. You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About Italian Food newsletter as ignoble.experiment@ARCONATI.US. If you wish to change or remove your email address, please visit: http://www.about.com/nl/usgs.htm?nl=italianfood&e=ignoble.experiment@ARCONATI.US About respects your privacy. Our Privacy Policy. Our Contact Information. 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2008 About, Inc.