Sunday, May 16: Cannelloni & Amarone

Bruschetta

8 slices baguette

3 plum tomatoes

2 cloves garlic

10 basil leaves

1 tbsp shredded parmesan

1 Tbsp evoo

1 tsp balsamic vinegar

salt/pepper

Cut tomatoes in half and remove seeds and pulp.  Dice tomato.  Mince garlic.  Chop basil.  Combine ingredients in a bowl and mix together thoroughly.  Add evoo, balsamic vinegar, salt/pepper and shredded parmesan.  Mix thoroughly. 

Slice baguette on diagonal to achieve long, thin slices.  Brush bread with olive oil and toast until lightly browned.  Top toast pieces with mixture.  Top with a thin slice of fresh mozzarella.

Laura's appertif....A Lambrusco purchased today from Trader Joe's. It sort of tastes like a wine soda. It's a little addictive, as it goes down very easily.

We also bought the Amarone we've been craving since Friday night, to have with the meal. This one is smooth, strong and tastes a lot like licorice, which can be a good or bad thing based on your tastes.


Chicken Cannelloni

Cannelloni Filling
2 chicken breasts (about 8-10 oz)
1 cup fresh spinach, chopped
1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
¼ cup onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
16 ounces ricotta cheese
3 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
salt/pepper
12 sheets home-made pasta (4”x4”)

Cannelloni Sauce
16 ounces tomato sauce
1 cup seeded diced tomato
½ cup half and half
3 ounces shredded Parmesan cheese
5 large basil leaves, torn
Salt/pepper


Preparation
Mix together sauce, cream, basil, salt/pepper in a large frying pan and bring to a simmer. Cook chicken breasts in sauce on low heat until fully cooked. Remove from sauce and dice or shred cooked chicken.
Place chicken into a large mixing bowl. Sautee garlic, onion and pepper in hot oil for 2 minutes. Add chopped spinach, sautéed vegetables, ricotta, mozzarella, pepper and salt, and mix thoroughly.

Roll fresh pasta and cut into 4” squares.

Place two rounded tablespoons of filling mixture down the center of each pasta sheet and carefully roll pasta around filling. Coat the bottom of a baking dish with a few tablespoons of sauce. Place the rolled cannelloni, side by side, into an shallow baking dish.

Pour sauce over cannelloni covering completely. Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over top of sauce. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees F for approximately 20 minutes.

Remove foil and continue to bake for an additional 20 minutes. Remove from oven and serve family style or on individual plates.