Authentic Italian

A classic Italian dessert traditionally served at Christmas time. It's a simple fried dough ball, topped with honey, powdered sugar and sprinkles. Easy and delicious! Recipe Ingredients 2 cup all-purpose flour, sifted 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 3 large eggs 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract Vegetable oil, for frying and oiling the serving dish 1 cup honey Nonpareils (colored sugar sprinkles), for garnish Maraschino cherries, for garnish Instructions 1. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Make a well in the center and, one at a time, stir in the eggs. Add the vanilla and mix the well to make a soft dough. Knead on a lightly floured surface until smooth, about 5 minutes. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. 2. Working with one half at a time, roll the dough into a ¼ -inch-thick rectangle. Cut the dough into ½ -inch-wide stripes. Roll each strip under the palms of your hands on the work surface to make l...

This is another Christmas favorite that is often found on Italian Christmas Eve tables. It's a great starter and is perfect for any seafood lover. I like to call this a "step above" clam. It's not your traditional clam, but an elevated version. Add a squirt of Lemon and you're good to go! Recipe Ingredients 10 to 12 large chowder or quahog clams, rinsed, sand and grit removed 3 tablespoons minced onion 1/2 cup butter (1 stick) 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (or 2 teaspoons dried) 1 clove garlic, minced 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 cup breadcrumbs 1 tablespoon clam juice (or cooking liquid from steaming the clams) Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese Instructions 1. Cook the clams: Fill a large pot with 1 1/2 to 2 inches of water. Bring water to a boil. Add the clams to the boiling water. Reduce the heat to a simmer and let the clams steam for approximately 6 to 10 minutes, until the shells open. 2. Remove the clam meat: Separa...

With the Christmas season upon us, there are many Italian traditions, ingredients and recipes that families are preparing for. As many of you probably already know, Christmas Eve is our big holiday celebration in Italian families. We usually abstain from meat. The menu usually contains different kinds of fish and seafood such as Baccala, eel, shrimp and smelts for starters. This recipe is a traditional Italian seafood salad. Unlike American seafood salad, this does not contain mayonnaise. It's very light and is dressed with olive oil and lemon juice. This is a traditional Christmas favorite.  Recipe Ingredients 1 Ib. bay scallops 1 Ib. shrimp, tails peeled off 1 Ib. calamari with tubes and tentacles 2 small lobster tails, removed from shell 2 fennel bulbs sliced thin 1/2 large red onion, diced small 3 whole celery stalks with leaves, chopped in small slices A big handful of pitted castelvetrano olives 4 cloves garlic Lemon slices from one Lemon Lemon juice Olive Oil Chopped parsley...