Florentine Ravioli Food

FLORENTINES (ITALY)

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
• Pulse the almonds in a food processor until finely chopped, but not pasty. Stir together the nuts, flour, zest and salt in a large bowl.
• Put the sugar, cream, corn syrup and butter in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture comes to a rolling boil and sugar is completely dissolved. Continue to boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla, then pour mixture into almond mixture and stir just to combine. Set aside until cool enough to handle, 30 minutes.
• Scoop rounded teaspoons (for 3-inch cookies) or rounded tablespoons (for 6-inch cookies) of batter and roll into balls. Place on prepared baking sheet, leaving about 3 to 4 inches between each cookie since they spread.
• Bake 1 pan at a time, until the cookies are thin and an even golden brown color throughout, rotating pans halfway through baking time, about 10 to 11 minutes. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to racks to cool. Repeat with remaining batter. Serve.
• Optional chocolate topping: Put the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with 1 inch or so of water to a very low simmer; set the bowl over, but not touching, the water. Stir the chocolate occasionally until melted and smooth. (Alternatively, put the chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Melt at 50 percent power in the microwave until soft, about 1 minute. Stir, and continue heat until completely melted, about 1 to 2 minutes more.)
• For sandwiches: Drop about 1/2 teaspoon chocolate onto on the flat side of half of the cookies and press together with remaining halves. Return to rack and let chocolate set.
• For chocolate decor: Drizzle melted chocolate over Florentines as desired. Set aside at room temperature until chocolate is set.

SPINACH RAVIOLI WITH TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the salami and garlic and cook, about 1 minute. Crush the tomatoes into the pan with your hands and cook until slightly dry, about 5 minutes. Add the reserved tomato juice, basil, sugar, and salt and pepper to taste. Increase the heat to high and cook until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes. Stir in 3/4 cup water and reduce the heat to medium-low. Let simmer while you cook the ravioli.
• Add salt to the boiling water, then add the ravioli and cook as the label directs; drain. Divide the ravioli among shallow bowls, spoon the sauce on top and sprinkle with the cheese. Garnish with more basil.

FLORENTINE RAVIOLI

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil; cook ravioli (or tortellini) according to package directions.
• Meanwhile, heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add salt, crushed red pepper to taste, spinach and water. Cook, stirring frequently, until the spinach has thawed, wilted and heated through, 5 to 7 minutes. Divide among 4 bowls, top with the pasta and drizzle 1 teaspoon of the remaining oil over each portion. Serve immediately with a sprinkle of Parmesan.

CREAMY RAVIOLI FLORENTINE

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to directions, during last minute of cooking add spinach to pasta; drain.
• Position oven rack so that top of 8-cup baking dish is about 2" from heat source.
• Preheat broiler.
• In a pot over med heat combine sauce and 1 cup cheese and stir until melted.
• In a bowl combine tomatoes, pasta, spinach and the sauce; toss to coat.
• Transfer to baking dish and sprinkle with remaining cheese.
• Broil until cheese is lightly browned.

SLOW-COOKER FLORENTINE RAVIOLI "LASAGNA"

Steps:

• Dice chicken into bite size pieces, sprinkle evenly with salt pepper, garlic powder & Italian herbs, to taste.
• Grease a 5-6 quart oval slowcooker.
• Spread 1/2 jar of Alfredo sauce in the bottom.
• Layer in, 1/3 each of the ravioli, mushrooms, spinach, chicken, and mozzarella. Cover with 1/2 jar Alfredo sauce.
• Repeat layers twice more.
• Add 1/4 cup white wine (or water) to each jar, cap and shake well to get all the sauce loosened and then pour each over the top of the casserole.
• Cook on low 3-5 hours. Topping with parmesan in the last 30-60 minutes.