GNOCCHI FROM CIOCIARIA

Gnocchi is a favourite pasta dish from Ciociaria. It is like an English dumpling or a Polish porogi or not. It is really an Italian dish. I make it often as it is my daughter Natasha's favourite too. Some people may use just flour and water. Ricotta cheese and even sweet potato have been used. I like to make it the way my mother made it- from potatoes.

Canada has a variety of potatoes. Prince Edward Island is famous for its potatoes. In Ontario, where I call home now, potatoes are also grown abundantly.  This dish takes time and labour to make. So if you really like gnocchi but not the work, most supermarkets and Italian delis have frozen packages. Not as good as mine, of course!

Okay, you want to try this recipe. Remember a cool kitchen. Fresh pasta making does not like a hot, humid day. Be like the Italians here in Canada, who keep their main floor kitchen like a showplace and use the basement kitchen! Or have a kitchen that is not too hot!

INGREDIENTS

Potatoes- gold, red or white. Your choice as they all make a good gnocchi. Usually about 6 medium sized ones.
Flour.
Salt.
One egg is optional.

Not necessary but a gnocchi press is very helpful.

DIRECTIONS

In salted water boil your potatoes until cooked as you would for mashed potatoes.

Make a well of flour. Start with a cup( 250 ml) or two( 500 ml)- with your gnoccchi press or masher- the gnocchi press is better- press a potato at time into the well.

Add flour to the mix as you add each potato.

Adding potato and mixing until all the cooked potatoes are all added. You want the dough to be moist but not sticky.

You can add an egg if desired. I usually do not. You can also salt the dough. I usually salt the water I cook it in.

Knead the mixture together. Make a nice ball. I like to let the dough sit for an hour or two to absorb. You can put it in the fridge.

After letting it sit, cut small portions and roll into long skiny pieces. Let these pieces sit.

After about 5, start to cut bite size pieces. I would suggest a helper. You roll and let the helper- usually it is Barb to cut the pieces.

Take the pieces and roll them on the gnocchi press or a fork or any surface with a pattern or bumps. It allows you to use your thumb to make a little indention to the gnocchi pieces.

You can cook the gnocchi right away or put on a floured cookie sheet and freeze until hard. They freeze well. Since it is a lot of work, it is best to make several meals at the same time.

When making gnocchi, boil in salted water until done. Not too mushy!

Use my ragu sauce recipe or a hearty meat sauce of choice. The meat sauce sticks to the pasta. So gnocchi needs a good sauce.

It can be a complete meal with a side salad.

From the picture you can see, it can be the carbs for a a full dinner with a meat and vegetables. Your choice!

It is a pasta that is great on a winter day or made in the summer if desired. I just know when I ask my daughter what I can make her for her dinner in November, she always say gnocchi. Of course, I usually give her an extra bag to put in the freezer for another meal. Those busy working mothers always need a Dad's touch!

NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS BRING TIME TO CELEBRATE-MAKE GNOCCHI FOR ONE

 Adolph always made gnocchi for one daughter whose birthday is the end of November.

I would be his sous chef. He kneaded the dough. I rolled the dough then cut the pieces with him.

Rolled on a fork or the gnocchi potatoe masher to make the little pieces.

So why I am writing this? Maybe it is time to make some gnocchi again with the cooler weather.

A hardy Ragu sauce on fresh gnocchi!

#gnocchi#makinggnocchiwithAdolph#ragusauceongnocchi#granpalovestocook#adolphdimambro

GNOCCHI FOR A BUSY WORK WEEEK

With good sales in potatoes, I decided to make some pans of gnocchi for Barb and me as well as the working girls, husbands and grandkids. Feeling a little under the weather, my sous cook Barb finished the rolling and imprinting before freezing them. Later the frozen gnocchi will be put in bags. So three large bags. All the gnocchi only cost about $1.00 worth of potatoes. The meaty- ragu sauce however cost about $15.00. Seems like a lot of money but for each family a substantial meal or side dish worth $5.00. The cute story from the family. I made a batch awhile ago for Natasha and family. She told her kids the gnocchi was for her husband Domi. Her little guy Damiano said- hey don't give it all to Daddy!! Some reverse psychology, tell kids the food is not for them and they want to eat it. Maybe Barb should add it to her Nana Says series on Wednesdays. I better be careful, I don't like her to tell me how to cook so I better not tell her what to write.!!

My little pile of potatoes and flour.

 

Gnocchi is always good as a side dish with meat and vegetables.

GNOCCHI FOR A DAUGHTER'S BIRTHDAY

With my daughter's birthday next week, I thought a quick Sunday lunch was a good thing to do. The kids are going away for her real birthday so an early celebration would do.So I boiled 1/2 bag of potatoes to make a few gnocchi for it. Well I needed to knead and knead the dough plus add lots of flour. I called my helper or sous chef as she likes to be called to help with the shaping and finishing of them. Barb said we will be here until midnight but actually once we got rolling, it was 9 p.m. Barb also commented- there is enough for several Sunday lunches. 

Of course we needed to have a few with a quick dinner during the week.
Gnocchi are a great side dish or can be the main event. For the Sunday meal, there will be a variety of chicken. Everyone likes chicken! Lots of veggies. Haven't decided yet on the final menu! A cake! I'll probably let you know how the event went.
If you need the recipe for gnocchi, just hunt in my list of posts and you will find it.
#gnocchi#redsauce#potatoes#potoatognocchi#birthdaycelebration#kneadthedough#Sundaydinner#souschef

FRESH GNOCCHI FOR A SUMMER FEAST

Finding some ricotta cheese in the fridge, I decided to make enough gnocchi for 3 families.A cooler kitchen allows the pasta to be firm. Putting it in the freezer to keep it fresh for dinner later, a simmering ragu-meat sauce will complement the dish.  Although only the end of August, this cold weather dish is always a favourite with my family.

With just a salad it is a great meal. Or it can be a side dish for a full dinner. I often make it with potatoes but heh today cleaning out the fridge netted the family this hearty pasta treat!

MARCH A TIME TO PREPARE FOR THE SPRING GARDEN

Along with making a large pot of ragu sauce to go with the fresh gnocchi I made on the weekend, I have been busy seeding some tomatoes and other plants for the Spring garden. Snow is still on the ground but underneath lies the soil waiting for the good weather. I have a little spot by the back door in the kitchen with a good southern sun. Oh the gnocchi was a feast for my girls as well as keeping a meal or two for Barb. I am dieting so avoiding too many carbs but making pasta fills the need to have some fresh pasta in the house. With the weather slightly warmer, there is a pull to go outside and work. However two feet of snow gets in the way. Soon!

THE GNOCCHI LUNCH WENT WELL

The lunch went well. Something for everyone. Gnocchi was a hit-very little remained. Chicken- cooked in the oven as the meat dish as even the grandkids love it. Lots of vegetables-broccoli, mushrooms, potatoes, roasted red peppers, and a big dish of salad. Birthday cake for the birthday girl!! Even heart jelly beans in pink, red and white. To top off the lunch- a platter of fruit- watermelon slices, pineapple, grapes, strawberries and cantaloupe. Now back to my daily cooking. It did give me something to do at 3am when I was up!!

FEBRUARY- THE MONTH OF CHOCOLATE AND WARM WINTER EATING

 When I think of February I always gravitate to chocolate.

I will have to revisit some of Adolph's recipes to see what he made in February.

Soups.

Sauces.

Roast with egg.

Homemade gnocchi.

I think that is a start.

#februaryeating#recipesforfebruary#granpalovestocook#adolphdimambro

JULY-COOKING THE FAMILY FAVOURITES

With extra family staying with us the last few months, it was a great challenge for this cook to keep all ages satisfied. Lots of summer salads. Turkey breasts with mashed potatoes, peas and gravy on Thursday. Pizza Fridays with some homemade zucchini pizza along with a store bought one. Chicken parmigiano with spaghetti. Lots of vegetables- beans, rapini, cucumbers were a few. Tomatoes- large and small! Lots of summer fruit for appetizers or after the meal. Veggies and dip to start a meal! Many days of scrambled eggs and bacon! Some barbecues! No homemade pastas due to the humid weather. Gnocchi is just too soft with humidity! So something to start up in the Fall. The cook has had a break from homemade.

Barb is nagging me to go to some markets as time has prevented those jaunts with other community outings like the Pan Am functions on weekends. Now with August here and life changing again, time for some of those trips. I will  gladly be sharing any adventures about eating!

GRANPA COOKS FOR A BIRTHDAY DINNER

As everyone knows that reads this blog, I love to cook. So given an opportunity like a birthday get together for my oldest daughter Natasha, I did most of the cooking. The family had a discussion about which of granpa's pasta dishes- lasagna, gnocchi or spaghetti- I was to prepare. The consensus was homemade spaghetti or as I have posted previously the egg noodle. It is easier to make and actually is my favourite pasta dish.

Lots of meat for the ragu sauce for the pasta. As it simmers, I remove as much of the oil and fat as possible. The thick meat sauce clings to the pasta better. It gives a hardy meat portion to a meal.  I made oven roasted chicken thighs and leg along with potato wedges. Again draining off excess fat! Salt, pepper and rosemary added the needed flavour. Peas made with onions simmered on the stove top added another dish to the meal. The pasta was cooked and prepared. I took along extra sauce in case someone wanted more on their portions Taken to Natasha's in travelling tin foil containers made the job easy.

A Greek salad prepared right before dinner rounded out the meal. The kitchen mess stayed home for Barb to clean up later. I do the cooking but my cook's assistant cleans the pots! Overall it was a good birthday meal enjoyed by all!
#granpalovestocook#chichenandpeas#chickenandpotatoes#salad#homemadeeggnoodle#lotsofgoodfoodforabirhdaydinner

WINTER EATING BRINGS WARMTH

 Soups.

Roast with potatoes and gravy.

Muffins using up items in the fridge or freezer. Just made some with blueberries and apple!

Homemade sauce frozen to use in one person portions of a pasta dish. Tried some dried gnocchi lately but not as good as homemade then frozen ones. 

Hot coffee or tea with the ability to warm one's hands.

With March coming in next week, starting to see the tail end of winter or not.

Sometimes the Spring weather takes its time to find us.

I seem to like veggies more than fruit anyway. So fresh veggies or frozen add to a meal. I find if I can roast them with my oven meal makes for less work. Also roasted, more vitamins are maintained.

Veggies go well with an oven frittata! Nice hot meal with lots of nutrients.

Adolph's favourite.

So warm cooking continues unless busy with a project then a quick sandwich for dinner. Last night had liverwurst on rye bread with grape tomatoes. Hit the spot.

So has is your winter eating going?

#wintereating#barbcooksforone#usingitemsfromthefridge#homemadesauce#hotdrinkskeepthehandswarm#likingveggiesmorethanfruit#granpalovestocook#adolphdimambro#barbaradimambro#keepingthebloggoingwithoutAdolphisaloveproject

GRANPA LOVES WORLD PASTA DAY

Granpa has always made many pasta dishes.

A good plate of spaghettini!

Anything can go on pasta.

Lasagna in a pasta bowl.

A granddaughter helps with the preparation.

A Christmas Eve feast with a meat sauce and a clam sauce. Try one or both.

The homemade gnocchi.

A hearty sauce for the pasta.

Cooking spaghetti.

Making homemade egg noodles

Eating a good portion of pasta is always best.

Years of food preparation and good eating.

Happy World Pasta Day everyone!!
#worldpastaday#spaghetti#makinghomemadegnocchi#cookingwithchildren#eatingisgood#meatsauce#clamsauce#granpalovestocook#adolphdimambro

HOME FROM ST JACOBS MARKET

After a fun trip to St Jacobs Farmers Market near Kitchner-Waterloo about an hour and a bit from Richmond Hill Saturday August,  2012, it was time to assess my bounty.

A large bag of Canadian Bush Beans will make several side dishes for the week. I can add my "small crop" from my garden to any dish.

Farm fresh Ontario white potatoes were plentiful. I plan to make gnocchi with these potatoes. Enough for Barb and me as well as my girls and families.

The fruit is so tasty. The cherries are huge. The yellow plums were worth the purchase. The large peaches will make a good afternoon snack. Some women at the market bought many baskets. Barb reminded me it is time to make the summer fruit into preserves. Peaches fresh, preserved or made into jam are very wonderful to eat.

The yummy baked goods are for Barb and any visitors. Although the cinnamon bun was destined as any afternoon snack for Barb. It was made fresh in a small booth at the market by two young Mennonite women.

Tomatoes sliced with some olive oil, garlic and oregano are a simple side dish with summer meals. Or a toasted tomato sandwich on either white or whole wheat bread.

Or part of a farm fresh breakfast. I made Barb some home fried potatoes cooked in butter. Fried the maple sausage she bought at the market. Two farm fresh egges once over lightly with the tomatoes on the side. Barb does not like  much salt but I did add fresh ground pepper! With two slices of the Canadian Cheddar Cheese bread, it was worth two meals in one!

COOLER WEATHER MEANS COMFORT FOOD

Like any cook trying to think of something to make every day brings it challenges. So last Friday when I asked Barb what should we have for dinner, she said make it simple- soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. So I cheated and made Campbell's tomato soup and a grilled cheese- slices of Canadian Cheddar Cheese on multigrain bread fried in a frying pan. We have a little grilled cheese maker but too much effort to pull it from the cupboard.
Saturday night another opportunity to slack off. Calling from the club I asked Barb what do you want for dinner. She did not cook as she had been busy with Christmas stuff, housework and all the activities she tries to jam in a Saturday. Meat, chicken but not a sandwich! I sometimes like to get her a pannini from Tim's! So that was out! And she wanted a salad.
Why not Swiss Chalet? Coming home as it was early, I ordered from home- two quarter chicken dinners- one with fries and one with the baked potato.  I decided to make our own salad as I am not fussy about their ingredients. I do not like shredded carrots in my salad. Barb usually rolls her eyes when I say that! I used their discount coupon at Barb's request. I hate using coupons.
I only ate half of my baked potato as I am trying to watch my weight. Barb ate half her fries but somehow I managed to eat her other half.
Sunday breakfast- peameal bacon, eggs and toast with a second cup of coffee.
So some good old comfort foods for the weekend. But I am back to making a hardy vegetable soup for the week. Barb will take a large container to work today and freeze some for other times.
Maybe I should watch a cooking show to get inspired. Or make my old standbys. Some homemade gnocchi anyone with ragu sauce?

GRANPA IS BACK AFTER A SICK BREAK

After two weeks of being sick, my appetite is back. So is my desire to cook! Barb had picked up the slack of shopping and cooking. The festive season is around the corner so I will be making some of the Italian seasonal dishes again. The colder temperatures bring soups and sauces so the house will have good aroma in it. A daughter's birthday coming so maybe some gnocchi for her as it is her favourite food! Well I do enjoy it too! So much to do, so much to cook!

OCTOBER-GRANPA STARTED TO MAKE SOUPS AND SAUCES

 One of my favourite foods Adolph made were his variety of soups.

Especially his veggie soup. He would make extra when I was working so I could take some for my lunch.

He started to make more homemade noodles and gnocchi which he gave a certain portion to his working daughters.

So yesterday I made a pork roast with potatoes, carrots and squash. Packaged gravy rounded out the flavour of the meal.

Too much food of course so I will probably freeze two dinners for another day. 

#homemadesoup#lovedhisveggiesoup#granpalovestocook#adolphdimambro

HELPING GRANPA GAVE ME SOME LIKES ON A INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT-CHEFMARCO_NYC

 So like many people I pass the time reading Tik Tok and Instagram and Facebook stuff when I want to pass mindless time.

So on Chef Marco_nyc, he posted about making gnocchi from fresh potatoes.

I made a simple comment: 

FRESH IS ALWAYS BETTER. MY HUSBAND WOULD MAKE THE DOUGH AND I WAS HIS SOUS CHEF AND HELPED TO CUT THE SHAPES.

A simple comment. I write lots of intellectual wordy essays on my blog- Reflective Thoughts by Barbara.

Well in my Instagram notifications, there have been 943 likes to date over the last 11 weeks.

More likes than I get on my blog.

Funny how one thought received so many responses and likes.

It was a positive comment and no trolls gave any negative thoughts.

It is rather endearing to have so many like my simple comment.

Of course, I follow food, Rome, travel and some others on Instagram. 

I do not comment often. So other people pass the time on Instagram too, it seems.LOL

#chefmarco#instagram#tictok#facebook#granplovestocook#adolphdimambro#commentsdogetread

VALENTINE'S DAY BROUGHT A WEEKEND OF GOOD EATING

I made Barb and me a seafood feast Friday night.

Shrimp sautéed in butter, garlic and parsley, lobster tails broiled, asparagus, mushrooms cooked in olive oil with garlic, rapini, baked potato with sour cream and of course some fresh Italian bread. Barb topped her meal off with a glass of her favourite white wine.

Goodies for the family. Nut free cookies from Longos, Smarties and some heart chocolates. A little purple teddy bear for the youngest granddaughter.
A get together at a daughter's house with all the family.
Gnocchi with a meat sauce, salad, chicken and stuffed red peppers.

Since sweets are the reason for the day.

A big cookie with a heart.
And the romantic in me did buy my wife roses for the day.

Maybe it is a created Hallmark Day but a much needed break to the winter months.