Appetizer
What is Antipasti?
Antipasto literally means "before the meal" in Italian. It is of Italian families have several courses, especially on important occasions typical starters, and is the first. E '), followed by the first (usually a pasta or soup), second (main dish, usually meat, fish or chicken), the side dish (vegetable side dish and dessert (Italian for sweet dessert) Starters can. Almostsomething like salads. I will try to give you some idea, but I'm experimenting on my own.
Meat and cheese appetizers
I'm crazy about Italian meats and cheeses. The problem is that I know I should eat in moderation. I usually serve this on special occasions like Christmas, our traditional family dinner. I usually go with three cheeses on the plate: fresh mozzarella, aged provolone and Parmesan cheese (preferably Parmigiano Reggiano). Aged Provolonetastes a bit 'like Parmesan and Provolone Deli nothing like the one found in supermarkets. Provolone is popular in southern Italy, especially around the valley of the Po and the product (like parmesan) from cow's milk. The word comes from Parmigiano Reggiano in Italian and comes from the city of Parma. Parmigiano Reggiano PDO (protected designation of origin) is carefully regulated and only cheese from a particular region of northern Italy have the right to use the name. There are also manyother controls on the cheese to give it the unique taste and special. Suggest different types of meat, including several varieties of sausage and ham and sausage. Chorizo is a fermented, smoked sausage, and that has added to its deep red color from dried and smoked paprika to it comes from. In contrast, a cured sausages and salami, which is bad in dry air in Italian popular because it can be stored up to one year without refrigeration. You can also peppers, spicy typeSalami, but is similar to the chorizo. Crespone I use different types of wine with meats, cold cuts, and those spices, coated with herbs and pepper. See the picture below. I try to buy organic meats without nitrates for health reasons, but in my humble opinion, are not the traditional salami. One last thing - I recommend that your meat and cheese served at room temperature.
Vegetables
I use a variety of vegetables (often marinated) formy plate of appetizers. Some typical items include marinated flame roasted peppers and red peppers, Kalamata olives (green olives, you might as well), marinated mushrooms, capers, artichokes and hearts of palm and sun-dried tomatoes. See the picture below. I often serve only fresh mozzarella and tomatoes with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar poured.
1 - marinated artichokes
2 - Peppers
3 - marinated mushrooms
4 - Kalamata olives
5 -marinated hearts of palm
6 - dried tomatoes
7 - on two dishes - marinated roasted peppers and red flame
8 - fresh mozzarella
9 - sausage coated with black pepper
10 - dry wine with salami (wine)
11 - sausage coated with herbs
12 - Chorizo
13 - Parmigiano Reggiano (Parmesan)
14 - Cold Cuts crespone
15 - Ham
16 - Imported Provolone (aged)
17 - salami with wine and pepper
Jack Botticelli