Cake with pine nuts and walnut ( Torta Pinoli e Noci )

CAKE WITH PINE NUTS AND WALNUT ( Torta Pinoli e Noci )

INGREDIENTS
• 250g flour
• 120g sugar
• 1egg
• 3 egg whites
• 1 packet baking powder
• 1 yogurt
• 7 tablespoons of oil
• 2 apples
• A little milk
• Pine nuts and walnuts


PREPARATION:
In a medium bowl, mix well the sugar with the egg, until a soft cream. Cut apples into small pieces. Add the other ingredients. Separately mount the three egg withes until stiff and then add them to the mixture. Put the mixture into a buttered pan or, if you prefer, cover the pan with parchment paper. Put in preheated oven at 180 for 50 minutes. Decorate with pine nuts and walnut.

Tuscany in a Nutshell E-mail: tuscanyinanutshell.blogspot(at)gmail.com

By Tuscany in a Nutshell Tuscany in a nutshell on Google+ Published: 28 / 04 /2012 Updated: 28 / 04 /2012

Cantuccini di Prato - ( Prato bisquits )

CANTUCCINI DI PRATO

Serves: 3 dozen 
INGREDIENTS
• 400 g flour
• 250 g sugar
• 150 g almonds, unpeeled
• 3 eggs
• 3 egg yolks
• 1 tsp baking powder
• pinch of salt


PREPARATION:
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
2. Mix 2 eggs, egg yolks and sugar in a bowl. Add the flour and the baking powder and the pinch of salt. Toast the almonds, when they are cold, add the mixture. 
3. On a clean surface, turn out the dough and shape it into some roll: the should be 3 fingers wide and tall one finger.
4. Place rolls in oven, brush them with eggs and bake for about 15 minutes, then remove rolls from the oven. The roll should be warm and firm; place it on a cutting board and cut diagonally, making 1 cm wide slices.
5. Place the slices back in oven and leave some space between each slice. Bake for 10 minutes to150°C.. Remove and let cool. 
These cookies are traditionally enjoyed together with a good glass of Vin Santo. It is common Tuscan tradition to dip the cookie into the Vin Santo.

PREPARAZIONE

1) Pre-riscaldare il forno a 180 gradi.

2) Tostare le mandorle.

3) Mischiare le due uova e i tuorli di uovo 

4) Aggiungere farina e lievito, con un pizzico di sale.

5) Aggiungere mandorle alla mistura.

6) Su una superfice pulita , fare dei rotoli spessi 3 dita e alti 1 dito .

7) Cuocere i rotoli per 15 minuti.

8) I rotoli dovrebbero essere caldi e sodi, su un tagliere fare "fettine" diagonali di 1 cm.

9) Rimettere in forno i biscotti lasciando spazio fra ognuno. Cuocere per 10 minuti a 150 °c

Tuscany in a Nutshell E-mail: tuscanyinanutshell.blogspot(at)gmail.com

By Tuscany in a Nutshell Tuscany in a nutshell on Google+ Published: 22 / 04 /2012 Updated: 22 / 04 /2012

Orange sponge cake

TRADITIONAL ORANGE SPONGE CAKE

One of the most important traditional tuscan cake, is orange cake.
The recipe is very easy to do , and the cake is one of the best of all tuscan recipes.
you can eat in the morning or for a break, very simple but very good.
INGREDIENTS

• 300g flour 
• 300g sugar 
• 3 oranges 
• 3 eggs 
• 75g butter 
• 1 packet baking powder 

PREPARATION 
Separate egg yolks and egg whites and beat eggs yolks and sugar with an electric mixer. Add the flour gradually, add oranges juice, orange peel, melted butter and baking powder. Whip the eggs whites until stiff and incorporate them into the mixture. Now mix with a ladle from the bottom to the top. Put the mixture into a buttered pan or, if you prefer, cover the pan with parchment paper. Put in preheated oven at180 for 35-40 minutes. If you like, decorate with powdered sugar

Tuscany in a Nutshell E-mail: tuscanyinanutshell.blogspot(at)gmail.com

By Tuscany in a Nutshell Tuscany in a nutshell on Google+ Published: 05 / 04 /2012 Updated: 05 / 04 /2012

Rice Fritters ( Frittelle di Riso )

Rice Fritters ( Frittelle di Riso )

Frittelle di riso, fried rice fritters,
 are a Tuscan tradition for Carnival and Father's day, March 19.
The fried rice cakes are a great idea for a snack or a quick snack

INGREDIENTS FOR ABOUT 50 FRITTERS
• 1 liter milk (about 4 cups)
• 300 gr. white rice
• pinch of salt
• 170gr. sugar
• 1 grated lemon peel
• 1 grated orange peel
• 4 egg yolks
• 2 egg whites
• 4 tablespoons of flour
• 1 packet of backing powder
• oil for frying

1. In a sauce, heat up the milk, rice and salt. Cook until the rice softens and begins to fall apart; if you need to, add more milk during this time.
Remove from heat and let the cooked rice cool down, even better if you cover it and put it in the refrigerator overnight.
2. In large mixing bowl, combine the egg yolks, sugar, orange peel, lemon peel, flour, backing powder and egg whites until stiff .
 Add the cooked rice and mix well.
With your hands form small balls and set aside. Heat your frying oil up, then fry the balls in hot oil, (they must be floating in it) until all sides are browned, about 5 minutes.
Drain on paper towels, then sprinkle sugar on top.

INGREDIENTI PER 50 FRITTELLE
•    1 litro di latte ( 4 Tazze )
•    300 gr. riso bianco
•    pizzico di sale
•    170gr. zucchero
•    1 scorza di un limone 
•    1 scorza di un arancial
•    4 rossi uovo
•    2 bianchi uovo
•    4 cucchiai da cucina farina
•    1 bustina lievito
•    olio per friggere

1) Bollire latte, riso e sale. Cuocere finchè il riso non si ammorbidisce , scolarlo a parte , se necessario aggiungere latte.
Togliere dal fuoco, lasciar raffreddare, poi mettere nel frigorifero per una notte.
2) Mescolare rossi di uovo,buccia arancia, buccia di limone, zucchero, farina, lievito e bianchi di uovo montati.
Aggiungere il riso cotto e mescolare bene
Creare le palline con il composto, e friggerlo in olio già bollente , per circa 5 minuti , fino a che le frittelle non sono appena scure.
Asciugare con la carta le frittelle e cospargerle di zucchero. 

Tuscany in a Nutshell E-mail: tuscanyinanutshell.blogspot(at)gmail.com

By Tuscany in a Nutshell Tuscany in a nutshell on Google+ Published: 24 / 03 /2012 Updated: 24 / 03 /2012

Florentine Sponge Cake

Florentine sponge cake ( Schiacciata alla Fiorentina )

 

 

 

This is a delicious spongy cake, popular around Carnival time in February but now found year-round, particularly in shops in downtown Florence.

You can eat this cake for breakfast or for dessert, children love it !

Servings: 12

INGREDIENTS

• 2 eggs
• 180g sugar
• 1 orange juice
• 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons water
• 6 tablespoons milk
• 200g  flour
• 1 lemon rind
• 2 teaspoons baking powder 
• powdered sugar to decorate

1. In a medium bowl, mix all of the ingredients in this order and beat throughly until the batter is smooth and thick with no lumps.
2. Grease a rectangular baking pan and pour in the batter. Bake at 180°c for 45 minutes. Sprinkle powdered sugar on top of the cake.

If you want and have a sweet tooth, you can slice the cake and fill it with whipped cream.

Tuscany in a Nutshell E-mail: tuscanyinanutshell.blogspot(at)gmail.com

By Tuscany in a Nutshell Tuscany in a nutshell on Google+ Published: 8 / 03 /2012 Updated: 8 / 03 /2012

Zebra Cake

The zebra Cake

This is a delicious Black - White Zebra cake, popular in Tuscany. You can eat this cake for breakfast or for dessert, children love it ! 

Servings: 6/8 

INGREDIENTS 
400 gr flour 
5 eggs 
125g butter 
1 glass of milk 
2 teaspoons of baking powder 
400 gr sugar 
50 gr cocoa 

PREPARATION:
In a medium bowl mix eggs and sugar. Add flour, butter and milk! The batter must be smooth. Add backing powder. Divide the batter in 2 bowls and cocoa in 1 of these. If the cocoa batter is not very smooth ,you can add a little more of milk. Then grease a circular or a rectangular pan or line the pan with parchment paper and pour alternately the "white" batter and the cocoa one in it. Put in a oven at 180 for 45-50 minutes.

INGREDIENTI

400 gr farina
5 uova
 125g burro
1 bicchiere di latte
1 bustina di lievito in polvere
Zucchero 400 gr
50 gr di cacao o cioccolato fondente


  PREPARAZIONE

 In una ciotola media mescolare uova e zucchero. Aggiungere la farina, il burro e il latte fino ad ottenere un composto liscio ed omogeneo.. Aggiungi il lievito in polvere. Dividere l'impasto in 2 ciotole e in una aggiungere il cacao. Se l'impasto con il cacao non è molto liscio, è meglio aggiungere un po' più di latte. Poi ungere o foderare la teglia con carta da forno e versarvi la pastella alternativamente "bianco" e quello del cacao in esso iniziando dal centro. Mettere in un forno a 180° per 45-50 minuti.

Tuscany in a Nutshell E-mail: tuscanyinanutshell.blogspot(at)gmail.com

By Tuscany in a Nutshell Tuscany in a nutshell on Google+ Published: 18 / 03 /2012 Updated: 18 / 03 /2012