Lamb Chops Calabria-Style with Tomatoes, Peppers, and Olives

 

I've very fond of Marcella's lamb chops with rosemary, white wine and garlic from Marcella's Italian Kitchen, published in the mid 80s. This recipe was published around 20 years later - with fresh parsley from the garden, a red capsicum, peeled, of course, fresh tomatoes, also peeled, and green olives. 

It's a keeper, from Marcella Says. So fresh and light. And the olives - at least the ones we had - weren't as prominent as you might be used to from say black olives. Normally I fret over chop - or cutlet, temperature, but on this occasion I followed Marcella's instructions and it all turned out fine. Lovely and pink. 

Pork loin braised with milk

I have been eyeing this recipe off for 17 years. I don't know why I was reluctant to cook it. I think, perhaps, in the beginning I was too intimidated by it. It was such a classic. I have been a slow student. Marcella told me once I needed to have a close look at my cooking, to see what was going wrong with it. Perhaps that put me on edge. 

Anyway, I gave it a go, 16 years after I started this blog. It worked. It was delicious. I shall make it again. 

I used Giuliano's version "taught to me by my mother". She first published her version in 1973. His is almost the same. She talks of bones and tablespoons of water, and he does not. Both talk of removing fat from the nut brown sauce - mine was fine with the fat included. 

We are not religious, but often say a quiet thanks to Marcella when we eat some of her food.

Thanks.

Lemon veal scallopini

Lovely! Will have to try with chicken.

Dodged the flour. Any GF suggestions (lower GI) I'm all ears. 

Pot Roast with Red Wine

This is a feast for a group of people you love. 

I don't think mash is optional. I did cauiflower. 

Green beans would go well with it. 

Marcella published this recipe 53 years ago, when she was younger than me. 

Still Tasty, Marcella. Thank you. 

Roast Easter Lamb with White Wine

I made this little beauty with a hunk of lamb shoulder. 

It was delicious - tender lamb with a classic, effortless delicious sauce. 

I would warm the serving bowl next time, as instructed. 

Pork chops with sage and tomatoes

 

I can't believe I've not posted about this dish before. 

Pork, sage, tomatoes - that's pretty well it. 

It's so delicious. We skip the flour, but it browns nicely without. The trick, as is usually the case, is the get the best of everything: free range pork, best tomatoes, sage from your garden, the best salt and fats. If you use a crappy bit of pork it will be like an old boot. 

Cook until it's done. This doesn't mean stopping after the suggested hour, or god help us, 20 minutes as I read in someone's blog post. You cook the pork till it's tender when prodded with a fork. That might take 40 minutes. Or it might take 2 hours. 

Fried Calamari

 

We used almond flour and olive oil, and it worked a treat. I fried for longer than you might think - minutes, till it really went golden. We bought the preprepared squid tubes and it was much easier.