Ciro

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Spaghetti all'Arrabbiata Serves 4 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 2 garlic cloves, minced 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes 1 teaspoon minced Italian parsley 4 cups canned chopped Italian plum tomatoes 2 tablespoons plus ½ teaspoon salt 1 pound spaghetti 3/4 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano (optional) Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a 14-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, chili, and parsley, and cook 30 seconds, or until aromatic. Fold in the tomatoes and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt. Cook over medium heat 20 minutes, covered, stirring once in a while. Meanwhile, bring 5 quarts of water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and the remaining 2 tablespoons of salt. Cook until al dente, then drain, reserving 3/4 cup of the pasta cooking water. Add the spaghetti, Pecorino, and the reserved pasta cooking water to the sauce in the skillet. Cook 1 minute, stirring; the sauce should coat the spaghetti; cook a few seconds longer if it does not. Serve hot.

Kat, the parmigiano goes in the mixing with the eggs, eliminate the milk complitely, it is fine with out it. Don't cut the chicken breast too thick, or the the inside part of the chicken will not be cooked. Ciao. Ciro

Barbara, writes:I'm reading a delightful book, "Woe is I: The Gramaphobe's Guide to Better English in Plain English," by Patricia O'onnor Barbara, I got the book. I hope my grammar will improve. :oops: To learn requires a lot of courage! CD.

Jody, I am convinced that temperament is the main issue here. Temperament is innate, and never changes. What we become is very much influenced by our temperament. We can learn how to think and do things differently than before, but it's always the same person doing it, e.i. a human being with his own temperament

Rigatoni al Forno Cook time: 30 minutes Servings: 7-9 Ingredients 3 3/4 cups bechamel sauce 3 1/2 cups Bolognese sauce 1 box Rigatoni 2/3 cup Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, grated. Prepare the bechamel and Bolognese sauces according to the recipes below. Cook the rigatoni according to the package directions. Preheat the oven to 375F. Combine the Rigatoni, bechamel sauce, Bolognese sauce,and Parmigiano cheese. Place in a 13x9 inch pan and bake for 30 minutes. BECHAMEL SAUCE 3 1/3 cups milk 4 tablespoons butter 2 ½ tablespoons flour salt to taste Heat the milk in medium saucepan and keep it warm. Melt in a small saucepan the butter and whisk or stir in, a small amount of flour at a time. Cook and stir constantly for 3-4 minutes. Bring milk to a boil and add butter mixture, stirring constantly. Add salt to taste. BOLOGNESE SAUCE 1 stalk celery, very finely chopped 1 large carrot, very finely chopped 1/2 cup onion, very finely chopped 2 ounces Italian pancetta( Bacon) chopped 3 tablespoons butter 2 pounds ground beef 1 pound ground pork 3/4 cup dry white wine salt, to taste freshly ground black pepper, to taste 1/2 cup tomato paste 2 3/4 cups water Melt the butter in a large pot and add the vegetables and pancetta; cook over medium-high heat for 20 minutes. add the ground pork and beef and cook for 30 minutes or until cooked thoroughly. Add the white wine to deglaze when the bottom of the pot begins to stick. Cook until wine is evaporated. ADD water and tomato paste. Simmer until water is completely evaporated (approximately 2 hours).

Roger about: To be out in front means sometimes to be alone. A leader must know and accept this responsibility. We cannot lead others where we are afraid to go ourselves. From self-esteem at work. CD

Michael, about making a little change to the Quote: ... a place where wise and decent people discuss important ideas and help one another to grow and rise, with Ciro's cooking. lol Best to you my friend.

Dear, Ciro, remember: you learn more listening than by talking. So don't rush to defend yourself. Just listen...and see what you can learn. Nathaniel Branden Roger, I made good use of this one that's for sure!

Roger, this is what NB, answered to many of my questions on consciousness. NB: What is energy "constituted" of? If consciousness is a primary, then it is not constituted of something other than consciousness. NB. Ciro.

Something for love, not just sex lol, being an Italian, I thought it was the samething. We learn something new every day! Ciao.

ITALIAN STYLE PIG STORY .... The Three Little Pigs - Italian Style Once upon a time there were three little pigs. The straw pig, the stick pig and the brick pig. One day this nasty old wolf came up to the straw pig's house and said, "I'm gonna huff and puff and blow your house down." And he did !!! So the straw pig went running over to the stick pig's house and said, "Please let me in, the wolf just blew down my house." So the stick Pig let the straw pig in. Just then the wolf showed up and said, "I'm gonna huff and puff and blow your house down." And he did !!! So the straw pig and the stick pig went running over to the brick pig's house and said, "Let us in, let us in, the big bad wolf just blew our houses down!" So the brick pig let them in just as the wolf showed up. The wolf said, "I'm gonna huff and puff and blow your house down." The straw pig and the stick pig were so scared! But the brick pig picked up the phone and made a call. A few minutes passed and a big, black Caddy pulls up. Out step two massive pigs in pin striped suits and fedora hats. These pigs come over to the wolf, grab him by the neck and beat the living crap out of him, then one of them pulled out a gun, stuck it in his mouth and fired, killing the wolf, then they got back into their Caddy and drove off. The straw pig and stick pig were amazed!!! "Who the hell were those guys?" they asked. "Those were my cousins... the Guinea Pigs

Start your day off with a laugh.... Butt Dust & Fleas These have to be original and genuine - no adult is this creative! MELANIE (age 5) asked her Granny how old she was. Granny replied she was so old she didn't remember any more. Melanie said, "If you don't Melanie said, "If you don't remember, just look in the back of your panties. Mine say five to six." STEVEN (age 3) hugged and kissed his Mom goodnight. "I love you so much, that when you die I'm going to bury you outside my bedroom window." BRITTANY (age 4) had an earache and wanted a painkiller. She tried in vain to take the lid off the bottle. Seeing her frustration, her Mom explained it was a childproof cap and she'd have to open it for her. Eyes wide with wonder, the little girl asked: "How does it know it's me? SUSAN (age 4) was drinking juice when she got the hiccups. "Please don't give me this juice again," she said, "It makes my teeth cough." D I (age 4) stepped onto the bathroom scale and asked: "How much do I cost?" MARC (age 4) was engrossed in a young couple that were hugging and kissing in a restaurant. Without taking his eyes off them, he asked his dad, "Why is he whispering in her mouth?" CLINTON (age 5) was in his bedroom looking worried. When his Mom asked what was troubling him, he replied, "I don't know what'll happen with this bed when I get married. How will my wife fit in?" JAMES (age 4) was listening to a Bible story. His dad read, "The man named Lot was warned to take his wife and flee out of the city but his wife looked back and was turned to salt. "Concerned, James asked, "What happened to the flea?" TAMMY (age 4) was with her mother when they met an elderly, rather wrinkled woman her Mom knew. Tammy looked at her for awhile and then asked, "Why doesn't your skin fit your face?" Last but not least...The Sermon I think this Mom will never forget. In this particular Sunday sermon, the minister began, "Dear Lord," with arms extended toward heaven and a rapturous look on his upturned face. "Without you, we are but dust." He would have continued, but at that moment my normally very obedient daughter (who was listening!) leaned over to me and asked quite audibly in her shrill little girl voice, "Mommy, what is butt dust?"

There's an important moral to the story. We are often mistaken in avoiding the temptations that would take us from a given path. Barbara Barbara, long time ago I found a solution for this, I do not avoid temptations, I take them as they come, BUT, I remember to take along the people I love. Ciro.

Dear Jody, I am really sorry for not having answered you any sooner to the post asking the recipe for Crème Brulees. This recipe , is the recipe that I am going to use to the new restaurant-that I hope to open-by next Christmas. It's going to be a nice restaurant. I am also working on putting together a book with all my recipes,of which I will send a copy to each one of you, friends. Best to you, Ciao, Ciro. Crèmes brulees Ingredients: 4 egg yolks 7 tablespoons sugar 2/½ cups whipping cream vanilla extract One Preheat the oven to 300F. Have ready six ½-cup soufflé dishes or custard cup. Whisk the egg yolks and 3 tablespoons sugar in a large heatproof bowl. Bring the cream and a few drops of vanilla to a boil in a heavy-bottomed saucepan, then reduce heat and simmer for 8 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat and slowly pour the cream onto the egg mixture, whisking vigorously so the eggs do not scramble. Strain the custard into a large pitcher, and then pour into the individual soufflé dishes. Two) Place the soufflé dishes in a baking dish. Put enough hot water into the baking dish to reach ½ inch below the rims of the soufflé’ dishes. Bake the custard for 40-45 minutes, or until just firm to the touch. Remove from the oven and refrigerate over night. Three) To make the caramel, evenly sprinkle some of the remaining sugar over the top of each custard using a teaspoon. With out breaking the skin of the custard, spread the sugar out very gently using a finger or the spoon, then repeat to form a second layer of sugar. Remove any sugar from inside the edges of the dishes as it will burn. four) Place the dishes in a baking sheet and place under a hot broiler 2-3 minutes, or until the sugar melted and is just beginning to gibe off a haze. Allow the glaze to harden before serving. Tip: Before pouring the custard into the soufflé dishes put a strawberry on the bottom of each dish.

A plumber attended to a leaking faucet at the neurosurgeon's house. After a two-minute job the plumber demanded $150. The neurosurgeon exclaimed, 'I don't charge this amount even though I am a surgeon." The plumber replied, "I agree, you are right. I too, didn't either, when I was a surgeon. That's why I switched to plumbing!"

Children believe in gods. To children their parents are perfect benevolent beings from which all goodness springs. When parents abuse their children, children naturally asume that they did something wrong, that they deserved it somehow. It's not possible for a child to recognize that her parents are flawed, let along malevolent at times. Kavin your above statement is too generalized, Children are much smarter than that! I know that! On the other hand, when some born-again comes up to me and asks, "Do you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour?" I say, "You bet! I need all the friends I can get!" It really stumps'em! This is great! thank you. Ciro

ASPARAGUS, ARTICHOKE AND LOBSTER SALAD. Preparation time 1 hour plus chilling total cooking time 35 minutes serves 4 Ingredients Court Bouillon 1 large carrot, thinly sliced 2 onions thinly sliced 2 stalks celery, thinly sliced 1 leek, white part only, thinly sliced 3 spring of fresh thyme 1 bay leaf 10 black peppercorn 2 cups white wine ¼ cup salt 3 uncooked lobster tails 24 spears asparagus 1/3 cup salt, extra Dressing ¼ cup sherry vinegar 1 shallot, finely chopped ¼ cup walnut oil ½ cup vegetable oil 1 table spoon chopped fresh chervil or chives 4 large artichoke hearts, from a jar some chervil to garnish. One) to make the court bouillon , place all the vegetables with the thyme,bay leaf, peppercorn and wine in a large stock pot and bring to boil. Cook for 5 minutes on high heat. Add the salt 4 quarts of water and bring to boil again, add the lobster tails bring to a boil and cook for 12 minutes. Remove the stockpot from the heat and allowing the lobster to cool. Two) When the lobster is cool enough to handle, remove it form the bouillon. Discard the bouillon. Remove the lobster meat in a entire piece. Removing lobster tail meat This technique makes it easy to present the lobster tail meat in neat, elegant portion. Turn the lobster on its tail. Using kitchen scissors , cut lengthwise down each side of the belly. Pull the soft under shell back, exposing the meat. Pull the meat from the shell, keeping it in a single portion. Cover and refrigerate. Three) Cook the asparagus , tie the spears in a bundles of six and cook in 4 quarters of salted water when soft to the touch place the asparagus in a bowl with ice water to stop the cooking process. Four) For the dressing , whisk together the shallot and the vinegar. Gradually whisk in the oils, then the chives. Season set aside. Rinse the artichokes well, toss them in the dressing and set aside, do the same with the asparagus and set aside. Arrange the lobster tails on a fancy serving plate with the artichoke, the asparagus . Sprinkle with the remaining dressing and serve at once. lolololololol KAAAAAAAAAAAT? about doing this salad? come on! try it!

Hummm! I love when people challenge me!:-) Kat, be prepared for some new elaborated recipes They won't be as simple as pesto. My next recipe will be Asparagus, artichoke and lobster salad. This is an elegant salad for a special occasion. It is made with court bouillon and dressing. Ciao.

Merry Christmas, Jody, to you and your beautiful wife. Ciro!

In Italy,we make these cookies especially around Christmas' time. During these holidays people like to share cookies as symbol of friendship. The cantucci, are my favorite cookies. I love to dip them in the cappuccino for breakfast. Here is the recipes. Pine nut biscotti are lightly flavored with lemon, allowing the subtle sweetness of the pignoli or pine nuts to shine through. Definitely a round the clock snack! :Makes 48 1 Cup Pine Nuts 2 1/2 Cups All-Purpose Flour 1 1/2 Teaspoons Baking Powder 1/8 Teaspoon Salt 1/2 Cup Butter, Softened 1 Cup of Sugar 3 Medium Eggs 2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice 2 Tablespoons Finely Chopped Lemon Zest Toast the pine nuts in a 350 degree F. oven for about 8 minutes, or until golden. Reduce the heat to 325 degrees. Mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, beat together the butter and sugar. Add the eggs one at a time, then the lemon juice and zest. Add the dry ingredients and continue mixing until well blended. Fold in the pine nuts. On a lightly floured surface, divide the dough in half, and form two loaves about 14 inches long and 2 inches wide and place on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake for about 30 minutes in a preheated 325 degree F. oven or until they are set and golden in color. Allow to cool for 5 minutes, then using a serrated knife cut into 3/4 inch slices. Place these slices back on the baking sheet, and cook an additional 10-15 minutes turning over once half way, or until the cookies cooked through and crisp. Cool, and store in an airtight container. Note: If the dough seems too sticky to form into logs, refrigerate for one hour first Cantucci Almond Biscotti ~ These little crispy almond cookies are often dipped in a sweet wine called Vin Santo for a light, tasty dessert. :Makes 2 Dozen Pre-toasting the almonds enhances the flavor. 1 Cup Whole, Raw Almonds 2 Cups All-Purpose Flour 1 ½ Teaspoons Baking Powder 1/8 Teaspoons Salt ½ Teaspoons Cinnamon 6 Tablespoons Butter Softened 2/3 Cup of Confectioners Sugar 2 Large Eggs 1 Tbs. Almond Extract Place the almonds in a preheated 325-degree F. oven and toast the almonds just until they begin to take on color. Cool, and coarsely chop. Mix together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, beat together the butter and powdered sugar. Add the almonds, the eggs and extract. Add the dry ingredients and continue mixing until well blended. On a lightly floured surface, divide the dough in half, and form two loaves about 9 inches long and 2 1/2 inches wide and place on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake for about 35 minutes or until they are slightly golden brown. Allow to cool for 5 minutes, then using a serrated knife cut into ½ inch slices. Place these slices back on the baking sheet, and cook an additional 5-10 minutes or until the cookies are golden in color and dry. Cool, and store in an airtight container. Ciao.

Cherry Mistmas to you, Barbara! I hate cooking -- I hate it, I tell you, hate it, hate it, hate it! I believe you, Barbara! The reason I like it, is because at sixteen years old, I found myself in a far away land, with no education, no money, and away from home. I found myself standing in the mud facing this huge immense wall. I was scared, cold, I tried to go around it, but, there was no way around it. I asked people to help, never , for help, they were not interested to have a quality of life but just to live their life, but how? somehow they said! When I asked; why are we facing this wall? What have we done? in their bovine eyes no answer I found. But then, I found an exit through a kitchen, I took it, and put all my heart and soul to learn, and to stay there. It was warm, the food smelled and tasted good. And now, after 30 years, I found myself rich, with a beautiful family, and being a friend of Barbara Branden! What else do I want! Cherry Mistmas, Barbara! Ciro D'Agostino. Kat, love you too! Marry Christmas, to you, your children, and of course to MSK! Ciao amici, voglio farvi gli auguri anche in Italiano. Buon Natale, la vita vale! godiamocela con serenita e amore! CD.

Thought I'd share my favorite Christmas cookie recipe .. enjoy! Favorite Christmas Cookies 1 cup of water 2 tsp baking soda 1 cup of sugar 1 tsp salt 1 cup of brown sugar Lemon juice 4 large eggs 1 cup nuts 2 cups of dried fruit 1 bottle Jose Cuervo Tequila Sample the Cuervo to check for quality. Take a large bowl, check the Cuervo again, to be sure it is of the highest quality, pour 1 level cup and drink. Turn on the electric mixer. Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add one teaspoon of sugar. Beat again. At this point it's best to make sure the Cuervo is still OK ... try another cup ... just in case. Turn off the mixerer thingy. Break 2 leggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit. Pick the friggin fruit off the floor. Mix on the turner. If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaterers just pry it loose with a drewscriver. Sample the Cuervo to check for tonsisticity. Next, sift two cups of salt, or something. Who giveshz a sheet. Check the Jose Cuervo. Now shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts. Add one table. Add a spoon of sugar, or some fink. Whatever you can find. Greash the oven. Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over. Don't forget to beat off the truner. Finally, throw the bowl through the window, finish the Cose Juervo and make sure to put the stove in the dishwasher. CHERRY MISTMAS!!!

Yes, kat you can choose any sponge no sugar bread, or anything that doesn't have sugar. Remember though, if you chose a soft biscott or sponge bread don't dip it in the coffee, just make a layer and brush it with coffee. If you mess up let me know. I will make a little dimostrative video and send it to you? Ciao.

Kat, first let me wish you happy birthday. We celebrate bithdays, but I never understood why? I wish one day, someone would give me a valid reason for doing that . lol BTW. How can I substitute sugar with honey in recipes? You can substitute honey for equal amounts of sugar in many liquid recipes. In baked goods, substitute honey for up to half the amount of sugar and make the following adjustments. Reduce the amount of liquid in the recipe by 1/4 cup for each cup of honey used. Add 1/2 tsp. baking soda for each cup of honey used, because honey is heavier than sugar and therefore the recipe needs extra levitation help. Reduce oven temperature by 25F (because honey will brown baking goods more than sugar). In liquid recipes such as salad dressings, drinks, shakes etc. you may replace sugar with the same or lesser amount of honey. Keep in mind that honey is sweeter than sugar! Tiramisu' doesn't need to be baked so you shoudn't have any problems. To measure honey for a recipe, spray measuring cup with vegetable oil first, then pour honey into greased measuring cup. Ciao Kat,happy birthday to you! Is Michael at church? lol