Italian Torte Food

ITALIAN TORTE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the ricotta cheese and sugar. Stir in chocolate chips. , Split cake into three horizontal layers. Place bottom layer on a serving plate; top with half of the cheese mixture. Repeat layers. Top with the remaining cake layer. Cover and refrigerate until serving.

ITALIAN TORTE

Steps:

• Bring a small saucepan of water to boil. Turn off heat. Place sun-dried tomatoes in the water and cover for 5 minutes. Drain and finely chop.
• In a medium bowl, mix cream cheese and garlic.
• Line a medium bowl or loaf pan with a large piece of dampened cheese cloth. Layer with 1/3 of the provolone cheese. Spread with 1/2 the pesto. Pour in 1/2 the cream cheese and garlic mixture. Layer with 1/2 the sun-dried tomatoes. Layer with 1/3 provolone, remaining pesto, remaining cream cheese and garlic mixture and remaining sun-dried tomatoes. Top with remaining provolone cheese.
• Pull cheese cloth around the layered mixture and gently press into a bowl to mold and remove excess oil. Chill in the refrigerator 3 to 4 hours. Remove cheese cloth and turn upside down onto a large dish to serve.

TORTA RUSTICA

Steps:

• Mix flour, cornmeal, and salt in a bowl. Cut in butter with pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Beat 2 eggs with 3 tablespoons cold water; stir into flour mixture until dough holds together. Add another tablespoon water if needed. Shape 2/3 of the dough into flattened round; repeat with remaining 1/3. Wrap. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes, or until firm enough to roll.
• In another bowl, combine ricotta cheese, crumbled feta, Parmesan cheese, 1 egg, parsley, basil, and oregano until well blended.
• Have an 8 or 9 inch springform pan ready. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the larger portion of dough into a 15 inch diameter circle. Carefully place in ungreased pan; press lightly against bottom and sides. Trim overhanging dough to 1 inch from pan rim.
• Scatter half of the mozzarella over the bottom of the crust. Next arrange half the ham slices in an even layer. Spread with ricotta cheese mixture, then sprinkle with spinach. Cover with the remaining ham slices. Press down gently to pack layers. Add red peppers in a single layer, and top with the remaining mozzarella. Press down again.
• Roll out remaining dough to 8 or 9 inch circle. Place over filling to cover. Moisten edges, and seal crusts together. Crimp or flute edges. Crust should not extend above pan rim. Beat remaining egg, and brush over the crust. Cut several small vents in top crust for steam to escape.
• Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 1 hour, or until crust is deep golden brown and pulls away from sides. Cool in pan on wire rack 45 minutes. Remove pan sides; cool completely. Cut into 12 wedges. Serve at room temperature.

ITALIAN BRUNCH TORTE - FROM TOH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350, prepare a 9" spring form pan, double wrapping with tinfoil.
• Unroll one tube of crescent rolls and separate into triangles, press into bottom of pan, sealing edges to make a crust, bake 10 to 15 minutes until set.
• Meanwhile in large pan over medium high heat add spinach and mushrooms, stirring until soft, then remove from pan, drain and pat dry.
• In large bowl whip 6 eggs, parmesan cheese, pepper and Italian seasoning.
• Layer crust with each of ham, salami, provolone cheese and sweet peppers and mushroom mixture.
• Pour half of egg mixture over top.
• Repeat layers and top with remaining egg mixture.
• On work table open remaining crescent rolls and seal edges, shape into top crust for tart and cover mixture.
• Whisk remaining egg and brush top.
• Bake uncovered for 1 hour - to - 1 1/4 hours or until temp reads 106°F Cover loosely with tinfoil if starts to over brown.
• Carefully loosen rim of pan with a knife and remove from pan. Let stand 20 minutes before serving.

ITALIAN TORTE

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the ricotta cheese and sugar; mix well. Stir in chocolate chips.
• Split cake in three horizontal layers. Place bottom layer on a serving plate; top with half of the cheese mixture. Repeat layers.
• Top with the remaining cake layer. Cover and refrigerate until serving.

ITALIAN TORTA SANDWICHES

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray or grease the bottom and sides of an 8- or 9-inch springform pan. Roll 2/3 of dough into a circle and press onto bottom and up sides of pan. (I can give you a great pie dough recipe if you like, or use a convenience package.)
• 2. Fill half the meat in the crust.
• 3. Then half of the cream cheese and pesto.
• 4. Then half of the olives and red peppers.
• 5. Finally, half the spinach and shredded cheese. Then repeat it all.
• 6. Roll out final 1/3 of dough into an 8-inch circle, and place atop fillings, pinching seams with bottom crust to seal. Make vent holes with a fork. t
• 7. Then brush with beaten egg.
• 8. Bake 50 minutes. Let rest 15 minutes, then remove from pan.
• 9. Slice into wedges. This is also great at room temperature or cold. What a different, delightful sandwich!

ITALIAN BRUNCH TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Place a greased 9-in. springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Securely wrap foil around pan. Unroll 1 tube of crescent dough and separate into triangles. Press onto bottom of prepared pan to form a crust, sealing seams well. Bake until set, 10-15 minutes., Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add spinach and mushrooms; cook and stir until mushrooms are tender. Drain on several layers of paper towels, blotting well. In a large bowl, whisk 6 eggs, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning and pepper., Layer crust with half of each of the following: ham, salami, provolone cheese, red peppers and spinach mixture. Pour half of the egg mixture over top. Repeat layers; top with remaining egg mixture., On a work surface, unroll and separate remaining crescent dough into triangles. Press together to form a circle and seal seams; place over filling. Whisk remaining egg; brush over dough., Bake, uncovered, until a thermometer reads 160°, 1 to 1-1/4 hours, covering loosely with foil if needed to prevent overbrowning. Carefully loosen sides from pan with a knife; remove rim from pan. Let stand 20 minutes.