Our Favorite Italian Cookbook

SUNDAY SAUCE

From Our Favorite

GREENWICH VILLAGE ITALIAN AUTHOR 

Daniel Bellino Z

SUNDAY SAUCE
 
WHEN ITALIAN-AMERICANS COOK
 
Daniel Bellino Zwicke
 

 
SUNDAY SAUCE
 
TOP 100 ITALIAN COOKBOOKS
 
 
BESTSELLER LIST
 
“DO YOU HAVE YOUR COPY” ???
 
 
 
 

 

 
OUR FAVORITE ITALIAN COOKBOOK AUTHOR
 
DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE

AUTHOR PAGE AMAZON.com

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Amalfi Coast Italian Lemon Cookies Recipe

 



AMALFI COAST LEMONS

MINORI, ITALY

ITALIAN LEMON COOKIES





Italian Lemon Cookies

I love lemon desserts. The bright, citrus flavor just makes my whole day better and lights up my mood. I’ve seen lemon desserts done in magically delicious ways and I’ve seen them leave me puckering so hard I thought my face would stay that way. This lemon drop cookie recipe is the former. Sweet lemon glaze coats and not too sweet biscuit-like cookie for a perfectly balanced bite of citrus you’ll crave!

COOKIE RECIPE


  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 1 egg
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice (1 to 2 lemons)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest (1 lemon)
  • ⅓ cup milk


GLAZE


  • 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 1 ½ tablespoons milk
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice (1/2 lemon)
  • ½ tablespoon lemon zest (1/2 lemon)


INSTRUCTIONS

COOKIES


  • Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
  • Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter and sugar for 1 minute or until pale and fluffy.
  • Add the egg and vanilla to the butter mixture. Beat until combined and smooth, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the lemon juice and lemon zest and mix to combine.
  • Add half of the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix until just incorporated. Add the milk and mix to combine. Add the remaining flour mixture and mix until completely incorporated. The dough should be the consistency of a very thick, sticky cake batter.
  • Use a small cookie scoop (about 1 tablespoon) to portion the cookie dough onto parchment paper or silicone mat lined cookie sheets.
  • Bake for 11-13 minute, or until the bottom edges are golden brown.
  • Carefully remove from the oven. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.


GLAZE

  • In a medium mixing bowl, beat together the powdered sugar, butter, milk, lemon juice, and lemon zest until smooth.
  • Place the wire racks (with the cookies one them) over some foil or over a baking sheet.
  • Use a spoon to top each cookie with a heaping teaspoon of frosting. Use the back of your spoon to spread the glaze all over the cookie. Return the cookie to the wire rack and let the frosting finish coating the cookies. Let set until the glaze firms up a little, about 15-20 minutes. (The glaze will not set up completely, but will stop dripping down the cookie.)
  • Serve immediately or store in an airtight container until ready to serve.


NOTES


  • If you glaze looks too thin, you can add more powdered sugar a tablespoon or two at a time. If it looks too thick, add milk a teaspoon or two at a time until your desired consistency is reached. This is a glaze, not a frosting, it should be on the runny side.
  • You can add more lemon juice and zest to the glaze if you prefer a stronger lemon flavor.
  • If you like, you can drizzle or spoon the glaze over the cookies while they’re sitting on a wire rack. I usually dip the tops and put them back on the baking sheet to set up.






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Antico Vinaio of Florence Italy opens Italian Sandwich Shop in Greenwich Village – New York

 

all’ ANTICO VINAIO

SULLIVAN STREET

GREENWICH VILLAGE, NEW YORK

NYC




The famed Florentine Sandwich Shop has touched down in Greenwich Village, New York.
all’ Antico Vinaio is a famous Panini Shop from Florence, Italy, that is uber famous with Tourists and Instagramers. They are famous for their square stuffed sandwiches on Focaccia Bread. Sandiches are filled with Mortadella, Salami, Prosciutto, Mozzarella and other Italian Sandwich ingredients.

The new sandwich shop at 225 Sullivan Street in New York’s Greenwich Village opend the other day, and is already doing brisk business. There are not super long lines “yet” though suspect there will be soon, once the masses of New Yorkers and tourist discover that there is an Antico Vinaio panani shop on Sullivan Street.

Famed New York restaurantuer Joe Bastianich has partnered up with the people at Antico Vinaio to open New York’s second all’ Antico Vinaaio Italian sandwich shop.

all’ Antico Vinaio is an Instagram Sensation in Florence, Italy, and is proven to be so on the other side of the pond in America, with locations in Los Angelos, California, and the two shops in New York, and we are sure with Joe Bastianich involved, one day there might be 100 or more locations all over America. 









Joe Bastianich

Panini on Sullivan Street

Antico Vinaio Italian Sandwiches

New York NY





Learn How to Make an ITALIAN SUBNARINE SANDWICH


SUNDAY SAUCE

ITALIAN SANDWICH RECIPES

ITALIAN SOUPS – PASTA – PANINI

MEATBALLS & MORE …


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How to Make Homemade Pizza Italian Food Recipe

 

PIZZA






HOMEMADE PAN PIZZA

ISCHIANA





HOMEMADE PIZZA

Homemade SICILIAN PIZZA

Video Recipe







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SOPHIA with a PIZZA


NEW YORK PIZZA



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Positano SUNDAY SAUCE Sneakers by Bellino

 
 
SUNDAY SAUCE “The SNEAKER”

Sunday Sauce The Sneaker / GODFATHER Gravy Bellino

 
Sunday Sauce The Sneaker, inspired by Clemenza showing Michael Corleone (AL Pacino) how to make Sauce for a bunch of Guys (Mobsters) … These Limited Edition “One of a Kind” Sneakers were created by Bellino from the art work from his BEst Selling Italian Cookbook about Sunday Sauce Italian-American Gravy with Sausages, Meatballs, & Braciole. These fabulous looking sneakers are sure to please any and all fans of The Godfather Movie by the great Italian American Director Francis Ford Coppola, or fans of the great Italian-American actor from da Bronx New York, the one and only AL Pacino. This is a limited edition run. If you want a pair, act soon. Get a pair for yourself, or give as a most amazing Gift. Gift Ideas : Christmas, Birthdays and all occasions.
 
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Stanley Tucci does not Know How to Make a Negroni – his recipe is all Wrong

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STANLEY TUCCI Does Not Know How to Make a Proper NEGRONI
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Yes it’s true. The person who has become popular for making Negroni Cocktails, more than anyone else in the history of mankind, does not even know how to make a proper Negroni. This is scariligous, and shows once again, how people jump on the Band Wagon, so to speak.
I was horrified when I was looking in Tucci’s latest book TASTE “My Life Through Food”and saw his recipe for the Negroni. In his recipe and instruction, Tucci cals for 50 milliliters of Gin, 25 millileters Campari, and 25 milliliters Sweet Vermouth with a slice of Orange. “oh my God, I can’t beleive it, totally wrong Stanley. The proportions are totally wrong and would make a “Horrible Negroni, and one I’d never ever want to drink.” and I’ve been drinking these bad boys Since 1985, a good 25 years before the Negroni Craze reached the American Shores.
How can you do it Stanley? Everyone who knows anything about a Negroni knows that you use equal parts of Campari, Gin, and Sweet Vermouth, and not and never ever twice as much Gin as Campari, you complete destroy the taste, by completely throwing the cocktail out of balance, a primary prerequisite to any good cocktail. How can you do it Stanley. Futhermore, it is beyond me that the press and general public have practicallymade Tucci the King of The Negroni, and the man doesn’t know how to make one. This is horrifying ! Really Stanley? How can you do it. 
I’ve written extensively about the Negroni (in La Tavola), a good 10 years before the Negroni Craze even started. And as I’ve stated, I’ve been drinking these wonderful cocktails since the Summer of 1985, on my first trip to Italy.  My first Negroni? I remember it well. It was at the Caffe Giacosa (formerly Caffe Cassoni), in FLorence.  I went in and sat down. The waiter brought me a menu. I already knew what I wanted, as I had read of the Negroni in an Italian travel guide. I knew it was invented here, and that’s what I was going to get. So when the waiter came back, I said, ” Un Negroni pro favore.” The waiter nodded and, replied, “Prego.” A few minutes later he brought me my Negroni, with a few cocktail treats that they serve with cocktails in Italy. I took a sip. Yum, that’s pretty good I thought. That was the first. The first of many hundreds to come. Way back then, very few Americans drank Negroni’s. There were a few. The well traveled, but nothing like today. It really doesn’t make me that happy that everyone and their grandmother drinks them these days. It sort of takes away from their specialness a bit. But what are you going to do” That’s the way it is. They’re still tasty and refreshing to me. Tasty and refreshing? Well yes. Just don’t have Stanely Tucci make one for me. “Yuuk! Not very good. Not a Negrone (the way Stanely makes them). 

 

Sorry Stanley, but you got it all wrong.

 
 
… Daniel Bellino “Z” ….
HOW to MAKE a PROPER NEGRONI
1 ounce Campari
1 ounce Sweet Vermouth
1 ounce Gin
ICE
1 fresh slice of Orange
Preparation :
Fill a rock glass with ice.
Add the Campari, Sweet Vermouth, and Gin. 
Stir.
Add a slice of Orange, and serve.
NOTE :  You can change the proportions a little. Just don’t change them up too much, or you will throw the cocktail out of balance, and it will not taste like a Negroni, defeating the whole purpose of making the drink, as is the case with Mr. Tucci’s recipe. “It’s all wrong. Way too much Gin.”
If you wanted to stick around the prescribe recipe of equal parts of Campari, Sweet Vermouth, and Gin, to make a proper Negroni, you can put in just a little less Gin, but not too much less, or you’ll change the make-up too much.
Also, it is very acceptable to add a plash of Club Sod on top. Just not too much. Make sure it is just a small splash.
Bitters : Campari
Sweet Vermouth Brands : Cinzano, Marini & Rossi, Antica Carpano.
GIN :  Any London Dry Gin. Most popular brands include : Beefeater, Bombay, Gordon’s, Tanqueray, and Hendrick’s.
Final Note : Negroni’s can be made straight-up, or on the rocks, however, 95% of the time, they are                         served on the rocks. 
 
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NEGRONI
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COOKBOOK / TRAVEL GUIDE
 
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Screenshot 2022-02-21 1.32.31 PM
 

CAMPARI

TEE SHIRT

 
 

 

Italian Wine Dinner at Montes Trattoria

 

Rocca Giovani – Nebbiolo D’Alba 2019

Zeni Amarone “Barriques” 2015



I recently attended an Italian Wine Dinner at the venerable 103 year old
Monte’s Trattoria in Greenwich Village, New York. The wine dinner was organized by Chef Pietro Mosconi, his sone Peter Mosconi (GM), and representatives of Moinsiuere Touton Wines of New York.

The dinner began with reception at the bar of Monte’s, as we sipped Prosecco (Villa Joland) and ate a tasty assortment of Chef Pietro Mosconi’s h’orduevures, which included : fresh Mozzarella wrapped with Prosciutto di Parma, roast Asparugus Parmigiano, Shrimp Oreganata, and tasty little Meatballs. The crowd, sipped their prosecco and nibbled on Chef Pietro’s little treats, and engaged in spirited conversation before heading to the upstairs dining room, to sit down to 4 courses of Chef Mosconi fare. 

Out came the first course of Baked Clams, Fried Calamari, and baked Eggplant. We were served 
Zeni Lugana to go with the antipasti. Lugana is a lovely white wine from Lake Garda, Italy. The wine zone of Lugana actually is in two regions of Italy, which include both the Veneto on the east side of the zone, and Lombardia to the west. This is a bit unusaual, as wine zone are generally in on region, not two. Lugana is one of the exceptions to the rule. Lugana wines are generally mineral driven, with taste of Green Olives, a tad of salt, pears, grapefruti and green apples. 

The Zeni Lugana lived up to general rules of this lovely wine, exhibiting good minerality, with faint saline notes, Peach and Pinapple fruits on the finsish. It was a good choose for the antipasti, going escpecially well with the Shrimp and Clams, and all items of this first course. 

For the next course, we were treated to some of Chef Pietro’s famous homemade pasta, which in this case was Tagliatelle with fresh shaved Black Truffles. Needless to say, the pasta was devine, and all present savored its sublime flavors of the fresh egg pasta, butter and Tartufo Nero (Black Truffles). The Tagliatelle con Tartufo was paired with a wonderful Nebbiolo from the Rocca Giovani Estate, of Monforte d’ Alba in Piemonte, a premier area for Nebbiolo and great Barolo wines. 

The Rocca Giovanni Nebbiolo was a great wine to pair with the Chef’s Truffle Pasta, as any Nebbiolo based wines, such as; Barolo, Barbaresco, or Nebbiolo D’ Alba such as this wine, Nebbiolo with Truffles (Tartufi) is one of the World’s Greatest of all food and wine pairings, and this was no exception. The Rocca Giovanni Nebbiolo was a a textbook Nebbiolo D’Alba, with a good stron g rubby color, smelling of Violets and Rasberries, and a hint of spice on the nose. The fragrance was quite lovely. In the mouth, the wine was full of Dark Cherry and Strawberry flavors, with a tad of Licorice and other faint spices. This was a classicly made Nebbiolo D’Alba, that made a perfect accompaniment to the Truffles and fresh pasta. “So, good. Thanks Chef Pietro.”

After our tasty truffle pasta with Nebbiolo, we relaxed for a few minutes, chatting about the dinner, the food and wines, and whatever other conversation were occuring around the room.

For the main course, their was a choice of either broiled Salmon, or Chef Pietros famous Braised Short Ribs of Beef with polenta. Now I can not figure for the life of me, why would anyone choose Salmon over the chef’s awesome braised Short Ribs, especially when Amarone was to be served with the main course. “OK, I get it. Yes, I realize there are people who don’t eat meat, thus opting for the salmon. Sorry guys, your loss.” As for me, you know I ordered the Short Ribs. 

And so, a little while after finishing our pasta course, out came the main (secondo) and a gorgeous plate of braised Short Ribs of Beef, with sof polenta was set down in front of me. The wine guys had already poured Amarone into my previously empty wine glass, and it was “Let the games begin.” Yes, they had already begun almost two hours ago, but hey, here I was with my Chef Mosconi made Short Ribs and a glass of Amarone.

Well, I already knew how amazingly succulent and tasty Short Ribs of Beef cooked by Chef Pietro Mosconi are. I have had them dozens of times, and they are without question, one of my favorite things to eat in this whole wide World. And I’ve eaten at all of the great restaurants in the World, including in : Paris, Rome, Venice, New York, Florence, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Saigon, Verona, Havana, San Francisco, New Orleans, and? Need I go on. No, It’s quite hard to think of anything tastier than these tasty Braised Short Ribs. Well, Foe Gras at Polidor, maybe? I don’t know? Kind of close, but I’m goign to have to give the Short Ribs a slight edge. 

Now, I’m eating the Short Ribs, and so you know, just how amazingly great they are? As great as anything could possibly be. Now how about the wine werved with them? The Amarone from the House of Zeni, Bardolino, Italy, on the shores of Lake Garda. Thsi wine is Zeni Amarone “Barriques” 2015 … And what an Amrone it is. From the very first sip, this wine blew my mind. It was phenonminal, and one of the best Amarones I have ever had, including the one that I hold as the greatest Amarone I ever drank, which would be the Zenato Amarone Reserva 1981 vintage that I drank in 2005, when that wine was 24 years old, and perfectly cellared in the cellars of Barbetta Ristorante on 46th Street in New York, NY … 

Now that wine was much older, and you have a different experience with an older aged wine, than with a wine much younger. But all I can say, is that the Zeni Amarone 2015 was a wine that is in perfect balance, super tasty, and a absolute pleasure to drink. “I loved it.”

Now if you know me, you will know that if I say things like, “the wine was perfectly balanced, tasty, and that I loved it.” you will know that the wine in question is a wine that is just about a perfect wine, and I don’t need to go into a bunch blibber blabber, in describing the wine. But in addition to saying it was in perfect balance and that I loved it, I will tell you that it was full of wonderful black fruit taste, with hints of exotic spice, and Desert Dates notes. This wine was a gem, and I can’t wit until I drink it again.

After all that, I’m starting to fade. Chef Pietro treated as to a tasty poached pear with Mint Zabiglione Sauce for dessert. This lovely dessert was paired with a Moscato d’ Asti Santo Stefano 2020 from Ceretto. The Moscato was quite nice, with good acidity to balance the sweetness, and tasty peach and appricot flavors that dominated its wonderful flavor profile. And yes, it paired perfectly with the Poached Pear Zabiglione dessert from Chef Pietro. 

So, the dinner was quite wonderful. A great menu from Chef Mosconi, wonderful wines from 
M. Touton Wines of New York, good friends and conversation in one of the great Italian Restaurants of New York, the 103 year old and still going strong, Monte’s Trattoria, headed by Chef Pietro Mosconi and his son Peter. Thanks guys. We loved it.





… Daniel Bellino Zwicke, October 23, 2021

NYC







Zeni LUGANA Vigna Alte


2020



Gaetano Zeni, referred to as Nino by everyone, was the real innovator of the modern era of the winery: a number of small and big changes initiated by him lifted the winery to its level of today. It was Nino who decided to move the production in the 1950s from the small winery in the historic centre of Bardolino to its present location,with more space and improved practicality, in the hills above the village with a spectacular view of Lake Garda. In the new winery he also decided to establish the wine museum to promote the culture and the story of wine growing and wine making. The philosophy of the winery, which was implemented by Gaetano Zeni, is pursued today with the same enthusiasm and dedication by his children Fausto, Elena and Federica and includes in particular the meticulous selection of both vineyards and grapes. The separate vinification of the grapes from the different wine areas is today still one of the fundamentals of the winery, giving the wines local character and high quality. The continuous improvement both in the production processes and in the winery’s management enabled the winery to obtain the UNI EN ISO 9001:2000 quality certification.











Ceretto Moscato di Asti “Santo Stefano” 2020






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Sylvester Stallone – The Italian Stallion

 

 
SYLVESTER STALLONE
 
“THE ITALIAN STALLION”
 
ROCKY
 
 
Stallone was born in Hell’s Kitchen, New York City, the elder son of Frank Stallone, Sr. (1919–2011), a hairdresser and beautician, and Jacqueline “Jackie” Stallone (née Labofish), an astrologer, former dancer, and promoter of women’s wrestling. Stallone’s father was born in Gioia del Colle, Apulia, Italy, and immigrated to the United States in the 1930s. Stallone’s mother is of half French (from Brittany) and half Russian Jewish (from Soviet Union, Odessa) descent.  His younger brother is actor and musician Frank Stallone.
Complications his mother suffered during labor forced her obstetricians to use two pairs of forceps during his birth; misuse of these accidentally severed a nerve and caused paralysis in parts of Stallone’s face. As a result, the lower left side of his face is paralyzed – including parts of his lip, tongue, and chin – an accident which has given Stallone his snarling look and slightly slurred speech. Stallone was baptized Catholic. Around the age of 4, Stallone was flat-footed and put in a tap dancing school by his mother. His father moved the family to Washington, D.C. in the early 1950s, where he opened a beauty school. His mother opened a women’s gymnasium called Barbella’s in 1954. Stallone’s parents divorced when Sylvester was nine, and he eventually lived with his mother. When Stallone was 16, he scored poorly in school and his mother got him a summer job at her beauty salon.  He attended Notre Dame Academy and Lincoln High School in Philadelphia, and Charlotte Hall Military Academy, prior to attending Miami Dade College and the University of Miami .
 
 
ROCKY BALBOA

Sylvester “SLY” Stallone


Stallone gained worldwide fame with his starring role in the smash hit Rocky (1976). On March 24, 1975, Stallone saw the Muhammad Ali–Chuck Wepner fight. That night Stallone went home, and after three days and 20 straight hours,  he had written the script, but Stallone subsequently denied that Wepner provided any inspiration for it. Other possible inspirations for the film may have included Rocky Graziano’s autobiography Somebody Up There Likes Me, and the movie of the same name. Wepner filed a lawsuit which was eventually settled with Stallone for an undisclosed amount. Stallone attempted to sell the script to multiple studios, with the intention of playing the lead role himself. Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff became interested and offered Stallone US$350,000 for the rights, but had their own casting ideas for the lead role, including Robert Redford and Burt Reynolds. Stallone refused to sell unless he played the lead character and eventually, after a substantial budget cut to compromise, it was agreed he could be the star. 
Rocky was nominated for ten Academy Awards, including Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay nominations for Stallone. The film went on to win the Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Directing and Best Film Editing.
 
 
 
 
 
 
ROCKY Needs da SUNDAY SAUCE





SYLVESTER STALLONE
Front Side

BACK of ROCKY TEE SHIRT
“Yo ADRIAN. It’s Me ROCKY”


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I Love Sicilian Pasta con Cucuzza

They Got The GAGOOTZ !!!
BROOKLYN, NY
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“GAGOOTZ” !!!!
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PAST w/ CUCUZZA SOUP
 
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EGGPLANT TOMATOES & CUCUZZA
 
 
SOUPS PASTA GAGOOTZ and More
 
Maria Makes SICILIAN PASTA con CUCUZZA
 
SICILIAN CUCUZZA CHOCOLATE CAKE Recipe