by Kimberley Heit

Created on: August 18, 2008

Italian food is perfetto (perfect) for a hearty family gathering because you can easily feed a large group of people tasty, affordable and nutritious food. If you need some inspiration for hosting an Italian dinner party check out the following recipes.

ENTRE-BRUSCHETTA

What Italian dinner party would be complete with bruschetta to start?

Ingredients:
-French stick or little toasts

-1 garlic clove crushed
-2 tablespoons olive oil
-4 ripened tomatoes, diced.
-Pinch of sea salt
-Pepper to season
-1/2 cup fresh herbs, finely shredded. (Basil is a good choice)

Directions:
-If you are using a French stick cut into slices and grill.
-Mix the tomatoes, olive oil, garlic and pinch of salt in a mixing bowl.
-Spoon this mixture over your bread slices, then top with herbs and pepper.

MAINS

#1 FETTUCCINE CARBONARA

This is always a popular crowd pleaser!

This recipe will make 4-6 main size serves.

Ingredients:
500g fettuccine pasta (you can use fresh or dried, but fresh is the nicest for a special occasion)
2 teaspoons olive oil
5 bacon rashers finely chopped
1 garlic clove crushed
300ml cream
cup grated parmesan

Directions:
-Cook the fettuccine pasta as per the packets instructions.
-Meanwhile heat the oil in a pan and add the bacon and garlic, saut these ingredients for around 8 minutes.
-Add the cream to the pan, and then add the pre cooked pasta. Toss the pasta to combine it with the sauce.
-Remove from the pan and dish up, adding a little parmesan to each serve.

# 2 SPINACH AND RICCOTA CANELLONI

This recipe is great way to serves greens that most people will eat. It makes 6 slices.

Ingredients:
-Packet of dry cannelloni shells
-1 bottle of pasta sauce (garlic flavored is nice with this recipe, but you can use any type you like)
-1 packet frozen spinach
-2 cloves of garlic, crushed.
-1 packet of ricotta
-250g mozzarella cheese
-Pinch of nutmeg

Directions:
-Defrost the frozen spinach and add to a saucepan with a little water. Cook on medium heat until the spinach is heated through.
-In a mixing bowl combine the spinach with the ricotta, and then add of the cheese and the pinch of nutmeg.
-Get out a baking dish approximately 30cm x 20cm in size. It is a good idea to work out how many cannelloni tubes you will need to fill your baking dish and which way you intend on putting them whilst only dealing with dry ingredients. Once you have worked out your cannelloni composition remove the pasta shells from the dish.
-Now cover the bottom of this dish with half of the pasta sauce.
- Fill the cannelloni tubes with the spinach

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>