Authentic Italian

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...

An antipasto salad is a common first course to any Italian meal. It serves as the "starter" and typically includes cured meats, cheeses, olives, and other tangy, marinated vegetables. As you travel the regions of Italy, you will find that the ingredients have slight variations according to what is popular or common for that region. This dish can be served individually, in personal size, or as one big antipasto that people can pick from. There is no set amount of ingredients to include. You can absolutely make it your own. This recipe is the basics! Recipes Ingredients 3 cups romaine, chopped 1/2 cup green olives 1/2 cup medium black olives 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved 1/2 cup mini pepperoni or cubed hard pepperoni 1/4 cup jarred roasted red peppers, chopped 8 oz. genoa salami, cut into bite size pieces 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese balls 13 oz. artichoke hearts, quartered 8 oz. provolone cheese, cut into bite size pieces Dressing: 1/4 cup olive oil 2 tbs. lemon juice 1/4 cup r...

Caprese salad is a festive Italian salad encompassing the colors of the Italian flag which are green, white and red. This delicious and simple recipe combines three major ingredients: tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil. It can be eaten as an appetizer or as a side dish and is extra delicious in the summertime. This salad originated in the Campania region of Italy. The concept can be used in not only salad form, but also as a pizza topping, in a sandwich or in pasta. it also goes great with a nice crusty bread. Recipe Ingredients 1. 2 8oz. whole milk mozzarella balls in brine. 2. 2 Ibs. ripe salad or heirloom tomatoes (you can use Beefsteak or Big Boy) 3. Fine sea salt 4. A few sprigs of fresh basil 5. 3 tbs. of extra virgin olive oil (Any good olive oil works) 6. Ground black pepper Instructions 1. Remove mozzarella balls from the brine, drain and dry with a paper towel. Once dry, slice into 1/4-inch-thick slices. 2. Rinse, dry and slice the tomatoes with a serrated knife. They shoul...