An evening with polenta e osei

We were at a dinner with friends. The main dish was roasted birds ("osei" in the dialect of Veneto region).

Although this exquisiteness is very popular in northern Italy, it became difficult today to taste it because in Italy the sale of wild little birds for eating is prohibited by law. The only way is to become or to have as a friend a hunter who has got a license to hunt, cook and eat them privately.

The first time I ate the roast birds, their taste reminded me of roast fish I ate often when I was living in Japan. In my opinion, the common factors are the giblets' bitterness and the crispness of the bones.

Ceebu jenn ( or "A story of the mysterious rice - 3")

This post is the third part of: 

A party for friendship ( or "A story of the mysterious rice - 1") and

Tasty Senegalese dish  ( or "A story of the mysterious rice - 2") 

So, I decided to cook Ceebu jenn, the Senegalese dish I tasted at a evening meeting with migrants.
The recipe did not seem very complicated, the only problem was obtaining the broken rice, so I thought to ​​"produce it" at home with a blender.

Well, I'll show you the result ↓↓

You see that the grains are much smaller than normal basmati rice?

No?

Then you've seen well.

The idea of ​​breaking the rice with the blender did not work.

Tasty Senegalese dish ( or "A story of the mysterious rice - 2")

This post is the second part of A party for friendship ( or "A story of the mysterious rice - 1")

Not being so convinced by the cooperative's staff's answer, that the Djibril's dish was made of couscous and not of rice, I did an internet search.

Djibril was right. It was made from rice which is called "Broken rice".

During the processing for refining some of the rice grains get broken. In Italy these broken grains are transformed into other products such as flour, biscuits, puffed, starch etc. While in many countries of Asia and Africa the broken rice is one of the important ingredients for local recipes.

One of these is the Thiebou Dieune of Senegal, Djibril's "Cepo" .

[recipe] Lazy-easy pancakes for lovers

For those who, like me, does not have time to prepare any complicate sweets, but still wants to celebrate this day of lovers, I have a suggestion.

How about the "tiny heart pancakes"?

Pancakes for lovers

Ingredients

Frozen pancakes

Cream, fruits, sauce etc. you like to decorate

A party for friendship ( or "A story of the mysterious rice - 1")

I was invited to a party with asylum seekers who are in reception at a cooperative of my town.

The photos you see below are the dishes prepared by these asylum seekers.

They are all from African nations.

[recipe] Daikon and pork belly teriyaki

The Daikon, a variety of common radish, is typical of East Asia winter vegetable.
Unfortunately in Italy it is still little known and it is rare to see them in the shops of small towns like the one I live in. For this reason when I am fortunate enough to find them, I buy two or three (one daikon average size is about 20-30cm long and 5-10cm in diameter) and put them in storage. Some with drying method and the rest in the freezer.

DAIKON AND PORK BELLY TERIYAKI

Time

15-20 minutes

Lazy-easy Cooking-hacks 1: Use less equipment possible

Use less equipment possible, so you'll have less to wash.

To eat things made with your own hands is fun.

Too bad there's always the flip side of the coin ... to clean and then to put in place the dishes and equipment you have soiled.

[favorite bloggers/youtubers] ATARU-chan

I like watching videos related to cooking, food, recipe etc.

Ataru-chan is one of my favorite YouTubers.
He runs with his family a dormitory for students in a northern Japan town.


The series "Prepare many bento! (弁 当 を た く さ ん 作 る ぞ!)" show how he prepares a dozen bentos every morning.

I love how the Tamagoyaki omelettes are prepared in this video (about 1 minute and 33 seconds from the beginning)

Bento with yaki-udon, fried shrimp, Scotch egg, macaroni salad, omelette tamagoyaki

https://youtu.be/A6vox7nJIzg

[recipe] How to reheat frozen pancakes

Last week we saw the recipe for pancakes and the way to keep the pancakes in the freezer.

Today I tell you how to thaw and reheat them.

It's very simple.

HOW TO REHEAT FROZEN PANCAKES

Ingredients

Frozen Pancakes (→☆)

Waiting for spring

I took a pot of flowers after the Mass. 

It was for fundraiser for the Day for Life.
It's primrose, "la primula" in Italian. Its name comes from the Latin "primus" meaning "first" because they are among the first flowers that bloom after long winter and herald the appearance of spring.

The flowers were accompanied by a card.

"I learned from life:

that for each sunset,

there is a day that rises;

for each dream that ends,

there is one to be born;

for each door that closes

one opens;

for each love that ends,

another begins;

for each ending

there is a new beginning;

for each departure

there is an arrival;

for each defeat

there is a rematch.

Nothing is ever over until there is life."

Did you know that the primrose scent changes by its color?
I chose this color not only for its beauty but also for its fresh and intense fragrance.

Italiano

[recipe] Tips to stock well pancakes in freezer

Yesterday we saw the recipe to make pancakes suitable for storing in the freezer.

Today I tell you how to freeze them.

Also for this there are a few tricks which are very easy but necessary to reach an objective:

to eat the soft, tasty pancakes anytime even when we just want one.

HOW TO FREEZE PANCAKES

Ingredients

Pancakes

Method

1. Make pancakes by following the recipe of yesterday (→ ☆)

2. As soon as they are cooked, place them on a grill or a cooling mat

(This step is required not only to reduce the heat but avoid condensation that makes pancakes wet so not fluffy)

3. When the pancakes are still warm, wrap one by one with plastic freezer wrap
(This step is required to maintain the correct humidity of the pancakes)

4. Place them in a airtight freezer bag and place it in the freezer
(This step is required to prevent the pancakes take the smell of other foods in the freezer)
Be careful not to press them.

Well, now the stock of pancakes is done.

Next week I'll tell you how to thaw, heat them and ... to eat soft and fluffy pancakes as if you've just made them.

Happy weekend to everyone!

Related recipes

Freezer storable pancakes

Go to OishiGnam Recipes List

Italiano

[recipe] Freezer storable pancakes

Maybe I found the right recipe to prepare my perfect pancakes, which I've been trying to do for a while .

They should be soft, not too sweet, and can be stored in the freezer.

Here it is!

PANCAKE 

STORABLE IN FREEZER

Total time: 20 minutes

Cookies for St. Giovanni Bosco's party

January 31 is dedicated to St. Giovanni Bosco.

Every year our parish organizes a party for children at the oratory that this saint is the patron.

I brought some of homemade cookies to contribute to the party.

S'more cookies

Cookies with savory peanuts*

Oatmeal cookies