Florentine Rolls 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.

BAKED FLOUNDER FLORENTINE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
• In a medium skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter.
• Add onion and sauté until translucent.
• Stir in the spinach, oregano, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper.
• Put about 1 1/2 tablespoons spinach mixture on each flounder fillet; roll up.
• Put the fish rolls in a baking dish, seam-side down. Add the wine.
• Cover and bake 25 minutes.
• Drain and reserve 1/2 cup of the liquid. Keep the fish warm.
• Melt the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat; add flour, the remaining salt and the remaining black pepper, and mustard. Add the reserved liquid and milk.
• Stir until thick and bubbly.
• Pour the sauce over the stuffed flounder rolls. Sprinkle with Parmesan and paprika just before serving.

FLORENTINE LASAGNA ROLL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Place a sheet of wax paper on a flat surface. Arrange the noodles on top of each other, over-lapping 1-inch.
• Combine all the filling ingredients except the mozzarella, mix well. Spread over the noodles, top with the mozzarella cheese and roll up jelly-roll fashion.
• Place in a 9"X13" baking dish seam side down.
• In a small bowl combine the topping ingredients, pour over the roll and top with remaining Parmesan cheese.
• Bake at 350° for 30 minutes.
• Let stand for 5 minutes before slicing.

ROLLED PORK FLORENTINE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 375 degrees F. Set the pork on a cutting board and imagine you're going to cut an upside-down letter T into it: in other words, slice half-way through, lengthwise, then half-way through to the left and the right. Open out the meat. Lay plastic wrap over it, and pound flat with a mallet. Season with salt and pepper, and set aside.
• Rinse the spinach and spin dry, allowing a little water to remain clinging to the leaves. Put it in a saute pan, cover, and wilt, about 5 minutes. Lay the spinach on a clean tea or kitchen towel and squeeze dry. Chop, and set aside.
• Wipe out the pan and put if back on the stove. Fry the bacon until cooked, remove to drain. Pour off all but a tablespoon or 2 of the fat and fry the onion until golden. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute. Stir through the bread crumbs and spinach. Season with salt and pepper.
• Pat the stuffing over the meat, leaving a 1-inch border. Roll and tie the pork at 2-inch intervals. Wipe out the saute pan and heat the oil in it. Brown the meat on all sides, pour in the wine, and then transfer to the oven and roast until done, about 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and let the meat rest 10 minutes. Wrap for later, or slice and serve with the pan juices poured over.

FLORENTINE ROLLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375. Grease 12 muffin cups and set aside.
• In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoons oil and cook green onions and garlic until tender.
• Add spinach and basil; cook and stir over medium heat until just wilted. Drain off excess liquid. Stir in salt and pepper; set aside to cool.
• On a well-floured surface, unroll pizza dough and shape into a 12x8 rectangle. Brush surface of dough with remaining olive oil. Spread spinach mixture to within one inch of the edges of the dough. Sprinkle with feta and pine nuts.
• Starting with a long side, roll into a spiral. Slice roll into 12 pieces and place cut-side up in prepared muffin cups. Brush with butter and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
• Bake for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand in muffin cups for 2 minutes. Remove carefully and serve warm.

FLORENTINES

Steps:

• Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Line a heavy large baking sheet with parchment paper. Stir the almonds, flour and zest in a medium bowl. Stir the sugar, butter, cream, and honey in a heavy medium saucepan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Bring the mixture to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the almond mixture. Cool the batter for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Using 2 teaspoons of batter for each cookie, spoon 8 mounds of the batter onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing evenly apart (the cookies will spread). Flatten the batter slightly with your finger.
• Bake the cookies until they are lacy and golden brown, about 10 minutes. Gently slide the parchment paper with the cookies onto a rack and cool completely. Transfer the cookies to paper towels. Repeat with the remaining batter, lining the baking sheets with clean parchment for each batch. (The cookies can be made up to this point 2 months ahead. Cool completely, then store airtight in the freezer. Defrost before continuing.)
• Stir the chocolate in a bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water until the chocolate melts. Spread the melted chocolate over the bottom of 1 cookie. Top with a second cookie, bottom side down, pressing lightly to adhere. Repeat with the remaining cookies and chocolate.

PESTO LASAGNA ROLLS

Steps:

• Position an oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the lasagna noodles 1 minute longer than the package directions for al dente. The pasta should be tender enough that it will roll without cracking. Drain well and rinse with cold water. Lay in a single layer on a baking sheet.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and cook, stirring, until lightly toasted, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the milk, a large pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens and is the consistency of a thin gravy, 6 to 8 minutes. Allow the bechamel sauce to cool slightly.
• Beat the egg in a large bowl and then stir in the ricotta, spinach, 1 1/2 cups of the mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup of the Parmesan, 1/2 cup of the pesto, a large pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper. Stir the remaining 1/2 cup pesto into the slightly cooled bechamel sauce.
• Brush a 13- by 9- inch baking dish with oil. Spread 1/4 cup of the pesto-bechamel sauce on to the bottom of the dish.
• Lay half of the cooked lasagna noodles on a clean work surface and spread 1/3 cup of the ricotta mixture evenly over each. Starting with a short end, roll each noodle up. As you make the rolls, transfer them to the prepared baking dish seam-side down. Repeat with the remaining noodles and ricotta mixture. Spoon the remaining pesto-bechamel sauce over the lasagna rolls and sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan. Cover with foil and bake until the rolls are heated through and the sauce is bubbling, about 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until the cheese is browned on top, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle with crushed red pepper, if using, and let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

CHICKEN FLORENTINE LASAGNA ROLLS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F.
• Cook noodles as directed on package, omitting salt. Drain.
• Mix next 5 ingredients. Spread 1/3 cup chicken mixture onto each noodle. Roll up tightly; place, seam-sides down, in 9-inch square baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. Pour pasta sauce over roll-ups; sprinkle with mozzarella.
• Bake 30 min. or until heated through.

CHICKEN FLORENTINE LASAGNA ROLLS

Steps:

• Noodles -- Now I do this a little different than most. I bring a 13x9 pan on the stove and fill with water and bring to a light boil. I then boil my noodles flat. To me they boil quicker and less chance of tearing being flat in a pan. Just 5 or so minutes and they are done. Then remove them to a sheet of parchment paper to cool. About 24 noodles. If you want you can always boil in a large pot of water if you prefer the traditional method.
• Cheese -- Mix the grated fontina, parmesan and ricotta. Make sure to reserve 1 cup the fontina and 1/2 parmesan for the top layer. Add in a pinch of salt, pepper to taste and the fresh parsley.
• Chicken -- To a medium saucepan, add the olive oil and bring to medium heat. Add the onions and mushrooms and cook on medium heat until lightly browned about 5-7 minutes. Then add in the shredded chicken and fresh spinach, thyme and chicken broth and cook until everything is well combined. Just add a little salt and pepper to taste. Just simmer until the broth reduces.
• Bechemel -- 4 / 4/ 4/ -- my basic recipe. Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a medium pot, then add 4 teaspoons of flour and combine, mix well to make a roux and cook just a couple of minutes to get the flour taste out. Then add in 2 cups heavy cream and 2 cups milk and bring to a medium heat to let it thicken, add a pinch of nutmeg.
• Make the Lasagna -- Lay out a noodle, spread with the cheese mixture and then top with the chicken spinach mixture, then another noodle, more cheese and another layer of chicken mixture, then roll.
• In a 13x9 casserole dish add about 1 cup of the bechemel sauce and then place the lasagna rolls, seam side down. Now top with the remaining sauce. Top with the extra fontina and parmesan cheese. Cover and bake 35 minutes at 375, then remove the foil and cook 10 more minutes until bubbly and golden brown. Make sure to let it rest 10 minutes covered before serving.
• Note: I like to use a 13x9, you want to make sure that the pan is not too big and the rolls fit in the pan nicely side by side, this way the sauce tops the rolls and makes a nice crust. You can also make these in individual ramiken or serving dishes, 2 rolls per person. It makes a great way to serve them for a dinner party.

CHICKEN FLORENTINE ROLL-UPS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F.
• Combine egg white, spinach, cottage cheese, paprika, 1/2 cup mozzarella and 1 Tbsp. Parmesan.
• Pound chicken to 1/4-inch thickness; place, smooth sides down, on work surface. Spoon spinach mixture onto chicken, spreading to within 1/2 inch of edges. Roll up, starting at one short end of each. Place, seam sides down, in 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. Spoon pasta sauce over chicken; cover.
• Bake 25 min. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan; bake, uncovered, 25 min. or until chicken is done (165°F).

CHICKEN FLORENTINE ROLL-UPS WITH LEMON-THYME ORZO PILAF

Steps:

• For the chicken Florentine roll-ups: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Thaw the spinach in the microwave or on the stove as per the directions on the package, then place it in a strainer and squeeze out as much liquid as possible, discarding the liquid.
• Chop the sun-dried tomatoes, grate the Parmesan cheese, and chop the basil, and place them in a medium bowl with 2/3 cup of the spinach, the goat cheese, egg white, 1/8 teaspoon of the salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper. Stir with a fork until well incorporated.
• Spread 3 tablespoons of the filling on the top half of each chicken breast, roll up, and secure with 2 toothpicks. (See Cook's Note.) Sprinkle the chicken rolls with the remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Heat the oil in a large ovenproof skillet with a cover over medium-high heat. Brown the chicken rolls until golden, 2 minutes per side. Pour the chicken broth over the rolls, cover, and transfer the skillet to the oven. Bake until the chicken is cooked through, 12 to 14 minutes.
• For the lemon-thyme orzo pilaf: Peel and chop the shallots. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and cook, stirring, until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the orzo and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the broth, bring to a boil over high heat, then decrease the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the orzo is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, 8 to 9 minutes.
• Meanwhile, halve the tomatoes, grate the cheese, chop the thyme, and zest and juice the lemon (1 teaspoon zest and 1 1/2 tablespoons juice). When the orzo is done, stir in the tomatoes, thyme, lemon zest and juice, cheese, salt, and pepper. Cover and let sit off the heat for 5 minutes before serving.
• To serve, drizzle the roll-ups with the liquid from the skillet and serve with the orzo.