Italian Cucuzza Food

ITALIAN CUCUZZA STEW

Steps:

• Brown the ground beef in a skillet, drain and set aside.
• In a large dutch oven, add the olive oil and sauté the onion, celery, carrot, and garlic for about 4-5 minutes, or until the onions are translucent.
• Add the ground beef to the pot along with the can of whole tomatoes, add the cucuzza, and the rest of the ingredients. Bring to a boil and simmer, uncovered for around 45 minutes or until the squash is cooked.

SPAGHETTI WITH CUCUZZA SQUASH

Steps:

• Slice the amount of garlic cloves you wish to use thinly. Add the garlic to a saute pan that has been heated with the oil and butter in it over medium high heat (*Note: If you're not a big fan of garlic just add 1 whole clove slightly cracked, to the oil and saute it for about 2-3 minutes then remove the garlic from the pan).
• Add the cucuzzi to the pan and mix with the sauteed garlic. Continue to saute the cucuzzi and garlic until the cucuzzi gets colored, always watching that you are not burning the garlic you left in the pan. Cucuzzi can take a lot of color in the pan before it burns, and it gets sweeter as it gets the deeper color.
• Prepare the spaghetti to the "al dente" point and then thoroughly drain it.
• Add all the cucuzzi, oil, butter, and garlic to the spaghetti and toss to thoroughly mix.
• Add the grated cheese to the spaghetti and toss it once more. If the spaghetti mixture seems dry, add a little more butter and/or olive oil to moisten. Hint: You can add more cheese if you like, I do.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste -- Enjoy!

CUCUZZA STEW

Steps:

• Heat oil in a 6 quart dutch oven. Saute Cucuzza, onions, garlic and peppers until translucent or about 5 or 6 minute Add the can of tomatoes and the juice and continue cooking on medium heat until it comes to a low simmer. Add the basil salt and pepper.
• Crack each egg onto the top of the stew. Be sure the mixture is at a low boil, then cover and cook until the yolks are hard.
• Serve with a fresh crusty bread.

CUCUZZA CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Sift flour, cinnamon, baking soda and baking powder together and set aside.
• Beat eggs with sugar, oil and vanilla.
• Add flour mixture to egg mixture, mix well.
• Add grated cucuza (skin, seed and all), orange zest, pineapple and pecans.
• Mix well.
• Divide batter into 2 greased loaf pans.
• Pan should be about 1/2 full.
• Bake for 45 minutes, or until cakes test done.
• Let cool for about 10 minutes.
• Mix all icing ingredients together, using enough milk to get a smooth, spreadable icing.
• Remove cakes from pans and glaze tops of cakes while warm.