The Beginning of 2009....

We had a house-full last night and we served the food we'd missed over the holidays. We spent Thanksgiving in California and Christmas in North Carolina, so it was time for an Italian fest with our favorite foods from our years in New York.

With wine and champagne, we enjoyed an olive oil tasting with L'acropoli di Puglia Mosto 2007, Castellare in Castellina L'olionovo 2007, Gianfranco Becchina Olio Verde Novello 2008, and Sicilian Gold 2008. The men, in particular, raved over the Mosto, calling it raw, rustic, and even "gutsy".

The meal began with two antipasto platters -- with salami, capicola, pepperoni, prosciutto, mortadella, provolone, roasted red peppers, artichokes, hearts of palm, and Sicilian olives! The kids' platter, in the background has a simpler assortment for picky children.

The dressing for the antipasto was made with Gianfranco Becchina's Olio Verde Novello and Manicardi 12, with a touch of crushed garlic!

Our main meal consisted of three pastas: hand rolled Cavatelli (made by Carly), "homemades" with the help of the Atlas Marcato handcrank pasta maker, and rigatoni (for those who prefer familiar food). The sauce was loaded with meatballs, sausage, and chunks of beef -- Christmas sauce! We definitely need a 6-burner stove! A small amount of Olio Verde went into the dough for the pasta.

Dessert included handmade chocolate truffles made by Carly, and my "Aunt Libby's Italian Biscuits" -- in which the Castellare L'olionovo made delicate and aromatic dessert biscuits, served with strawberries and Villa Manodori Dark Cherry Balsamic Vinegar.

With 16 in attendance, we had three tables-- the teens at the table in the lower level, the 8-10 year-olds in the kitchen and the (mostly) adults in the dining room. What fun to later watch the teens and youngers playing cards!