Excerpt
Eggs in Purgatory
This food was a traditional breakfast at the neighborhood luncheonette for all the guys after a long night out. The only problem was that Frankie the cook never made it as good or as spicy as my grandmother does.
Use a loaf of Italian bread that is about 4 1/2 inches in diameter so the slices will be big enough for an egg to fit inside the cored-out pieces.
Serves 4
Sauce
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 onion, finely chopped
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
3 cups diced, seeded, peeled tomatoes
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh Italian parsley
4 1/2-inch-thick slices Italian bread
3 tablespoons olive oil
4 eggs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
To make the sauce: Heat the olive oil in a medium-size sauce pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes or until it turns translucent. Add the red pepper flakes, tomatoes, basil, and parsley. Cook for about 20 minutes over low heat. Reserve.
Cut a circle in the center of each bread slice with a medium-size cookie cutter. Discard the cut centers. (You can give them to your kids or, if you don't have any, to the neighbors' kids; they love the soft insides of the bread.)
Heat the 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large non-stick saute pan. Place the bread slices in the oil. Cook on one side until nicely browned. Flip the slices to the other side. Crack an egg into the center of each slice of bread. Continue to cook for about 3 to 4 minutes over medium heat until the eggs are firm. Carefully remove the bread-and-egg combination with a spatula and place on a plate. Top with the sauce, sprinkle with the cheese, and serve.
Fusilli with Radicchio
Here is an excellent example of a pasta dish that can be the centerpiece of a light meal, preceded by an appetizer and/or followed by a salad. This type of dish is quick and simple to prepare and so delicious. The key is fresh ingredients. The pasta should be served al dente and piping hot.
Serves 4 to 6 as a first course or main dish
1 pound fusilli
3 heads radicchio
3 tablespoons olive oil
6 ounces bacon, cut into cubes
1 1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon salt
pinch of pepper
1 1/2 tablespoons butter, softened
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Cook the pasta as instructed on the package.
Cut the cores out of the radicchio. Remove the leaves and cut out the large, tough white center. Place 2 to 3 leaves at a time on top of each other. Roll them into a cigar shape. Cut into julienne strips.
Heat the olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook until it is very crisp. Remove and reserve. Add the pepper flakes to the same pan and cook for 1 minute. Add the radicchio and saute for 1 minute. Season with the salt and pepper. Combine the radicchio with the pasta, add the bacon, and toss with the butter. Sprinkle with the