Chocolate-Nutella Semifreddo

The recent heat wave has made it impossible to turn on the oven, so I had to come up with alternatives for dessert.

The first semifreddo I made this summer can be found HERE.  Bon Appétit can have credit for the recipe, I’ll take credit for the daunting task of executing the final product.

This week I decided to try a Nutella-Chocolate semifreddo.  A little on the sweet side at first bite, but definitely a yummy treat!

 

** Chocolate Nutella Semifreddo**

 

4 large eggs

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 13 ounce  jar Nutella 

1 cup heavy cream, whipped to soft peaks

1 tablespoon liqueur (I used Frangelico)

2 oz. milk and white chocolate, shaved

1/2 cup roasted pistachio nuts, coarsely chopped

 

*****************

Line a mold of your choice with plastic wrap, taking care to leave about a 3 inch length hanging over the edge.

Heat Nutella in the microwave for about 20-25 seconds to soften it up. Set aside.

Place eggs and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer. Place mixing bowl over a pot of simmering water and whisk until the eggs are warm, about 2 minutes. 

Place the bowl in mixer stand. Using the whisk attachment, whip the eggs on high-speed until pale and tripled in volume, about 5 minutes.  (At this point whip the whipped cream to the soft peak stage)

Add the Nutella and the chocolate liqueur to the egg mixture and mix on low-speed until blended. 

Gently fold in the whipped cream, shaved chocolate and 1/2 cup chopped nuts. 

Scrape mixture into the mold and spread evenly. Top with more shaved chocolate. Cover top of mold with plastic wrap and freeze for at least 8 hours or overnight. 

 

If anyone knows where I got this recipe, please let me know so I can give you credit.  Good job by the way!

PS:  I used what I had on-hand – Amaretto, Almonds & chocolate chips.

 

© 2011 J. H-M and CultureChoc2010.

Macaroni Salad: Courtesy of Saveur

Macaroni Salad

This is my favorite recipe for Macaroni Salad.  I found it in an issue of Saveur and have been hooked ever since.  Enjoy!

Macaroni Salad

SERVES 6

Macaroni salad is a standard component of the typical Hawaiian plate lunch, served in every corner of the islands. It’s heaped onto the plate alongside rice, meat of various kinds, and, sometimes, gravy.

Salt
1⁄2 lb. (about 2 cups) dry elbow macaroni ( I use Ditalini or shells)
2 1⁄2 cups mayonnaise
2 hard-cooked eggs, peeled and grated on
the large holes of a box grater
2 tbsp. finely chopped white onion
(about 1⁄4 small onion)
1 small rib celery, finely chopped
Pinch sugar
Freshly ground black pepper
6 large leaves green leaf lettuce
1 tsp. sweet paprika

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the macaroni and cook until tender, about 8 minutes. Drain macaroni and spread in a single layer on a sheet pan to let cool.

2. Transfer cooled macaroni to a large bowl. Add mayonnaise, eggs, onions, celery, sugar, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir well to combine. Cover and chill until ready to serve.

3. To serve, place a lettuce leaf on the center of each of 6 small plates. Top each leaf with a generous scoop of macaroni salad and sprinkle with paprika. Serve immediately.

This article was first published in Saveur in Issue #93.

 

© Jersey Shore Gourmet 2011.

Catering Menu

Take a peek but this page is under construction.

Hors d’Oeuvre Variés – Sweet & Savory

Apricot Bites
Assorted Bruschetta & Crostini
Assorted Stromboli
Assorted Stuffed Tomatoes
Cheese Disks with Ham
Chicks in a Blanket
Chicken sausage wrapped in puff pastry.
Chocolate-Hazelnut Banana Bites

Creole Bananas
Crisps with Adriatic Fig Spread & Triple Crème

Endive with Salmon Mousse
Fried Mortadella
Garlic Chorizo
Slices of chorizo & bread cooked in extra virgin olive oil & garlic.
Herb Stuffed Mushrooms
Large white mushrooms stuffed with herbs, Italian breadcrumbs & Pecorino Romano.
Maple-Pepper Salmon Bites
Sweet & spicy salmon
Marinated Tuna Bites
Melon and Prawns
Cantaloupe, blackberries, white Port & frisée lettuce.
Mixed Ham Kebabs
Chicken breast, cured ham, vegetables & salsa verde.
Prosciutto Involtini
Prosciutto Cotto stuffed with eggplant & egg tapenade.
Radicchio Cups
Roast Beef Rolls
Stuffed with eggplant.
Rocchetto Endive
Sausage wrapped in endive.
Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms
Scallops Wrapped in Bacon
Dipped in seasoned breadcrumbs & wrapped in bacon.
Shrimp Canapés
Smoked Salmon & Horseradish  Rolls
Spicy Eggplant Rolls
Spring Tartlets
Stuffed Figs
Grilled figs stuffed with Gorgonzola & wrapped in prosciutto.
Thai Pork & Crabmeat Rolls
Tasty ground pork & crab seasoned with spices and peanuts. Served with a spicy sweet & sour dipping sauce.
Vegetable Tarts
Toasted bread rounds with onion, tomato & olive tapenade.


Soup

Cannellini & Pancetta
Creamy white bean soup with pancetta.
Carrot Rice
Velvety carrot-rice soup.
Cioppino
Italian Bouillabaise with layers of  fish & seafood.
Escarole & Beans
Traditional escarole, cannellini beans & pancetta.
New England Clam Chowder
Thick & delicious. Made with bacon.
Spicy Manhattan Clam Chowder
A spicy tomato-based version.
Spicy Split Pea with Andouille
Hot & spicy split pea with andouille sausage & greens.
Pasta e Fagioli
A traditional soup version of macaroni & beans.
Straciatella with Spinach
Italian egg drop soup with spinach & romano.


Salads

Austrian Potato
Fingerling potato salad made with Champagne vinegar & thyme.
Bacon & Egg
Frisée lettuce, hard-boiled eggs, crisp bacon served with a French vinaigrette.
Chicago Dog
Spicy coleslaw, romaine & tomatoes topped with hot dogs.
Crab Lime
Lump crab with lime zest & mayonnaise.
Spicy Macaroni
Packed with salami, pickles, cheese & spices.
Hawaiian Macaroni
Traditional macaroni salad made with celery, onion & egg.
Insalata Rustica
Mixed greens, pears, red grapes, pignoli & prosciutto.
Italian Farro
Farro with tomatoes, sweet onions & balsamic.
Italian Seafood
Calamari, mussels, clams & shrimp served over mixed greens.
Orzo & Spinach
Orzo pasta with tomatoes, fresh spinach, basil & lemon.
Pasta Tonnato
Pasta salad in a traditional tuna-egg & caper sauce.
Shrimp Waldorf
Chopped Waldorf salad with shrimp, apples, grapes & almonds.
Spanish Chicken Praline
Rotisserie chicken, blue cheese, bacon & praline.
Summer Panzanella
Fresh tomatoes, white beans, cucumber, fresh mozzarella, toasted bread & fresh herbs. 


Pasta

Blue Macaroni
Spiral-shaped pasta baked in cheddar & blue cheese.
Caprese
Pasta with heirloom tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil & extra virgin olive oil.
Cavatelli & Broccoli
Fried Egg Pasta
Bacon & egg pasta with fresh spinach & Pecorino Romano.
Lobster Macaroni & Cheese
A creamy combination of lobster, shrimp, crab & full-flavor cheeses.
Pasta with Mussels & Cannellini
Orecchiette with white beans, mussels, broccoli rabe & pancetta.
Penne Pancetta with Peas
Pasta with pancetta and peas in a pink sauce.
Penne Puttanesca
A spicy tomato sauce with basil, capers and olives.
Ricotta Cream Pasta
Pasta served with ricotta and fava beans.
Rigatoni with Steak Sauce
Pasta with slices of rib eye steak with onions & tomatoes.
Rigatoni Vodka with Pancetta
A spicy, chunky version of the classic.
Sardinian Saffron Pasta
Orecchiette coked in saffron with pancetta & pork.
Sicilian Pasta
Pasta in a no-cook tomato-basil sauce with fried potatoes & eggplant.
Spicy Southwest
Pasta with a no-cook tomato-cilantro sauce with red onion & jalapeño chilies.
Szechuan Noodles
Spaghetti with an Asian peanut sauce.
Twisted Mac ‘n Cheese
Large shell pasta with Tasso ham, spinach, shrimp, sharp cheddar & fontina. 


Baked Fare

Butternut Squash Lasagna
Layers of butternut squash, mozzarella & amaretti.
Neapolitan Lasagna
Layered with meatballs, sausage, ricotta and fresh mozzarella.
Polenta Casserole
Slices of polenta layered with golden hominy, black beans, salsa verde & Monterey Jack.
Sicilian Baked Pasta
Pasta baked with Italian sausage, beef & béchamel.
Turkey Lasagna
Layers of pasta with ground turkey, mushrooms, béchamel & gruyère.


Beef & Veal

Beef Braciole with Grilled Tomatoes
Grilled, pounded thin beef rolled with garlic & spices & served with a grilled tomato compote.
Beef Medallions with Garlic Basil Purée
Boeuf Bourgignon
Cooked for hours in red wine & Cognac & served with buttered mushrooms.
Braised Short Ribs
Cooked in red wine with chocolate & rosemary.
Chunky Chili
Cola Pot Roast
Tender boneless beef roast cooked in cola for 3  1/2 hours.
Kalbi
Beef short ribs in a Korean marinade. Grilled until slightly charred.
Mahogany Beef Stew
Beef cooked in Cabernet Sauvignon with a touch of Hoisin.
Stuffed Veal Bundles
Veal with Figs
Veal Milanese and Mixed Greens
Veal Stew Milanese


Fish & Seafood                           Market Price

Cod with Chorizo
Baked with white wine, cannellini beans & grape tomatoes.
Cod with Clams & Vegetables
Braised with fennel, potatoes & littlenecks.
Linguini with Clam Sauce Red or White
A garlicky version of the traditional.
Mussels Vino Bianco
P.E.I. Mussels steamed in a spicy white wine, garlic and herb broth.
One Pot Clam Bake
Clams, steamers, mussels, shrimp & lobster cooked with smoked sausage, leeks, potatoes and white wine.
Seared Scallops over Shrimp and Truffle Risotto
Pan-seared scallops served over arborio rice flavored with truffle oil.
Sesame Orange Salmon
Marinated salmon filet served with an orange-ginger relish.
Smoky Shrimp & Garlic
Shrimp marinated & cooked in garlic & smoky Spanish paprika.
Tuna Firenze
Thinly-sliced fresh tuna layered between potatoes & tomatoes and seasoned with fennel, garlic, chilis & lemon.
Tuna with Honey and Thyme
Fresh tuna brushed with honey & thyme & served with tomato & eggplant.


Poultry

Arroz Con Pollo
Traditional chicken, chorizo, green olives & rice.
Chicken Francese
Boneless chicken with lemon & Pecorino Romano.
Chicken Parmigiana
Traditional or grilled.
Chicken Tagine
Boneless chicken thighs with lemon & green olives.
Shaker Chicken
Grilled chicken thighs marinated in a smoky vinegar, shallot & garlic sauce.


Pork

Grilled Sausage & Peppers
Grilled hot & sweet sausage with charred peppers, onion, garlic & olive oil.
Hawaiian Braised Pork
Boneless pork country-style spareribs cooked in Polynesian spices & served with stir fried cabbage.
Cajun Jambalaya
A spicy mix of chicken thighs, andouille, linguiça, smoked ham, bacon and rice.
Oktoberfest
Smoked pork chops & knockwurst smothered in apples & spiced sauerkraut. 
Sausage & Egg Casserole
Sweet Italian sausage baked in eggs, sun dried tomatoes & mozzarella.
Cola Baked Ham
Smoked ham baked in cola with a cherry-orange glaze.
Korean Ribs
Marinated in soy & Asian pear overnight and cooked to perfection.
Porchetta
Herb-rubbed pork shoulder cooked for 6  1/2 hours.
Tangerine Ham
Smoked ham glazed with tangerine & cinnamon & served over carrots.
Trieste Pork
Pork shoulder cooked in Merlot wine & paprika. 


Specialties

Eggplant Rollatini
Gently sautéed eggplant rolled with mortadella & a ricotta herb mixture. Served with marinara.
Mom’s Eggplant & Capellini
A capellini, ricotta, mozzarella mixture rolled inside eggplant and baked in a diced tomato sauce.
Neapolitan Meatballs
Delicious pork & veal meatballs baked in the oven and served with red gravy.
Pasta Fazool
A traditional thick, peasant dish with pancetta & cannellini beans.
Seared Scallops with Short Rib Ragoût
Served with cauliflower and Maitake mushrooms.
Sunday Gravy
Traditional Neapolitan Ragu with meatballs, pepperoni & Italian sausage.


Platters, Sandwiches & Quesadillas

Antipasti
Assorted Italian meats & cheeses.
Couscous and Eggplant Ring
Cubans
Ham, swiss, pork, pickles and mayo.
Egg Salad
Egg salad with mayo, mustard, green olives and bacon.
Poblano & Ham Quesadillas
Quesadillas stuffed with mozzarella, poblano peppers & cured ham.
Roasted Stuffed Peppers
Shrimp Cocktail
Smoked Gouda & Onion Quesadillas with Prosciutto
Vegetable Party Bouquet


Sides & Vegetables

Baked Fennel & Prosciutto
Broccoli di Rapa
Steamed broccoli rabe sautéed with garlic, crushed red pepper & extra virgin olive oil.
Cauliflower Gratin
Cauliflower florets baked in Gruyère & Parmesan.
Marinated Baby Vegetables
Assorted steamed baby vegetables marinated in extra virgin olive oil, Champagne vinegar & spices.
Spinach & Mushrooms
Fresh spinach, mushrooms & truffle oil.
Stir Fried Cabbage
Stir Fried with ginger, green onions & sesame oil. 


Desserts

Apple and Plum Kebabs with Apricot Sauce
Assorted Biscotti
Assorted Dessert Crostini
Assorted Dessert Tray
Crema all’Aroma de Banane con Cilegie
Banana pudding with cherries & coconut.
Banana Split Brownies
Chocolaty-banana brownies covered in toasted marshmallows.
Butterscotch Cheesecake
Creamy cheesecake with homemade butterscotch-almond topping.
Chocolate-Cheesecake Cups
Tiny chocolate cupcakes filled with chocolate chip cream cheese.
Chocolate Cups
Chocolate Mousse
Homemade chocolate mousse, rum & bananas.
Coconut Lime Cake
Three layers of coconut cream cake filled with lemon-lime filling.
Grilled Pineapple
Covered in vanilla mascarpone & Nutella.
Limoncello Drowned Melon
Melon Pearls with Rum
Meringata with Peaches
Mixed Berry Tiramisu
A berry-layered Tiramisu with Chambord-soaked ladyfingers, creamy mascarpone, topped with fresh berries.
Mixed Fruit Skewers with Provolone
Peach Kisses
Pumpkin Tiramisu
Mascarpone, pumpkin & amaretti.
Raspberry Icebox Cake
Rasberries, chocolate wafers, bittersweet chocolate & Chambord.
Spicy Melon SaladSpiedini di Frutta
Tiramisu
Traditional Tiramisu with rum-soaked ladyfingers.


Ready To Cook

Bourbon Flank Steak
Marinated in soy & whiskey.
Chinese BBQ Pork Tenderloin
Rubbed in Asian spices & ready to brush with a sesame-orange glaze.
Double Skewers
Horseradish Burgers
Beef burgers stuffed with sharp cheddar.
Marinated Organic Leg of Lamb
Chile-Rubbed Rib Eye Steaks
Rib eye steaks generously rubbed with a sweet & spicy coating.

Monthly Specials

Check out our monthly specials page for July!

Now up & running.  ©2011 Jersey Shore Gourmet.

Cooking classes begin in June so get ready to book a party or come on over for a hands-on feast for the brain and the palate.

In the meantime, please contact me with any questions:

Jersey Shore Gourmet

Located in Ocean County, New Jersey – Website Under Construction.
Website:  http://home.earthlink.net/~jerseyshoregourmet

Contact us:  jerseyshoregourmet@earthlink.net

Welcome to Jersey Shore Gourmet

Welcome to Jersey Shore Gourmet!  We’re almost up and running.

Cooking classes begin in June so get ready to book a party or come on over for a hands-on feast for the brain and the palate.

In the meantime, please contact me with any questions:

Jersey Shore Gourmet

Located in Ocean County, New Jersey – Website Under Construction.
Website:  http://home.earthlink.net/~jerseyshoregourmet

Contact us:  jerseyshoregourmet@earthlink.net