This classic Italian dish can be made and enjoyed year round.

Ingredients:

1/3 cup blanched almonds
8 ounces fresh spinach
4 tbsp unsalted butter
4 scallions, cut into 1-inch lengths
2 medium garlic cloves, split in half
1/3 cup tightly packed Italian parsley leaves
1/2 cup olive oil
salt
freshly milled black pepper
1 cup freshly grated Sardo cheese or 1/2 cup Romano and 1/2 cup Parmigiano cheese
1 lb farfalle (bow pasta)

Preparation:

1 – To toast almonds, place them on a cookie sheet and toast on center rack of pre-heated 350 F oven for 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool to room temperature. Place in food processor fitted with metal blade. Run machine nonstop until coarsely chopped. Set aside.

2 – Wash spinach several times in lukewarm water. Remove stems. Blot leaves dry with paper towel and snip into 1-inch pieces; set aside.

3 – In a small saucepan, melt 3 tbsp butter over low heat. Add scallions and garlic and cook, covered, until tender, about 3 minutes.

4 – Place scallion-garlic mixture in food processor fitted with metal blade. Add spinach, parsley, olive oil, 1/2 tsp salt and pepper. Turn machine on and run nonstop for 30 seconds. Stop machine once or twice and scrape down inside of work bowl with a rubber spatula. Run machine until you have a smooth, thick paste. Transfer to a bowl and blend in Sardo cheese or Romano-Parmigiano mixture with a fork.

5 – Cook pasta in 6 quarts boiling water with 1 tbsp salt until al dente. Before draining pasta, take about 1/2 cup of pasta water and set aside. Drain pasta in colander, transfer to a bowl containing 1 tbsp softened butter and toss quickly. Toss half of the pesto sauce and half of the almonds with pasta. Add about 6 tbsp of the pasta water and toss. Add remaining pesto sauce and toss well again. Garnish with remaining almonds and serve with additional freshly grated cheese.

Serves 4 to 6

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Sauteed mushrooms, prosciutto and a light white sauce make a creamy, delicate Tuscan trio.

Ingredients:

1 tbsp unsalted butter
1 tbsp flour
1 cup chicken broth
Salt
Black pepper
1/2 tsp freshly milled black pepper
1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
2 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp unsalted butter
1 cup thinly sliced scallions
4 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto, diced
1 lb thinly sliced, trimmed mushrooms
1 lb penne pasta
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano cheese
2 tbsp minced parsley leaves

Preparation:

1 – In a 1 1/2 quart saucepan, melt 1 tbsp butter over low heat. When butter begins to froth, add the flour. Mix well with a wire whisk and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until lightly golden. Add chicken broth, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper and nutmeg. Turn heat to low and cook, whisking constantly, until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Cover saucepan and set white sauce aside.

2 – In a large saute pan, heat olive oil over medium heat until haze forms, then add 2 tbsp butter. Add scallions and cook, stirring constantly, until barely tender, about 1 minute. Stir in prosciutto and cook, stirring, until softened but not brown, about 1 minute. Add mushrooms, turn heat to medium-high and cook, stirring, until mushrroms just begin to exude their juices, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper. Pour white sauce over mushroom mixture and blend well. Turn heat to low and cook, stirring, until mixture is well incorporated, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat.

3 – Cook pasta in 6 quarts boiling water with 1 tbsp salt until al dente. Drain in a colander, transfer to a bowl containing 1 tbsp softened butter and toss quickly. Mix 3/4 of the sauce and Parmigiano cheese with pasta. Spoon remaining sauce over pasta and garnish with minced parsley. serve with additional freshly grated Parmigiano cheese.

Serves 4 to 6

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Make this Sicilian specialty with small, tender zucchini and enjoy it with friends, family or with a glass of wine!

Ingredients:

2 lbs small zucchini
1/2 cup olive oil
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
Salt
Pepper
1 lb linguine
1/2 cup freshly grated Romano cheese
8 ounces whole milk ricotta cheese

Preparation:

1 – Scrub zucchini and blot dry with paper towel. Trim both ends and cut into 2-inch lenghts. Slice again lengthwise into 1/2-inch widths. Layer zucchini slices on a platter with paper towels between layers to absorb moisture.

2 – In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat until haze forms. Add garlic and saute, stirring constantly, until very lightly golden. With a spoon, remove garlic and reserve. Fry zucchini in two or three batches until golden on both sides. Transfer to a platter lined with paper towel. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and pepper. Remove pan from heat and let oil cool a little; return garlic to pan. Set aside.

3 – Cook pasta in 6 quarts boiling water with 1 tablespoon salt until al dente. Drain pasta in colander and transfer to a bowl; very quickly toss with oil-garlic mixture. Toss pasta again with half of the fried zucchini and romano cheese. Place individual servings of pasta in bowls and place 3 or 4 slices of fried zucchini on top of each. Spoon 2 Tablespoons of ricotta on top of zucchini. Serve with remaining ricotta and additional grated Romano cheese.

Serves 4 to 6

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The sparkling flavor of tomatoes marinated with Gaeta olives makes this uncooked sauce quite zesty. A great summer pasta, and wonderful for a buffet. One of my favorite Italian dishes!

Ingredients:

12 large ripe plum tomatoes
1/2 cup olive oil
3 large cloves garlic
1/2 cup black olives, pitted and sliced into thin strips
3 tbsp minced fresh basil
1/4 cup minced Italian parsley leaves
Salt
1/2 tsp freshly milled black pepper
1 lb fusilli (twists)
Freshly grated Romano cheese

Preparation:

1 – Blanch fresh tomatoes in boiling water for 1 minute. Transfer to a colander and rinse under cold water. Peel skins with a small paring knife. Cut each tomato in half lengthwise. Squeeze each half and discard all of the seeds. Slice into 1/4-inch strips, place in strainer set over a bowl and reserve juice.

2 – In a medium bowl, combine tomatoes, 1/2 cup olive oil, garlic, olives, basil, parsley, 1 tsp salt and pepper; mix well with wooden spoon. Transfer to a 1 1/2 quart jar with a tight-fitting lid. Refrigerate sauce for at least 6 hours or overnight, turning jar 3 to 4 times so that tomatoes will be well coated with marinade. Pour reserved juice into a small kar, cover and refrigerate.

3 – Remove sauce and reserved juice from refrigerator and let stand at room temperature for 2 hours before serving. Discard garlic from sauce just before tossing with pasta.

4 – Cook pasta in 6 quarts boiling water with 1 tbsp salt until al dente. Drain pasta in a colander, transfer to a bowl containing 1 tbsp olive oil and toss quickly. Toss pasta with 3/4 of the sauce. If pasta is a little dry when tossing, add about 1/2 cup of the reserved juice to moisten. Spoon remaining suace on top and serve with freshly grated Romano cheese.

Serves 4 to 6

Mangiare!

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The very delicate flavor of artichoke hearts combined with fresh pasta makes a light but delicious Northern Italian dish. Enjoy this tasty Italian recipe with friends, family and your favorite bottle of Italian wine!

Ingredients:

2 packages frozen artichoke hearts
3 tbsp olive oil
unsalted butter
2 cloves garlic
1 cup thinly sliced scallions
1/3 cup chicken broth
salt
1/2 tsp freshly milled pepper
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 lb fettuccine
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano cheese
2 tbsp minced parsley leaves

Preparation:

1 – Rinse frozen artichokes under warm water and separate. Cut each artichoke heart into 1/2-inch wedges and place in a strainer to drain.

2 – In a large saute pan, heat olive oil over medium heat, then add 1 tbsp butter. Saute garlic, stirring constantly, until very lightly golden; remove garlic and discard. Add scallions and cook, stirring constantly, until barely tender, for about 1 minute. Add artichoke wedges and continue cooking for 3 minutes. Stir in chicken broth, 1 tsp salt and pepper and mix well; cook an additional minute. Stir in heavy cream, turn heat down to low, and cook until sauce thickens slightly, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.

3 – Cook pasta in 6 quarts boiling water with 1 tbsp salt until al dente. Drain in a colander, transfer to a bowl containing 1 tbsp softened butter and toss quickly. Mix pasta with 3/4 of the sauce and Parmigiano cheese; toss well. Spoon remaining sauce on top and garnish with minced parsley. Serve with additional freshly grated Parmigiano cheese.

Serves 4 to 6

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