Appetizer Recipes

Anna and I began the afternoon by making some cream limoncello. She peeled ~9 large lemons and poured a750MML bottle of Everclear into a large none reactive pot. She covered it and stored it in a cool dark place for 1 week. (Obviously before we got here!) Tonight we took 1/2 gallon of milk, 4 cups of sugar and 1 T. of pure vanilla and cooked it on a low- medium heat stirring until the sugar dissolved. We cooled the milk, strained the lemon peel from the limoncello and poured the lemon alcohol into the milk mixture. Marc was going to pour the limoncello into bottles for us. I'm hoping to be able to send some home!!

The Bruchetta
Anna was born in Italy and she speaks Italian as she cooks. It was great- I had to slow her down a bit just to make sure I was getting all the ingredients!!
She begins the bruschetta by first making "ammoghio" - the tomato topping for the bruschetta.

Ammoghio
~10-12 meaty tomatoes, 1/2" cubed (of course these were hand picked from the garden!)
2 large cloves, minced
12-14 basil leaves, Chopped (also garden fresh!)
Lemon juice
EVOO
Mix the ingredients together and set aside. You will add a little salt to the mixture just before serving but not now!
Take a large baguette, sliced 1" thick. Toast the bread on one side. Remove the bread from the oven and brush with olive oil. Sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on top. Salt the ammoghio and spoon on the bruschetta. Serve immediately.

I do not have the Salami recipe yet.... I'm hoping to get it in the morning but you just can't imagine how wonderful it tasted!! The prosciutto was even better believe it or not!! It was amazing!! It's a 2 year curing process....I could've easily eaten the whole ham single- handedly!! Paired with the hard Asiago cheese it was off the charts!! We also had some of their homemade wine -incredibly strong. It was good but after 2 glasses I was almost ready for bed!!

I have to stop for tonight. I'm almost comatose from the great food and wine. I will continue in the morning. Anna has promised me a bread lesson and we're hoping to can some fresh tomato sauce as well. Good night!!