Italian Dinner Project?!

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

Calamari is a nice Italian appetizer.
Saganaki is great!
Stuffed mushrooms or a portabello gorgonzola terrine.
Fresh Green Bean salad with fresh lemon and basil vinagirette, topped with pancetta,gorgonzola and garnished with thin lemon slices (twisted) and fresh basil.
Orange and Pomegranate salad with almonds
Conchiglioni (large) stuffed with Italian sausage (or use any beef or turkey based sausage) cooked down in Chianti, garlic, fresh basil, onion, a bit of tomato paste, and add Asiago when still hot but finished cooking. Stuff shells, cover with marinara, top with provolone and bake in the oven. TO DIE FOR!
Or; Chianti braised beef short ribs (if you can use wine to cook with! Holy Cow! why not? Who doesn't?). A bit of Chianti, thyme and tomatoes, braise the ribs for a few hours and my goodness.....!!
Shrimp cooked with garlic olive oil, some dried red chili peppers and served or spaghettini.
Clams steamed in a bit of Chardonnay (you really can''t cook with wine?), garlic and shallots. If you can't use wine, use a bit of chicken broth. The garlic and shallots make a nice broth for the clams once they open, and then top them with some chiffonaded basil or just parsley.
Eggplant parmesan or Zucchini parmesan. Saute'd green beans or asparagus in garlic olive oil, topped with fresh basil, fresh lemon juice and a little fresh grated parmesan.
Drinks; Lemons and mint are indiginous to Italy, so a mint lemonade would be tasty.
'virgin' Orange and Pomegranate Daquiris
Desserts: Sorbets, Tiramisu, Lemon Almond Cookies

Anyway, what's this not having pork or wine with an Italian meal? Hmmmm.
Hope these ideas helped.

Traditionally Italian meals go: (but this does change within regions)

Salad and bread course

pasta course (app)

meat course (with veggies and a side)

dessert

Americans have kind of forced the idea that all Italians eat is pasta. They actually eat quite a bit of meat and seafood. Lamb is pretty popular.

for the bread course you can make an infused olive oil that you dip a good crusty bread into. Usually garlic and herbs.

Or you could make a bagna calda (banya calda)

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/micha…

trips to italy, scillian grandmother

go to an italian food website

Your family's grading you???? Hmmmmmm.....well here are some ideas that I make at home:

Menu I:

Antipasti Platter: pepperoncini, marinated mushrooms and artichoke hearts, sliced salami's, provolone cheese, olives, bread or crackers
Lasagne Bolognese
Warm French bread with Italian herbs and cheese
Chopped green salad with garbanzos, kidney beans, tomatos, Italian dressing
Panna Cotta with a drizzle of chocolate sauce

Menu II:

Crostini with artichoke tapenade (you can purchase or make your own)
Eggplant Parmesan
Angel Hair Pasta and Marinara
Caprese Salad (sliced tomatos and mozarella)
Tiramisu

Menu III:

Ministrone Soup with parmesan
Spaghetti and Meatballs
Breadsticks
Italian Ices

Menu IV:

Bruschetta with tomatos and artichokes
Stuffed Shells with ricotta and pancetta or prosciutto and tomato sauce
Sauteed italian peppers (yellow and orange bell peppers and chopped red onion with Italian seasoning cooked in olive oil)
Ciabatta rolls
Cannoli dipped in chocolate

Menu V:

Bagna Cauda (fork tender steamed veges with an anchovy-lemon/olive oil dipping sauce)
Linguini al Pesto
Warm sour dough bread or bread sticks with garlic butter
Ricotta cheesecake

To drink? Try: Italian sodas made with Toriani Italian Syrups, Sparkling Spring Water and Ice. Garnish with sliced lemon or lime. You can also serve San Pelligrino sparkling water in glasses without ice.

Good luck and Bon Appetit!