Stuffed Italian Antipasto Food

ANTIPASTO-STUFFED BAGUETTES

Steps:

• In a blender, combine olives, oil, lemon juice, garlic and herbs; cover and process until olives are chopped. Set aside 1/3 cup olive mixture (refrigerate remaining mixture for another use)., Cut the top third off each baguette; carefully hollow out bottoms, leaving a 1/4-in. shell (discard removed bread or save for another use). , Spread olive mixture in the bottom of each loaf. Sprinkle with feta cheese. Fold salami slices in half and place over cheese. Top with the spinach, red peppers and artichokes, pressing down as necessary. Replace bread tops. Wrap loaves tightly in foil. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight., Serve cold, or to serve warm, preheat oven 350°. Place foil-wrapped loaves on a baking sheet. Bake 20-25 minutes or until heated through. Cut into slices; secure with a toothpick.

STUFFED ITALIAN ANTIPASTO

Steps:

• Cut a 6 inch diameter hole in the top of the bread and reserve top. Remove all but a 3/4 inch shell of the inside of the bread (save inside of bread for another use, like feeding the ducks at the park!) Begin assembling the stuffed sandwhich: Divide the provalone cheese into thirds. Place one third along the bottom and sides of the inside of the bread. Next, place half of the salami, half of the hot cappicola, half of the proscuitto, and half of the sopressata. Top with half of the roasted peppers and half of the marinated artichoke. Top with another third of provalone cheese. Repeat layering with the rest of the meats in the same order and then the rest of the roasted peppers and artichokes. Finish up with the last of the provalone. Make the dressing: Mix the garlic, oregano, salt & pepper into the balsamic vinegar and slowly whisk in the extra virgin olive oil until the dressing emulsifies somewhat. Immediately pour dressing over the top of the sandwich and then tilt sandwich back and forth to allow dressing to cover the meats and settle around the inside of the bread. Place top of bread back on the sandwich, wrap the entire sandwich tightly in double thickness of aluminum foil and place in refrigerator overnight for the bread to soak up the dressing and for the flavors to develop. When ready to serve, slice like a pie into 8 slices.

ANTIPASTO ON A STICK

Steps:

• Thread each salami roll, mozzarella cheese, olive, tomato, artichoke heart, and basil roll onto each toothpick, respectively. Arrange toothpicks on a serving platter and drizzle olive oil over each.

CHOPPED ANTIPASTO STUFFED BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200°F.
• Crisp the bread in the low oven and cool. Split and hollow out the bread.
• Chop and add the meats, cutting them into bite-size pieces or strips and place in a large bowl. Dice or slice the cheeses and add to the meats. Finely chop the pickled vegetables and add to the bowl. Add the parsley, olives, celery, and lettuce to your antipasto salad and dress with the lemon juice, EVOO, and pepper.
• Fill the bottom of the bread with salad, mounding and packing it in there with a rubber spatula to help. Top with the basil leaves or spread the top with a layer of pesto, and set the top into place, pressing down on the stuffed bread. Cut a baguette into 4 pieces across, or cut a round loaf into 4 wedges. Wrap the ends of the sandwiches with wax paper or paper towels to control drips. How wide can you open your mouth?