Mirella's Bookstore
German Borscht
Serves 4-6
1 lb. ham hock, cooked, cleaned and cut into small pieces 8 cups Pork broth
2 cups potatoes, peeled, sliced into bit size pieces 2 tsps dried parsley
Pinch salt and pepper
Add meat to a large stock pot with pork broth, over a medium heat until the meat is fork tender. Add vegetables, and spices. Raise heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Simmer for 20 mins or until the vegetables are fork tender. Serve and enjoy!
LUPINI BEAN SNACK
1 cup lupini beans
1 tsp oregano
Salt to taste
Lupini beans can be found in the canned beans isle of your grocery store, in airtight bags or by weight at your local Italian deli. Drain and rinse beans; place in a bowl or a plastic container with a lid. Add oregano and mix thoroughly with a spoon or alternately place lid on plastic container and shake until thoroughly combined.
TIPS & VARIATIONS: You may want to add salt to bring out the flavor, lupini can be somewhat bitter. Refrigerate until well chilled and serve to your guests in a bowl with a spoon so your guests can help themselves; makes a great addition to an antipasti platter.
POLPETTE DI PANE / BREAD DUMPLINGS
-Makes 1 Dozen
I grew up calling these Porpette not Polpette
1½ cups coarse bread crumbs 2 eggs
¼ cup cooked ham, cooked pork rib or ½ tsp salt
other cured Italian meat, thinly diced 2 tsps parsley
Combine bread and meat, whisk eggs and add to bread mixture, mix with fork allowing bread to absorb egg. If mixture is to dry add water; add salt and parsley. Form into balls, cook in enough salted water to cover polpette, 15-20 mins.
TIPS & VARIATIONS: For something different try frying them in oil 4-6 mins and serve. For added flavour mix in a small amount of parmesan cheese.
Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts
Cooking Time – 400℉/30 Mins
1-8 oz. can water chestnuts, drained
8 slices bacon, cut in half crosswise
Wrap each chestnut with a piece of bacon. Secure with a toothpick. Arrange in a shallow baking pan. Bake until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
TIPS & VARIATIONS: Can be prepared ahead of time and stored in refrigerator until ready to bake. I also like to use pineapple instead of water chestnuts or turkey bacon for something leaner, keep in mind that other bacon styles may be thicker slices.
