Sunday, March 26, 2017

Sicilian Ziti and Meatballs




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SPAGHETTI & MEATBALLS

"It's Really Italian" !!!



For years now, many so called food Experts who thought they knew more than they actually did wrote disdainfully of the famed Italian dish Spaghetti & Meatballs, saying "it was not authentic Italian food," and is Pseudo Italian. Well, "oh Contraire." Guess what? Spaghetti & Meatballs is Italian. Or should I say Pasta & Meatballs. Yes, pasta with meatballs is a dish eaten quite often in southern Italy and the regions of Puglia, Sicily, and Abruuzo, a native dish is Pasta, (usually short Maccheroni) dressed with Meatballs as a special treat .. The names pf these dishes are called Pasta Seduta, meaning Seated Pasta and Maccaroni Azzese .. Yes Pasta w/ Meatballs, "It's really Italian."   I myself have written about this in my book SUNDAY SAUCE -When Italian-Americans Cook, where I stated at the time that I had hear of certain areas serving Meatballs along with their pasta. And even before I heard this I surmised that out of so many millions of poor Italians over the years it was most certain that in poor familys not wanting to wash more than 1 dish per person eating that momma would not serve pasta and meatballs in separate courses but together on one plate of Pasta & Meatballs (Spaghetti Meatballs). And so as stated before Pasta with Meatballs is an authentic dish served all over Southern Italy, it's reall Italian Food and has names for it, again Pasta Seduta and Maccheroni Azzese .. So there, "In your face Food Snobs," snubbing our beloved Spaghetti & Meatballs, no it's not just Italian-American, which is not a bad thing, it's really Real Italian and the mystery and controversy is now settled, it's Spaghetti & Meatballs, millions love it, and billions of plates have been served over the years. Why? People love it, as simple as that ..





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. LASAGNA CARNEVALE alla NAPOLETANA Has Little Meatballs Inside


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Mangia Bene !!!








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Sicilian American Wedding Dinner







Pasta Seduta from Puglia

 are Ziti (Zite) Baked with Meatballs & Mozzarella



In Sicily Zite used to be the Riguer at Weddings Maccarrune di Zita was served with stew pork or Meatballs and was made in large quanities as it was the tradition to bring a hearty plate of pasta as a gift to neighbors both rich and poor. Today in Sicily the word Zite means Bride. Maccheroni di Zita got its name from its role in wedding banquets, the name meant Maccheroni della Sposa, "of the Bride." A little before my time, most Italian-American Weddings were helf in family homes at local club or in a church basement or similar circumstance and the food was made by friends and family and not a caterer. By the time I was a child often at birthday parties, baby christenings or wedding rehearsals, the family would make it's own food for the event and not have it catered. And I remember at all these Christening and what-not, the spread of food was usually Mixed Antipasto Platters and trays of Eggplant Parmigiano and Baked Ziti, along with all sorts of sweet treats like Cannolis, Cookies, and cakes for the dessert course.
Ah, "the Good Old Day," those dishes cooked by my Aunts Helen and Fran along with my Uncle Tony who was quite a good cook as well, were better than any catered wedding or other party I've ever been to. No comparison. Basta !




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RECIPES FROM MY SICILIAN NONNA
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SUNDAY SAUCE

When Italian-Americans Cook





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The RAGU BOLOGNESE COOKBOOK

by Danny Bolognese


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Thursday, March 23, 2017

Lucky Luciano Sicilian Meatballs Italian New York






JOHN'S of 12th STREET
The MOVIE

WORLD PREMIER
SPECTACLE THEATER

Williamsburg, Brooklyn

New York

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JOHN'S
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JOHN'S of East 12th Street

New York, NY


John's is one of the last of a dying breed of Old School Italian Red Sauce Joints .. John's has been a beloved East Village Italian New York Instituion since 1908, making it one of 
New York's oldest Italian Restaurants of which only a few of many remain. John's is one of them.
John's serves classic Old School Italian American food, including classics like; Clams Posillipo, Baked Clams Oreganata, Lasagna, Spaghetti & Meatballs, Manicotti, and more, including now rare items such as Speedino alla Romano and Veal Sweetbreads.
The wonderful Turn of The Century decor of John's has been lovenly and painstakingly preserved with its 1908 decor still intact. John's is lively and the old school waiters help round out the total picture of Italian Food with great old 1908 decor and animated service from the Black Bowtied Waiters.
Over the years John's has seen the like of; John Lennon, Joe Jackson, Ray Davies, Carol Burnett, Montgomery Clift, Ron Silver, Rockets Redglare, Tom Crruise, Mimi Rodgers, and many other celebrites pass through its doors. Why don't you pass through too? It's great old Italian New York experience.



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IN THE KITCHEN at JOHN'S

The OLD DAYS


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LUCKY LUCIANO





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 SUNDAY SAUCE


LEARN HOW to MAKE MEATBALLS alla SINATRA

RECIPE  in SUNDAY SAUCE

by Daniel Bellino-Zwicke




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SECRET RECIPES




SEGRETO ITALIANO




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JOE MASSERIA HITS VALENTI


LUCKY LUCINIO Does The DIRTY WORK 

Outside JOHN'S of 12th STREET

Smarting over the recent attempt on his life, which had left two bullet holes through his hat and another two holes through his coat, Joe Masseria plotted bloody revenge in epic Italian Renaissance fashion.
Chief Assassin
The target of his wrath was Umberto Valenti, a seriously wily character who had blasted those bullet holes through Masseria’s hat and coat. According to the New York Times in 1915, Valenti was:
A former Black Hand extortionist, it was rumored that Valenti had killed over 20 men, a number of whom had been Masseria’s closest advisors. The thirty four year old Valenti was the chief assassin of Salvatore “Toto” D’Aquila, the New York Mafia’s supreme ruler, a Mafioso who was locked in vicious mob war with Masseria and his chief strategist Giuseppe “the Clutch Hand” Morello.
However, Masseria’s seemingly supernatural bullet dodging powers had given the hard noised, but superstitious, Valenti second thoughts. Second thoughts that had him suing for peace and walking into an ambush in one of New York’s most storied Italian restaurants, John’s of 12th Street, on August 11, 1922, a restaurant that has been used as a set on Boardwalk Empire and the Sopranos.
Well Dressed Gunmen 
Whether or not Valenti sampled the chicken parmigiana before being croaked has been lost to the winds of history. However, some time around noon, Valenti and six laughing companions emerged from their luncheon. Walking eastward, smiles turned into frowns. Suddenly, Valenti spooked and bolted towards Second Avenue as two slick, well-dressed gunmen whipped out revolvers and fired. Gangland legend holds that one of the shooters was none other than Charley “Lucky” Luciano, Masseria’s newest protégé (the other shooter was probably Vito Genovese).




The FEAST of The 7 FISH

Italian Christmas

Pandemonium on 12thStreet

As the shots flew, pandemonium broke loose on 12th Street. Whirling around, the feared assassin drew a revolver just as a bullet flew through his chest.
A teenage witness told the New York Times:
Luciano’s Escape
Despite Valenti’s death, the friendly Luciano and his pals weren’t done yet. A crowd formed to block the gunmen’s escape so the mobsters opened fire, hitting a street sweeper and a little girl visiting from New Haven Connecticut. The shots dispersed the crowd, and the hitmen disappeared into a nearby tenement.
Should I Bring Pajamas? 
Masseria was arrested for the murder.  During his arrest, he supposedly grinned and asked the police:
… whether he would need a nightshirt remarking, that the last time he slept in the station house they forgot to give him a pillow or pajamas.
For a job well done, Joe Masseria elevated Luciano to a leadership position at his headquarters in the Hotel Pennsylvania. All murder charges were eventually dropped, and Masseria, on his way to becoming Joe the Boss, set his sights on Valenti’s overlord, Toto De Aquila, New York’s boss of bosses.
However, John’s of 12th had another infamous last meal lined up twenty years later. The victim would be Carlo Tresca.
BASTA la PASTA !!!!
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Wednesday, March 15, 2017

ARANCINI - Sicilian Rice Balls - Recipe

ARANCINI
 
SICILIAN RICE BALLS
 
 
 
 
LEARN HOW to MAKE
 
VINCENZO'S SICILIAN RICE BALLS
 
ARANCINI
 
 
 
SICILIAN RECIPES
 
ARACINI
 
SICILIAN RICE BALLS
 
CAPONATA
 
RAGU SICILIANA
 
MACCHERONI con CUCUZZA
 
and More ...
 

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Sicilian Stuffed Artichokes

ITALIAN-AMERICAN STUFFED ARTICHOKES
 
 
STUFFED ARTICHOKES
 
 
GREAT QUICK VIDEO
 
 
 
SICILIAN STUFFED ARTICHOKES alla LUCIA
 
Recipe in GRANDMA BELLINO'S ITALIAN COOKBOOK
 
RECIPES FROM MY SICILIAN GRANDMOTHER
 
 
GIUSEPPINA SALEMI BELLINO
 
 
 
 
 
CLARA'S STUFFED ARTICHOKES
 
 
 
 
STUFFED ARTICHOKES alla MALFADA
 
CARCIOFI alla ROMANA
 
by GIANNI  of NORTH BEACH and GIANNI TV
SUNDAY SAUCE
WHEN ITALIAN AMERICANS COOK
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Friteddi alla Siciliana





 If you’re in the southern hemisphere get to the markets quickly before the spring ends and some crucial ingredients disappear. This dish is a classic Sicilian plate originating in the west of Sicily.  Late in the artichoke season throughout Italy, you will find fave beans being sold right next to artichokes, so it’s inevitable that they will find themselves in some recipes together. The further south you make your way in Italy you will see an increasing abundance of both artichokes and fave beans. The dish photographed above is from Trattoria Piccolo Napoli in Palermo A Slowfood listed restaurant specializing in seafood with a generous offering of vegetable antipasti and side dishes.
 You may know fave beans as broad beans where you come from. Once they are removed from their pods they need to have their skins removed. (This is not absolutely essential and certainly wasn’t done in the past when every little morsel counted.) The easiest way to remove the skin from each bean is to toss them into boiling water for half a minute. Remove and refresh under cold water. You will notice the skin wrinkle and lift off the bean, which then can be easily removed with a knife or your fingers. You can also make this with dried fave beans which will need soaking overnight. It’s not the same as the fresh experience but the flavor is unmistakable. It’s also ok to use frozen peas but remember to halve the weight indicated in this recipe (in Grandma Bellino's Italian Cookbook).


FRITEDDI alla SICILIANA

aka

FRITELLI


RECIPE in GRANDMA BELLINO'S ITALIAN COOKBOOK

RECIPES FROM MY SICILIAN GRANDMOTHER

by DANIEL BELLINO Z














FRANK SINATRA Eats !!!


Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner dine out at Patsy's in New York.

Frank's favorite restaurant. Frank Sinatra's family, on his father's side 

is from the Sicilian town of Lercara Friddi Sicily south of Palermo ... Frank's father

Severio Anthony Martino Sinatra was born in Lercara Friddi in 1892 and immigrated to

New York City in 1903 ... The famed Mafia Kingpin Charles "Lucky" Luciano was also born 

in Lercara Friddi in 1897 ... His family immigrated to The Lower east Side of New York 

when he was  just 9 years old ... Best Selling Italian Cookbook Author Daniel Bellino-Zwicke's 
Maternal Grandparents Giuseppina & Phillipo Bellino were born and married 

in Lercara Friddi Sicily and immigrated to New York City in 1904 and later relocating

to the Italian conclave of Lodi, New Jersey where Phillipo opened a Shoemaker Shop 

on Main Street where they raised their 4 children Lillian, Frank, Anthony, and Daniel's mother

Lucia ... 








SALVATORE LUCIANO

aka

CHARLES "LUCKY" LUCIANO


Lercara Friddi, Sicilia

ITALY







MANGIA ITALIANO

Coming Soon !


Check Out Daniel's other Books







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Sunday, March 12, 2017

Tomato Sauce Recipe

SPAGHETTI POMODORO
 
 
 
 
 
BASINACOLE !!!!
 
LEARN HOW to MAKE TOMATO SAUCE
 
for
 
SPAGHETTI POMODORO
 
 
 
 
 
San Marzano Tomatoes on the Vine
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GREAT RECIPES
 
TOMATO SAUCE
 
SUNDAY SAUCEMEATBALLS BRACIOLE
 
and More ...
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Can of SAN MARZANO TOMATOES
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GRANDMA BELLINO's ITALIAN COOKBOOK
RECIPES FROM MY SICILIAN NONNA
Daniel Bellino "Z"
Cook Italian
ITALIAN-AMERICAN
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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