fagiolini, ed olive/Cucumber, Green Bean, and Olive Salad
TABLE 4-7: Fall Sunday Menu
| Course | Recipe | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Antipasto | Funghi ripieni/Stuffed Mushrooms | Chapter 6 |
| Primo | Gnocchi di patate/Potato Gnocchi OR Farrotto/Farro “Risotto” | Chapter 10 |
| Secondo | Filetto di manzo marinato/Rosemary and Balsamic Marinated Filet of Beef | Chapter 13 |
| Contorno | Finocchio in padella con scalogni e castagne/Pan-fried Fennel, Shallots, and Chestnuts | Chapter 14 |
| Insalata | Insalata di pomodori e peperoni/Tomato and Roasted Pepper Salad | Chapter 15 |
| Frutta | Pere cotte al cioccolato/Poached Pears in Chocolate | Chapter 17 |
| Dolce | Tiramisù | Chapter 18 |
| Caffé | Caffé/Classic Espresso | Chapter 16 |
TABLE 4-8: Winter Sunday Menu
| Course | Recipe | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Antipasto | Polenta grigliata/Grilled Polenta | Chapter 10 |
| Primo | Orzotto/Pearl Barley Risotto with Radicchio and Taleggio Cheese Fondue OR Ravioli Capresi/Capri-Style Ravioli OR Cavatelli con sugo/Calabrian Cavatelli with Spicy Tomato Sauce | Chapter 10 Chapter 9 Chapter 9 |
| Secondo | Vrasciole/Calabrian Meatballs | Chapter 13 |
| Contorno | Patate raganate/Calabrian Potato Gratin | Chapter 14 |
| Insalata | Insalata di ceci/Chickpea Salad | Chapter 15 |
| Frutta | Mele al forno con crema ed amaretti/Roasted Apples with Cream and Amaretti | Chapter 17 |
| Dolce | Torta di nocciola/Piemontese Hazelnut Cake | Chapter 18 |
| Caffé | Caffé/Classic Espresso | Chapter 16 |
Christmas and winter holiday menus
The Christmas season in Italy starts, culturally speaking, with the first Sunday of Advent and lasts through Epiphany. In addition to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, important Saints’ Days such as Santa Lucia (December 13) and Santo Stefano (December 26) also fall in December. New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, are also celebrated joyfully. It is only after Epiphany on January 7 that the Christmas season ends. Additional winter holidays include San Valentino or St. Valentine’s Day, and Carnevale (Mardi Gras) before Lent begins.
On the feast of Santa Lucia, various towns have their own sweet and savory baked goods that are enjoyed in addition to wintertime foods. Occhi di Santa Lucia/Santa Lucia’s Eyes Cookies are a traditional sweet enjoyed for breakfast or dessert, dunked in coffee or sweet wine for the occasion. On Epiphany, La Befana is celebrated. La Befana is a good witch who not only rewards children for good (and punishes them for bad) behavior on the Eve of Epiphany, but is also credited with sweeping away negative energy from previous years. Italian children hang stockings for her to fill on December 6. Cutout cookies in the shapes of stars and stockings, cakes, and stocking-shaped pizze and calzoni are made in her honor.
Much
