Cappelletti Filling:

 Cappeletti's!  Little dough hats filled with Mom's special Cappeletti filling. Mom's record was making 2,000 cappeletti's and I doubt I'd beat that but I'll at least try.  My kids love them and so do my grandchildren.  

Some Italians fill them with finely minced chicken with a touch of lemon but not Mom..Her filling was a little spicy but oh so good..She'd make chicken soup and that's where the Cappelletti's come in..She boil some and add to the soup..Great taste and we'd have them usually at Thanksgiving and maybe Christmas too..

Here is her recipe:

2 lb. ground lean beef 
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
1 tablespoon cinnamon( I use 1 tsp.)
1 tsp. nutmeg( I use 1/2 tsp.)
1- 6 oz can tomato paste
1-can water
1 egg slightly beaten
2 cups Italian cheese
1 cup breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons oil



Fry meat in oil until all red disappears, add salt, pepper and tomato paste plus 1 can of water. Add cinnamon and nutmeg and continue cooking for 15 to 20 minutes..Take off stove add cheese, egg  and breadcrumbs.  This recipe should make at least 8- 1 cup portions which she would bag and put in freezer..Take out as many bags as needed..Each bag should make 100 caps.. Note:  Her caps were on the small side..

I will post photos as I make them.

Homemade pasta dough recipe in separate post.

Buon Appetite from my kitchen to yours,

 11/16/2013 original 

Cappelletti: Our Family Tradition/ updated video

 I decided that today was the day I was starting to make the Cappelletti for our traditional Thanksgiving dinner.. 

Today’s Cappelletti 12/8/2024 sampling a few.  Yummy!

Growing up they were a wonderful addition to our Turkey dinner.  Mom spent hours making them and usually made anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 of those little pasta filled caps..

 I remember my grandmother making them and how it was expected that this tradition would be continued on Thanksgiving.

Fortunately Mom, until recently, she's 88, had kept it up.. 

She had learned that making them and freezing them would be the answer to the exhaustion that was felt trying to make enough to make everyone happy.. 

Today I am happily carrying on the tradition with my daughter (Susan)at my side helping.. 

We serve them in homemade chicken soup and I  make that ahead of time as well to ease the stress of the day so I can enjoy the holiday as well..  

I Hope you enjoy this recipe.. I know I had promised it and I hold true to a promise made... Happy Cooking!

My Italian handy Food Companion explains them as:

Cappelletti:  small pasta hats (ka-pel-ett-ee) similar to tortellini( stuffed with a variety of fillings)

We chose the below recipe:  Some use cooked chicken chopped in place of ground meat

Filling:

1 ½ lb. Ground chuck(or beef and pork)

1 can tomato paste (optional)it was in grandma’s traditional recipe)

1 can water

¼ tsp. Cinnamon

¼ tsp. Nutmeg

salt and pepper

1 ½ cups breadcrumbs

½ cup Pecorino cheese grated

1 egg beaten

By adding the tomato paste it gives your filling a slight red color

In a medium pan sauté chuck (beef) in small amount of oil..

 Season with salt and pepper. 

Add 1 can tomato paste, cinnamon, nutmeg and 1 can water while cooking slowly..

 Remove from heat, add breadcrumbs, cheese and egg.  Mix thoroughly..

Cool and refrigerate until ready to use.

Pasta Dough ( double or triple recipe)

2 ½ cups flour

3 eggs @ room temperature

dash salt

shot glass water or less

shot glass oil or less

In your upright stand mixer add eggs, pinch of salt and water.  Mix.  Using dough hook slowly add flour until a ball forms.  Remove place on a slightly floured cutting board and work dough with hands until a soft ball is formed.

Cut dough in sections and press down to be able to slide into your pasta Machine.  Set on 2 than 3 then 4..

After dough is mixed take from mixer and put on floured cutting board. (I use an acrylic board)

Mix together with hands into it forms into a ball

Slice in sections and press slightly so it will go into pasta machine easily

I start with #2 and proceed to 3(my pasta machine reading) on side of machine

Easily goes through

Cut into small sections.  I had doubled the recipe and I made 300 cappelletti's.. I bagged the rest of the filling in small bags and froze..(approx 5 bags)I will make them between now and Thanksgiving..

Fold in half and then , twist the pasta between index and forefinger, crossing hands and pressing pasta ends together..

I place cappelletti on cookie sheet and freeze until set .

Place cappelletti after frozen in bag and put in freezer until ready to use..Bon appetite!

Happy Holidays from my kitchen to yours,


M.j.

10/26/11

Parmesan crusted small potatoes

HI EVERYONE:

Here’s a new recipe side.  They are very good!




Ingredients:

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

3 tablespoons melted butter

3 cloves garlic crushed

1cup parmigiano shredded cheese

1 1/2 lbs. baby potatoes cut in half 

Red pepper flakes 

Chopped parsley 

Heat olive oil, butter and garlic in a small pot over low heat a minute or two carefully not to burn garlic.

Pour mixture in a shallow pan( I used a disposable pan)

Sprinkle with cheese.

Add potatoes cut side down in pan.

Bake on 400° in a preheated oven for approximately ( ovens vary)45 to 55 minutes just until tender.

Cool for 5 to 10  minutes before turning. This will allow the browned cheese to adhere to the cut side of potatoes.

Top with red pepper flakes and fresh parsley if you have it.  I used dried parsley but it’s optional.

Home made Cole slaw, roast beef and roasted red, peppers and onions.

Home made ricotta logs for dessert.

Turkey breast and trimmings

This could be your Thanksgiving meal!  Enjoy!

This is a recipe re-post of a turkey meal you can enjoy any day you choose!

Yummy!

One pot turkey breast 

It’s not Thanksgiving but when I feel like a turkey meal I make it to my liking and don’t have to wait for Thanksgiving…just saying.,

Easy meal when you’re wanting turkey not chicken for a meal.

All I did was with this bone in small turkey breast was to sear it on both sides it in vegetable oil in my cast iron pot with salt pepper and onion granules.  

After the turkey was seared  I then added about 1/2 +cup chicken broth. Put the lid on it and put in oven at 325° and it reached 165° in about 11/2 hours.  

The turkey breast was about 1.5 lbs. 

Once the turkey breast reached 165° I allowed it to rest for about 5 minutes and then sliced it with a large serrated knife. It made yummy gravy.

Served with great sides!  It hit the spot! Yummy!

Enjoy!

Rice Pudding using cooked rice

Allow to cool and serve immediately. Any leftovers store in refrigerator.

I had about 2 cups cooked rice leftover from a recent meal so I thought it was a good time to look for a recipe using cooked rice.

I found one and it came together quickly and is delicious

Note:  since I had 2 cups of rice I added 1 1/4 cups milk and followed recipe pretty close to original recipe. But did not add any raisins or nutmeg but did top it with fresh cinnamon 

Enjoy!.

Adapted from silly girls kitchen