Italian Meatloaf (Polpettone di Carne)

Mary Ann Esposito

Is there such a thing as Italian meat loaf? Yes, but not cloaked in ketchup, oozing cheddar cheese and accompanied by mashed potatoes. Italian meat loaf (polpettone) means meat roll or meat ball and recipes vary by region. In Emilia Romagna ground beef, pancetta, cinnamon and nutmeg are typical ingredients. While in Tuscany, ground veal, carrots and onions are frequent ingredients and in Rome, lamb, eggs, white wine and celery are popular. My mother insisted that beef, veal and pork gave the best flavor, and I have taken a little liberty with her recipe and started my own meat loaf tradition.

SERVES 8

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef
1 pound ground pork
2 medium baking potatoes, cooked, peeled and riced
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup minced parsley
1 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
1 cup grated carrots

6 thin slices prosciutto di Parma or boiled ham
1 cup grated Asiago cheese
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup chicken broth

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

In a bowl combine the beef, pork, potatoes, eggs, garlic, salt, parsley, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and carrots. Do not over mix or the texture will be tough.

Transfer the mixture to a large sheet of parchment paper and flatten the meat into a 14 x 10 inch rectangle with wet hands or lay a sheet of wax paper over the meat and flatten with a rolling pin.

Ham & Cheese Calzone

Ingredients:
2 tbsp (30 mL) mayonnaise
2 tsp (10 mL) Dijon mustard
1 cup (250 mL) fresh broccoli florets
(about 2 oz/60 g)
1 8-oz (250-g) slice smoked deli ham (about ½ in./1 cm thick)
½ small onion
8 oz (250 g) Swiss cheese, grated, divided
1 tbsp (15 mL) vegetable oil, divided
2 pkg (13.8 oz/283 g) refrigerated pizza crust
1 oz (30 g) Parmesan cheese, grated

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C). Combine mayonnaise and mustard in Classic Batter Bowl; mix well with Small Mix ‘N Scraper®. With Utility Knife, cut broccoli into small florets; dice ham. Using Food Chopper, coarsely chop onion. Grate Swiss cheese with Ultimate Mandoline fitted with grating blade. Combine broccoli, ham, onion and half of the Swiss cheese in batter bowl; mix well.
2. Lightly brush Large Bar Pan with 1 tsp (5 mL) of the oil using Chef’s Silicone Basting Brush. Unroll one package of dough onto bottom of bar pan, gently stretching and pressing dough to cover bottom. Sprinkle with remaining Swiss cheese to within 1 in. (2.5 cm) of edges; spoon ham mixture over cheese. Unroll remaining dough directly over filling, matching edges of dough and shaping to fit as dough is unrolled. Trim ½ in. (1 cm) off sides of dough with Utility Knife. Press edges to seal with Mini-Tart Shaper. Brush remaining oil over dough. Using Utility Knife, make 12 slits, in three rows of four each, into top crust.
3. Bake 14-16 minutes or until golden brown. Meanwhile, grate Parmesan cheese using Microplane® Adjustable Grater-Fine; sprinkle over calzone. Return calzone to oven; bake 2-3 minutes or until cheese is melted and crust is deep golden brown. Slice with Pizza Cutter; serve with Mini-Serving Spatula.
Yield: 8 servings
Nutrients per serving: Calories 440, Total Fat 18 g, Saturated Fat 7 g, Cholesterol 40 mg, Sodium 1240 mg, Carbohydrate 49 g, Fiber 2 g, Protein 22g
Cook’s Tips: Choose smoked rather than boiled ham to keep the crust from becoming soggy.

© 2011The Pampered Chef used under license.

www.pamperedchef.com

Irish Lamb Stew

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 2 hours 50 minutes Total Time: 3 hours Servings: 4

A slowly braised Irish style lamb stew with Guinness.

ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound lamb, cut into bite sized pieces
  • 1 onions, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 1 can Guinness
  • 4 cups beef stock
  • 1 teaspoon rosemary, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon thyme, chopped
  • 1 bay leaf
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 white potatoes, cut into bite sized pieces
  • 4 carrots, cut into bite sized pieces
  • 1 handful parsley, chopped
directions
  1. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat, add the lamb and brown on each side.
  2. Add the onions and saute until tender, about 5-7 minutes.
  3. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  4. Sprinkle in the flour and stir.
  5. Add the Guinness and beef stock.
  6. Add the rosemary, thyme, bay leaf, salt and pepper.
  7. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer until the lamb it fork tender, about 1-2 hours.
  8. Add the potatoes and carrots and some more beef stock to cover.
  9. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer covered until they are tender, about 20 minutes depending on cut.
  10. Plate and garnish with parsley.

Slow Cooker (RECOMMENDED): Optionally implement steps 1-3, implement step 4, place everything except the parsley in the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-10 hours or high for 2-4 hours before adding the parsley.

 

Amazingly Easy Irish Soda Bread

Ingredients

1 h 5 m 20 servings 172 cals

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 4 tablespoons white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup margarine, softened
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 egg

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a large baking sheet.

In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and margarine. Stir in 1 cup of buttermilk and egg. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead slightly. Form dough into a round and place on prepared baking sheet. In a small bowl, combine melted butter with 1/4 cup buttermilk; brush loaf with this mixture. Use a sharp knife to cut an ‘X’ into the top of the loaf.

Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Check for doneness after 30 minutes. You may continue to brush the loaf with the butter mixture while it bakes.

Bacon Beer Cheese Soup

Ingredients

  • 1/2 lb. bacon
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
  • 2 c. low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 c. whole milk
  • 8 oz. lager
  • 3 c. shredded Cheddar
  • kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Bread, for serving

 

Directions

  1. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until crisp, 6 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to let drain, then crumble.
  2. Heat skillet with bacon fat over medium heat. Add onion and cook until soft, 6 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1minute. Add flour and whisk until golden, 3 minutes.
  3. Add broth, milk, and beer and let simmer, 15 minutes.
  4. Add cheese and stir until melted. Season generously with salt and pepper. Stir in most of the crumbled bacon.
  5. Ladle soup into bowls and top with remaining bacon. Serve with bread.

Cheesy Guinness Bread

Ingredients

  • 1 large boule of bread
  • 1 stick butter, melted
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp. chopped fresh chives
  • 1/3 c. Guinness
  • 2 1/2 c. shredded sharp Cheddar

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Using a serrated knife, crosshatch the boule, making slices every inch around the loaf in both directions.
  2. In a small bowl, stir together melted butter, garlic, and chives. Brush entire boule with butter, being sure to get into crevices.
  3. Pour Guinness between crevices.
  4. Stuff crevices with cheddar and wrap completely in foil.
  5. Bake for 20 minutes, then unwrap foil and bake 10 minutes more. Serve immediately.

Dublin Coddle Recipe

Ingredients

  • 3 cups low sodium beef broth
  • 1 pound smoked sausages, cut into thin rounds
  • 1/2-pound thick-sliced good quality smoked bacon, chopped into cubes
  • 2 pounds russet potatoes (about 6 potatoes), peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch thick rounds
  • 2 yellow onions, sliced into thin rounds
  • 3 large carrots, sliced into thin rounds (about 1-1/2 cups of carrot rounds)
  • salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

 

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425F.
  2. In a large saucepan, combine beef broth, sliced sausages, and bacon; bring to a boil.
  3. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.
  4. Transfer sausages and bacon to a bowl and reserve the broth.
  5. Lightly grease a dutch oven or casserole dish with cooking spray.
  6. Spread one-third of the potatoes on the bottom of the casserole dish.
  7. Arrange 1/3 of the onions and carrots over the potatoes, and season with a little salt and pepper.
  8. Spread a layer of the previously prepared sausages and bacon over the layer of onions.
  9. Continue to layer ingredients two more times, seasoning with salt and pepper as you go along.
  10. Pour the reserved broth over the entire dish.
  11. Cover with a lid and bake in the oven for 40 minutes.
  12. Remove cover and if mixture looks dry, add 1/2-cup water. Continue to bake for 15 minutes, or until lightly browned on top.
  13. Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes.
  14. Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley.
  15. Serve.

Chicken Taquitos

Epicurious  | January 2011

by Chef Dave Northrup

Rush Street, Culver City, California

yield: Makes 12 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 store-bought whole roasted chicken
  • 1 cup favorite barbecue sauce
  • 1 (16-ounce) container sour cream
  • 1 (4 1/2-ounce) can chopped green chiles
  • 2 cups frozen corn, thawed
  • 1 small red onion, diced
  • 1 clove garlic, peeled, crushed, and minced
  • 1 cup shredded smoked Gouda cheese
  • 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon chile powder
  • 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 24 flour tortillas
  • 1 cup vegetable oil, for frying
  • Favorite salsa and guacamole, for serving

Preparation

In a large bowl, debone the chicken and shred the meat. Add the barbecue sauce, sour cream, chopped green chiles, corn, red onion, garlic, both cheeses, and spices. Toss well.

In a large pan over moderate heat, warm 1/4 cup of oil until it sizzles. Meanwhile, put 2 tablespoons of the chicken filling into each tortilla, roll, and secure with a toothpick. Working in 4 batches (wipe the pan clean and add 1/4 cup fresh oil between batches), pan-fry until the tortillas are golden brown and the mixture is warm, about 3 minutes per side. Drain on a paper towel, transfer to a platter (or serve 2 per plate), and serve with your favorite salsa and guacamole.