Wednesday 28 December 2011

Fiocchi di Neve... (Snowflake shaped fresh pasta with a fantastic roasted tomato sauce!)








Christmas time... I sometimes wish I could recapture the past, but I also like to have a foot here, in my present, and experiment with just being "me" And Anna is someone who likes to experiment and try new things.
This holiday I made pasta, like my mum used to make, without any eggs or fuss, using just water and semolina, just like she used to do. The recipe was simple... I just needed to add olive and creativity, to make my own, fantastic dish. And here is the recipe:

Fiocchi di Neve
con Pomodori al Forno
e Basilico
(Fresh Pasta Snowflakes
with Delicious Roasted Tomato, Garlic and Basil Sauce.)
TRULY FANTASTIC!
Serves
2 or 3
For the pasta:
Ingredients:
 300g semolina
some plain flour
warm water
pinch of salt
For the roasted tomato "sauce"
Ingredients:  
300 g plum or cherry tomatoes
5-6 garlic cloves
a few very generous lugs olive oil
a generous handful fresh basil
salt
black pepper
grated pecorino or
Parmesan Cheese

I made pasta, like my Mamma used to make, without eggs, or fuss. I placed my semolina (you can use plain flour if you like, but I like the firm texture of semolina!) on a surface, made a well in the centre, added warm water and some salt and kneaded till I got a firm, but soft dough. If the dough felt too "wet", I added some plain flour.
I left my dough to rest for about 40 minutes, then, with the help of a rolling pin, I rolled it out, a few small pieces at a time, till I got  thin layers of dough. As it was Christmas time, I used a cookie cutter, to make snowflake shaped pasta.
When all my dough was used, I sprinkled a lot of flour all over my lovely snowflakes, and set aside.

 

I was now ready to prepare my tomatoes. I cut each of them horizontally and placed onto a baking dish. I then chopped my garlic and tore my beautiful, sweet smelling basil and distributed all over my tomatoes. I finished the whole thing off with a generous lug of olive oil, all over my tomatoes, followed by salt.



My tomatoes were roasted in the oven (180 C) until roasted. My kitchen was "invaded" by a wonderful aroma in no time at all I knew my dish would be an absolute winner!
Half an hour later... I cooked my pasta in boiling, salted hot water, until soft, but firm, I drained, and reserved some of the water.



 My pasta was added to the roasted tomatoes, gently stirred... some gorgeous freshly grated Parmesan was sprinkled all over the dish. A tiny amount of the pasta liquid was added, and... it was HEAVEN! I felt so proud of my creation, as it really tasted wonderful!



 Please try this dish as it really is exceptional! If you wanted to add capers or anchovies, I think they would "marry" well with the fresh tomatoes and basil!

27 comments:

  1. Oh my god ANNA ANNA ANNA! This looks so divine and with so much fantasy! You are a goddess! I will try it soon! You are so fantastic and I am so very glad that I have met you and your recipes through our blogs! BIG HUGS Christa

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  2. Dear Anna

    You have surpassed yourself with this delightful dish. It looks so delicious. I could live on this every day.

    It is also a very healthy dish

    Happy New Year my good friend

    Helen xx

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  3. Dear Christa... I went to bed with a big smile, after I read your comment! A "Goddess!"... thank you so much!

    Try making this (even using bought pasta, then send me the "evidence!"

    You do make me smile... you're so nice!

    ABBRACCI

    ANNA

    XX

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  4. Helen,

    this dish is simple, but excellent! Try it and you'll see. And... you don't have to make your own pasta, just use the normal stuff!

    Thank you for your warmth and the compliments. You make me feel very clever!

    CIAO

    ANNA

    xx

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  5. It's 5am here in Canada and I am awake because my husband and dog snore so badly. Downstairs I creep to sip delicious hot coffee and thanks to wonderful Helen, I discover your deliciously beautiful blog. What a heavenly way to start this day!

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  6. What a great recipe.. Just looking at it Anna, makes me hungry.
    Malto buono..
    A lovely blog as always..
    Have a great thursday Anna.
    many hugs val

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  7. Ciao Anna, I'm sorry I didn't make it to wish you Merry Christmas but I'm still in time to wish you a very Happy New Year! :)
    Michela x

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  8. Hello, Jacqueline and... welcome to Anna's blog! I am glad your husband and your dog were snoring, so were able to go online and "find" me!

    As you look through the blog, you'll find a collection of recipes, images and, sometimes anecdotes about myself, my life and my Italy!

    Benvenuta and COME BACK!

    CIAO!

    ANNA

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  9. Hi Val! I see you have recovered well from Helen's party! My goodness me! You danced all night with my Marcello! It must have been those little silver shoes you wore!You sure had a wonderful time!

    Thanks for "visiting"... I'm glad you enjoy "eating" my food!

    Abbracci

    ANNA
    x

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  10. Hey... ciao Michela! Natale e` ormai passato, quindi... auguro anche a te un fantastico 2012!

    UN ABBRACCIO...

    ANNA

    xx

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  11. How good to read your recipe dear Anna. I was feeling a little tired and flat and decided to have a quick look and your piece has lifted my spirits. I think I'm tired of too much Christmassy food and your pasta looks perfect, so simple and yet just so delicious!
    Sending you Happy New Year wishes for 2012. Jane xx

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  12. Happy New Year to you, too, Jane!

    My turkey disappeared on Christmas day, Jane, after dinner. I can take it in very small doses... Not my favourite food, though I like preparing it.

    Pasta is always such a good tonic! I'm glad you liked my recipe.

    GOOD NIGHT...

    ANNA

    XX

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  13. Ciao cara Anna! I like your "silly mouth" (as you name it!). It is a funny idea! Don't stop to be kooky! It makes life easier! I am in a hurry! We had guests yesterday till after midnight and in a couple of hours we are off again to friends in Lucerne and I am still in my pyjama... I am looking forward to meeting you again in 2012! Till then...

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  14. Have fun, Christa!

    Anna and her "big mouth" wish you a HAPPY NEW YEAE"... again!

    ANNA

    xx

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  15. PS: Wasn't wearing my glasses, Christa! Of course, I meant to say: HAPPY NEW YEAR!

    ANNA
    X

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  16. Yoooo Hoooo Anna..
    Bela Anna..
    Que coisa passa.. !!!
    I am sure you have been busy over the christmas season.
    1st of January is nearly over.
    I wish lots of strength for you.. look forward to passing by and reading all your lovely blogs. Some more stories maybe about mama Rosa.!!!
    Your recipies.!!
    All the best Anna for 2012--
    ciao..adeus.. beijos ..baci val x x x x x x

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  17. Dear Val,

    Yes, I have been very busy, so our quiet New Year's Eve, watching Italian TV (their midnight is an hour earlier than here) with a glass of Champagne by the Christmas tree, was fantastic and very romantic.

    2011 wasn't the best of years, as you can imagine, so we must work to make the new year a happy one, when all our long term wishes will come true.

    I wish I really had a magic wand, but unfortunately I don't have one. But we have lots of love and hope for the future. I think it's a good start, Val!

    More lovely recipes to come. I will post my pine nuts biscuit recipe, very soon. I will also be making seafood ravioli. So... look out for my stories and pics!

    Beijos to you, too!

    ANNA
    xx

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  18. Ciao Anna, wow!! that looks amazing and so creative and I love the photos and I am sure it must have been delicious!!! Where is your struffoli? I was going to plug your blog by linking the two struffoli recipes together. xo Valery

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  19. Cara Anna, I guess you are living in a blessed area! Here in Switzerland oysters are something very, very special and not many people like them! I would love to live near the sea and here we all crave for it! I guess oysters are never as fresh as they are where they were caught... I think it would be very interesting to come to Italy and get taught how to eat all those beauties that come from the sea. Anna, felice Anno Nuovo! Christa

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  20. Dear Valery, the struffoli has become very very tiny and is in the kitchen, at the moment.
    I will post the step by step recipe next month, for Carnevale, as this time I only took a pic of the end product (it was late afternoon when I made it!)

    I will include the picture in a collage I made for my Biscotti ai Pinoli recipe I might post soon.

    Your struffoli was really beautiful, though! I bet Ivan ate it all!

    LOVE

    ANNA

    XX

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  21. Yes, Christa, it's beautiful here, and it's even more beautiful (or I should say beautiful in a different way!) in Italy.

    Where I come from, in Italy is the birthplace of the Mediterranean Diet, ie: best food in ITALY!

    I made minestrone, today, with about ten or so vegetables: so Yummy!

    And I love seafood... it's the best!

    HUGS

    ANNA

    XXXX

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  22. Yes, Anna! I am glad that you had a wonderful New Year's Eve! Actually I would have like to stay home very quietly but then our friends made us go to Metallgarten. It was definitely worth it! Berne is waiting for you, Anna! I think you would love it and Berne would love you... xxx

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  23. What a beautiful presentation of the pasta!

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  24. Thank you very much, Cheryl! Come back and read my blog any time you like!

    HAPPY NEW YEAR!

    ANNA

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  25. Yes Anna - He knows how to open oysters. The problem is he eats them all himself.... hehehe Thanks for your comment! xxx

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  26. Christa...

    Why do you think I learnt how to open oysters myself? So I wouldn't have to share or ask anybody else to do it for me!

    I can open all kinds od shellfish, and sea urchins, too, which are deliciously filled with seaweed!

    CIAO!

    ANNA
    x

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  27. Good morning Anna - Just checking out the recipe before going to the office in order to get the right ingredients for I'll make the pasta tonight! Wishing you HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Enjoy your day and have a look at my today's post... Christa

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