Tortellini In Brodo & Minestrone – A Special For Mr Smith!!!
February 17, 2010 in Italian Classics, Soups
Have you ever seen that advert on television where the wonky removal van is weaving its’ way down the road and unbeknown to the driver he is losing bits of furniture off the back of his truck? Well, during the move some of my pictures got lost into the blogesphere and I am reposting the best of these posts, met photo’s. I don’t wish to flood the page with posts but will be adding a few more than usual. Please indulge me as I am only doing the special ones. Thank you for your patience and please dial star – hash – 0800 – lost blog posts should you wish to consult with management.
This is another of my – two for the “price and time” of one dishes. Max is training for rugby and refuses to eat any carbs at the moment. He is also “allergic” (yeah right) to most vegeatables. Dear bloggers, I really do have Cain and Abel when it comes to food and their appreciation of it with my children.. Daniele at the age of 2 was extolling the virtues of gorgonzola cheese, waxing lyrical about my pasta dishes and already asking for repeats on certain dishes from my kitchen. Max, on the other hand must have been dropped by a mocking bird, a ha-de-daa or something similar…. he is a cullinary philistine, in fact, Riccardo has a nickname for Maxi – it’s Mr Smith!!!!!
Mr Smith doesn’t drink espresso coffee – he likes, WAIT FOR IT, sins of all Italian Sins, the embarrasement of the Tripepi family and all future generations of Tripepis – Mr Smith LIKES spaghetti in a tin!#!###@@@ I happily spend hours creating the perfect sauce or jus from those caramelised pan juices. Heston Blumenthal would be sooooo proud of me and at times I can hear dearly departed Keith Floyds angelic wings flapping above my pans as i “Wack in some butter to thicken a sauce” On one occasion Mr Smith asked me to make NICE gravy like the gravy the friends mums’ serve with their roasts – BISTO I TELL YOU – BISTO….. Don’t even START me on the tomato sauce thing …… that sends me into the next dimension. Not too long ago – i prepared fresh Dorado with a Parma Ham and herb crust – HE DROWNED IT IN TOMATO SAUCE …. My poor husband foams at the mouth ….
Mr Smith presents me with quite a few cullinary conundrums ……… One of my “I’ll sort YOU out you little S***t – is to make minestrone. So every Monday – i use up all of the left over veggies to make a pot of minestrone – Which Mr Smith loves!!!! Can you ever – bung every veg under the sun into a pot with some chicken pieces …… and bob’s your aunty Mr Smith loves it!!!! He loves said minestrone even more – if it’s liquidised and served with a spoon of basil pesto!!! Well, maybe there is hope yet.
I make a huge pot of soup – that Mr Smith munches through over the next week. However, last week I took the opportunity to creat the broth for a favourite of mine. I am not much of a ravioli, panzerotii eater – filled pasta very rarely finds it’s way to my table – BUT – i absolutely love Tortellin in Brodo whish is simply tortellini in broth – but the broth must be authenticly and deeply flavoured with the essence of fresh veggies. It needs to be the sort of broth that u just can’t really get enough of …. so i piggy backed on Mr Smiths minestrone request to create my broth ……….. hehehe ……
MINESTRONE
Serve piping hot with a good table spoon of grated Parmesan cheese.
Ingredients
olive oil – enough to cover the bottom of your pot.
3 onions finely chopped
6 cloves of garlic finely chopped
baby carrots or carrots
celery
green beans
cabbage
parsley
tomatoes
red and yellow peppers
slice some baby marrows – zucchini
thinly sliced cabbage
throw in a handful of frozen peas or corn
add whole baby spinach and a good handful of basil whole
2 cups of dry white wine
plenty – 3L or more dependant on the size of your pot – of chicken stock
pepper to taste
To give the minestrone a great big kick in the backside in terms of flavour – us add a large
packet of skinned chicken thighs.
All the veggies should be fresh – other than the frozen peas, and if you have some fresh peas – throw them in You could add some broccoli, Minestrone is not restricted to certain veggies, use what you have, the more the better – you want a deep rich flavour in your soup/ broth which can only be achieved by using many different veggies.
Method
In a large pot – heat some olive oil and brown the chicken thighs, onion and garlic
Brown the onion, garlic and chicken thighs
add 2 cups of dry white wine and cook out all of the alcohol
add all of the other vegetables and herbs top up the pot with chicken stock, bring to the boil and then simmer for about an hour.
Bring the pot to the boil and then simmer for an hour.
Every now and then – skim the surface of the minestrone to remove the scum, this will result in a nice clear broth.
Remove the chicken thighs and debone them – you can either add the chicken back
to the pot – or make a chicken & gherkin mayonnaise with them for sarmies.
Serve piping hot with a good table spoon of grated Parmesan cheese.
TORTELLINI IN BRODO
Ingredients
1 packet of dried tortellini
2L of minestrone broth
parmesan cheese for serving.
Method
You will have plenty of broth/ liquid in your pot of minestrone, strain off at least 2L of the broth.
Boil a large pot of salted water – and add the tortellini and cook them until tender.
Strain the tortellini and add them to the broth – and WALLA – tortellin in brodo!
This is an elegant dish that is packed full of flavour and goodness.
One of my favourites, Tortellini in Brodo.
This, to me, is a dish worthy of hauling out your best dinner service and silver…..
Here – is served it with some ripped leaves of basil
and parmesan cheese.
Buon Appetito
xx
jan
Here we go fellow bloggers – EXHIBIT A
….. note the remnants of the dorado with parma ham and herb
crust on the plate …. AND THE HUUUUUUUUUGE SPLODGE OF TOMATOE SAUCE ………Grrrrrrrrrr ………
pinkpolkadot said on February 17, 2010
LOL @ Mr Smith!! The food looks delicous!
janicetripepi said on July 21, 2012
How he survived two years in Italy … one wonders! Thanks Pinks have a great weekend xxxx jan
Zabwan said on February 17, 2010
well, you had me laughing out loud, and then drooling over the soup. funny, i have also been thinking of soup today – must be the drizzle, and a longing for autumn. brilliant blog, thanks!!
janicetripepi said on July 21, 2012
Thanks my angel – it’s an oldy but a goody and I just couldn’t leave it naked … photoless! Have a great weekend. I am so getting to grips with a fire now .. i will bake bread if its the last thing I do! xxxx jan
janicetripepi said on February 17, 2010
Thanks Pinks! xx jan
janicetripepi said on February 17, 2010
Thanks my angel …. i will dig out the pic of the dorado dish – because i DID actually take a photo of Mr Smith’s plate covered, i get the cold shivers when i think of it — in T sauce!! xxx jan
janicetripepi said on February 17, 2010
ROFL – tempting hey!!! xxx jan
kimstories said on February 17, 2010
i thought my family was th eonly ones who said bob’s your aunty. seems i am wrong.
funny – i am a smith
kattiemajinks said on February 17, 2010
Oh my goodness! You can tell me nothing about “fiemies”! First it was daddy and now the little one as well – help!
janicetripepi said on February 17, 2010
Maybe i have your long lost son??? hahaha … xxx jan
frootcake said on February 17, 2010
Aish, I actually feel better now Jan, I thought I was the only mother/wife/food provider in the world that lived with “Mom why cant you make macaroni like Aunty Ann does, you know, the one that stands up by itself and has no vegg-a-bills in it?” YUCK *&%!! and then “Mom why do you always put a garden in your food (reference here is being made to herbs)? We just like salt and pepper OMGGGGGGGGGG &*^^!!!! see what I mean ungrateful little s!!!s I say
janicetripepi said on July 21, 2012
He refers to rosemary as ‘STICKS” …. EISH!!! We should start a support group! hehehe … Have an awesome weekend.
janicetripepi said on February 17, 2010
True’s nonnies, there are moments when i am sure that he is not my child … perhaps he clinic he was swapped with someone else’s child … wait, i am going to dig out that TSauce photo for you to see…. bastage child!!!! xxx j
sharonsmit said on February 17, 2010
LoLs there will always be one kid who eats ‘funny’..my sister (still) smothers everything in vinegar (or salt & vinegar spice), and is also quite ‘allergic’ to veggies! Lovely recipe too!! xxx
janicetripepi said on February 17, 2010
I know – in my own family i had a little brother who only ate mashed potatoes with tomatos sauce and white bread with salt all over it …yuk!!!
Missbrightside said on February 17, 2010
I lvoe making soup like this – just using what veggies you have.
And the meal looks divine!
I am allergic to finicky eaters – drives me up the wall. Good luck.
canda1 said on February 17, 2010
LOL, that is so funny Jan. Mr Smith would definitely not do well in my house as “all of the above” could actually send me over the edge! My youngest is trying her luck lately but hopefully its just the Frigging Fours and it will pass!!!
Minestrone is a huge favourite in our house and as you said an excellent way to use up all the leftover veggies! xxx
janicetripepi said on February 17, 2010
Thanks Brightside xxxx jan
janicetripepi said on February 17, 2010
Honestly …. i could throttle him sometimes. xxx jan
sharonsmit said on February 17, 2010
lol…when I was younger I refused to eat mash (goodness knows why) I do love it now along with most other foodies!
janicetripepi said on February 17, 2010
Lol – i understand totally xxx jan
ninatimm said on February 17, 2010
You should send the little S……to me, I’ll sort him out otherwise he can just share my children’s bottle of All Gold….
The soup was a symphony, I am sure. Gosh Jan, that broth looks so flavorful!!!
LessOfMe said on February 17, 2010
Girl B and I are making this tomorrow! With all those veggies it’s a perfect WL meal. Thanks
janicetripepi said on February 17, 2010
Totally L-O_M and i shall post that recipe i sent you ..the one with the fat free yoghurt .. Mr Smith will not eat any carbs and this is a stable for him … will post it tomorrow evening xxxx the soup is as light as a feather and has very very little fat … you can eat this every day and just KNOW that not only does it taste awesome …but it has verry very few calories xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx j
tandy.sinclair said on February 18, 2010
I love your meals!
janicetripepi said on February 18, 2010
Thanks Iky xx jan
janicetripepi said on February 18, 2010
Aw, that’s so kind, thanks xxx jan
TheCreativePot said on February 18, 2010
Hahaha – spaghetti in a tin indeed! Definitely must’ve been swapped at birth.
But damnit your minestrone and tortelloni in broth looks fantabulous!
janicetripepi said on February 18, 2010
You must know Marisa, i think the aliens must have taken my little Italian baby away …. the minestrone is awesome, but the tortellini are totally deeeeeeeeevine. They are so light and elegant they just melt in your mouth.
xxx jan
janicetripepi said on February 18, 2010
CHECK OUT EXHIBIT A PEOPLE – A PLATE COVERED IN THE OFFENDING TOMATO SAUCE …….
potjie said on February 19, 2010
At least he does’nt prefer the spagetti in a tin with viennas.
janicetripepi said on February 19, 2010
Potjie ……… i just didn’t mention it. When he was at pre-school he once told me that he had eaten prawns for lunch …. they turned out to be fish fingers ……. another of his faves!!!! ROFL xxx jan
ninatimm said on July 19, 2012
Jan the Tortelinni inl Brodo looks divine, I’ll send you my kids, they eat anything and everything……
janicetripepi said on July 20, 2012
Oh what a pleasure! hahaha xxxx
mitzireddy said on July 20, 2012
I luv that u are posting some of your earlier stuff – your pics are great even then. Mr Smith has started my morning with a laugh. Enjoy the weekend, Jan.
janicetripepi said on July 20, 2012
Thanks Mitzi – I had a little Sony cybershot then and got some semi decent shots with it. Mr Smith ! he would order a toasted cheese and tomato sandwith at a coffee shop and remove all the tomato! He has improved slightly …. which is due to his girlfriend Casey. She loves her veggies so he is trying! if only to impress her xxx have an awesome weekend angel xxxx
pinkpolkadot said on July 20, 2012
It sounds like my children, and I just want to wish you (again) good luck!! I totally understand this – I must load (a lot of) my recipes again!