Venetianpastawithbeans Recipes

Steps:

• Grease 3 - 13 x 9 inch pans. Line with wax paper. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
• Combine almond paste, sugar, butter, egg yolks and almond extract. Beat for 5 minutes until light and fluffy. Beat in flour and salt.
• In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. With a wooden spoon, fold into the almond mixture.
• Divide dough into 3 -1 1/2 cup portions. Add red coloring to one of the portions, and green to the another. Spread the batter in the 3 separate prepared pans (keeping the colors separate).
• Bake for 15 minutes, or until edges are golden brown. (Each layer will be 1/4 inch thick). Remove cakes from pan immediately. Cool thoroughly.
• Stack layers in a 9 x 13 inch pan, spreading apricot jam between layers (no jam on top layer). Place second 9 x 13 inch pan on top and weigh down with two 5 pound bags of sugar or flour. Refrigerate overnight.
• Melt chocolate over hot water and spread over cake. Allow to set. Trim edges and cup into 1 inch squares.

Steps:

• Into a food processor, add the cheese, butter, mustard, and garlic. Blend until the mixture is thick, smooth and spreadable.
• Spread the cheese mixture over 1 side of each bread slice. Arrange the turkey slices over the cheese mixture on 6 of the bread slices. Top sandwiches with the remaining bread slices, cheese mixture side down, pressing gently to adhere. Cut the sandwiches in half.
• Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a heavy skillet over medium-low heat. Cook half of the sandwiches until golden brown and heated through, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a serving platter and tent with foil to keep them warm. Repeat with remaining 3 tablespoons of oil and sandwiches. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season well with salt. Add the pasta and cook for 3 minutes less than indicated in the package directions, about 7 minutes. Drain well reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add the oil, carrot and onion to the skillet. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring often, until fragrant and beginning to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the pepper flakes and thyme and cook another minute. Stir in the drained beans and chicken broth. Reduce the heat to medium to maintain a simmer and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Use the back of a spoon to gently mash some of the beans. Set aside.
• Add the cooked pasta to the sauce. Sprinkle the grated cheese over the pasta and toss to coat well. Stir in the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and add the 1/2 cup pasta water as needed to maintain a creamy, broth-like sauce. Sprinkle in the spinach and cook until wilted.

Steps:

• Place beans in a Dutch oven or soup kettle; add water to cover by 2 in. Bring to a boil; boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; cover and let stand for 1 hour. Drain and rinse beans, discarding liquid. Return beans to the pan; add water to cover by 2 in. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 hour or until the beans are almost tender., Drain beans and reserve 2 cups liquid. Return beans and reserved liquid to Dutch oven. Stir in remaining ingredients. Remove half of the bean mixture and mash well; return to the pan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until beans reach desired consistency.

Steps:

• Start frying the onions in the oil in a non-stick frying pan - you'll need to cook them for about 10 mins until they're very soft. Meanwhile, boil the pasta.
• Stir the vinegar, sultanas, capers and most of the pine nuts into the soft onions with some seasoning, then cook for 1 min more to soften the sultanas. Stir in the spinach with a splash of pasta water. Drain the pasta, then toss with the onion mix - the spinach should wilt as you do. Divide between 2 bowls, scatter with the remaining pine nuts and serve.

Steps:

• Bring broth to a simmer in a saucepan, then keep at a simmer.
• Meanwhile, turn on a food processor and drop in garlic, processing until finely chopped. Turn off processor, then add onion and pancetta and pulse until finely chopped.
• Cook onion mixture with zest in oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat, stirring once or twice, until onion is softened and just beginning to turn golden, about 6 minutes.
• Cook peas in broth 2 minutes. Strain broth into onion mixture, reserving peas, then stir in rice. Cook, covered, over high heat, stirring once after 5 minutes, until rice is al dente, 10 to 12 minutes. Stir in peas, cheese, remaining tablespoon butter, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

Steps:

• Bring beans and water (10 cups) to a boil in a 4- to 5-quart heavy pot and boil 2 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, 1 hour. (Do not drain beans or discard soaking liquid.)
• Heat 1/4 cup oil in a wide 6- to 8-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté onions with 1/2 teaspoon salt, stirring occasionally, until beginning to brown, 7 to 8 minutes. Add carrots, celery, garlic, parsley, rosemary, and pepper and sauté, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes.
• Add beans with soaking liquid and Parmigiano-Reggiano rind (if using) and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until beans are very tender, 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours (depending on age of beans), adding more water if necessary to keep beans covered and stirring more frequently toward end of cooking. Remove from heat and stir in 1/4 cup oil and remaining 1 1/4 teaspoons salt. Cool, uncovered, 20 minutes.
• Discard rind and coarsely purée soup in batches in a blender (use caution when blending hot liquids), transferring as puréed to a large bowl.
• Return soup to pot and reheat over moderately low heat, stirring frequently and thinning soup as desired with additional water. Season with salt and pepper.
• While soup is reheating, cook pasta in a 6- to 8-quart pot of boiling salted water until al dente, then drain in a colander and transfer to a large bowl. Toss with remaining 2 tablespoons oil and pepper to taste.
• To serve, ladle soup into bowls and top with spoonfuls of pasta, then drizzle with oil.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Cut circles out of bread slices w/2inch round cutter.
• Melt 3 tbsp butter in small saucepan.
• Brush both sides of bread circles lightly w/butter.
• Bake bread circles on ungreased baking sheet 5 to 6 minutes per side until golden.
• Remove to wire rack.
• Cool completely.
• Increase oven temp to 425°F.
• Melt remaining 2 tbsp butter in small saucepan.
• Stir in flour; cook and stir over medium heat until bubbly.
• Whisk in milk; cook and stir 1 minute or until sauce thickens and bubbles (sauce will be very thick). Take off heat, and add mushrooms to sauce, 3 tbsp cheese, salt and black pepper, and stir until well blended.
• Spread heaping tbs mushrooms mixture on top of each toast round; place on ungreased baking sheet.
• Sprinkle remaining 3 tbsp cheese over canapes, dividing evenly.
• Garnish w/black and green olive slices, and bell peppers.
• Bake 5-7 minutes until tops are light brown.
• Serve warm.

Steps:

• Pour ingredients into an ice-filled shaker, shake, and strain into a martini glass.