That is a mouthful! I don't even know how to pronounce that. This is a dinner straight from Rome. If you have never had Gnocchi before they are potato dumplings. They cook like pasta in boiling water and they cook very fast. When they float and are tender they are done and it only took 2-3 minutes. You can toss them in a red or white sauce or just eat plain. Anything you can do with pasta or rice, you can do with Gnocchi and then some. It's good! To me they taste just like the dumplings you would make in a chicken and dumpling soup. Very soft and fluffy. So tonight was very fancy, although I had no time to prep for a good picture because the food was getting cold so, the picture is totally sucky. The other part of the dinner was basically stuffed cabbage. Only it wasn't cabbage, thank goodness. It was Radicchio, which is a red leaf lettuce with white veins. that has a very small head, very petite. About half the size of a normal head of lettuce. It looks like a mini red head of Iceberg. So, here's what Rachael did. You made some meatballs with lots of Parmesan cheese, and wrap them in these Radicchio leaves. And cook them in a sauce of stock and tomato sauce for 12 minutes. Cook the Gnocchi while that's happening. Take out the stuffed Radicchio and reserve on a platter and toss the Gnocchi in the remaining sauce. Super cool. The only crappy part was, the Radicchio had a bitter flavor which then made the meat taste bitter, but whatever.
My really good friend Eva and her family came to visit and had dinner with us tonight. Thanks for coming Eva it was good to see you guys! Just like old times again. =) Miss you!
Hey, I know them! :) I love, love, love Gnocchi. Have for years and years. I still remember the first time I ate it in North Beach in San Francisco. I get mad at Italian restaurants for not having it on their menu. I have made it myself several times, even made butternut squash gnocchi. Yum. When we went to Mexico, there was this awesome Italian restaurant run by a guy actually from Rome that was a head chef for a cruise line for years. Gnocchi was on the menu. I just about cried. It was so good.
ReplyDeleteEva: The dinner was good. The company was great too. Sorry that we were late for dinner. Holli Gnocchi are my favorite dish, too and I'm always looking for them first on the menu of any italian restaurant. Rachel I miss you already.
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