Coffee Tomini with yoghurt sauce and golden apples

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Do you remember the book by my blogger friend Raffaella Fenoglio of the blog Tre civette sul comò entitled ’50 Shades of Coffee‘? Here is the second mouth-watering recipe: Coffee Tomini with yoghurt sauce and golden apples. And if you love coffee, try also Gnudi with coffee.

A chat with Raffaella

  1. Why a book about coffee?

Coffee is a cue that all three of us liked: myself, Silvia Casini and Francesco Pasqua. It is a universal element, with which music, literature and film are imbued. We added history, curiosities, caffeomancy, recipes, historical cafés, coffe painting, etiquette, star constellations, horoscopes, aphorisms… and many many experts and in the end we had collected so much material that we could have written an encyclopaedia! The difficult thing was to cut, trim, decide what was less interesting. The editor then worked on the infographics and the end result exceeded our expectations.

  1. Is there a recipe in the book that you are particularly fond of?

Let’s face it, the difficult part was the food & wine part: we didn’t want to lapse into banal recipes – you won’t find Tiramisù – and we imagined a complete menu based on the ‘wine from Arabia’. My favourite recipe, among the 50 suggestions, is Cheese with coffee fruit chutney.  We paired this recipe with a SAUVIGNON BLANC SESTO 21 from Casata Mergè. A wine from Latium, from 100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes, structured, suitable for accompanying special cheeses.

  1. In your latest publications, cooking is an integral part of other art forms such as poetry, literature and cinema. How did the idea for this approach come about and what else is boiling in the pot?

In 2020, together with Silvia Casini and Francesco Pasqua, we drew up some literary projects in which we could merge our skills – namely cinema, poetry, literature, music, food and wine. To our great joy, many of those projects, once they landed on the tables of publishers, were successful! So for the following two years you’re going to see some great things! Very interesting and eclectic volumes are coming out. Furthermore, the three of us, taken individually, are fiction writers and have one book each out.

  1. Our first meeting took place when your book Indice GliceAmico came out, a subject that is particularly dear to me because of the attention that diabetes requires of us, where did your interest in this subject come from?

Diabetes has touched my family. This stimulated me to focus on low glycaemic index recipes but until the cookbooks linked to my blog came out, I had no idea of how widespread diabetes was, especially among children.  I find your online cooking courses supported by a clinical nutritionist very interesting. This is the way to inform in the best way without frightening patients and their families.

Coffee Tomini with yoghurt sauce and golden apples

4.45g carbohydrates per 100g

Ingredients for 4 servings

  • 4 pieces of Tomino cheese of about 90g each
  • 200g apples
  • 125g plain fat-free Greek yoghurt
  • 1 cup of strong coffee
  • 30g ginger
  • 1 organic lemon, zest and juice

Preparation

  1. First put Tomini in a bowl to marinate with the cup of coffee and the peeled, sliced ginger. Let them rest for about an hour in the refrigerator.
  2. Peel the apple, cut it into segments and brown them in a little extra virgin olive oil in a non-stick pan until lightly browned on both sides.
  3. Remove the Tominos from the marinade, blot them with kitchen paper to remove excess coffee and cook them in a non-stick pan or on a grill.
  4. Prepare the yoghurt sauce by simply flavouring it with grated lemon zest and a few teaspoons of juice.
  5. Serve Tomini hot, accompanying them with the yoghurt sauce and a few apple slices.

tomini al caffè con salsa di yogur e mele dorate

Version with gluten of Coffee Tomini with yoghurt sauce and golden apples

The recipe contains only naturally gluten free ingredients, so no adaptation is necessary for its version with gluten.

 

 

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50 shades of coffee and the ricotta Gnudi recipe

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The new book by my blogger friend Raffaella Fenoglio of the blog Tre civette sul comò  entitled ’50 Shades of Coffee‘ has been published and I would share some of its mouth-watering recipes in the section of my blog dedicated to‘Friends’ recipes‘, so here is the first one: Coffee-flavoured ricotta Gnudi with Parmesan fondue

50 Shades of Coffee is a rich guide to this iconic beverage where you will find:

  • 50 curiosities
  • 50 ways to order it
  • 50 works that immortalised him
  • 50 aphorisms
  • 50 places to enjoy it (and how to say it in all the languages of the world)
  • 50 gastronomic-cultural itineraries that combine a recipe (not just sweet!) with a song, a film and a book
  • Infographics, interviews with experts, the reading of coffee grounds, etiquette for savouring coffee, the incredible range of aromas, the most suitable type for each zodiac sign, tell me how you drink it and I’ll tell you who you are: in short, a rich and entertaining dive into this chocolate-coloured world.

Copertina del libro 50 sfumature di caffè

Book cover 50 Shades of Coffee

A few words about Raffaella Fenoglio

With Raffaella I have shared many adventures over the years. Among the first experiences shared, there is certainly the splendid Contest dedicated to the Egyptian onion which I recounted on the pages of my blog during which I was a guest in the beautiful city of Sanremo, but there were many more occasion to meet in my virtual kitchen for cooking courses of which Raffaella herself wrote on her blog.

Besides being a blogger, Raffaella Fenoglio is the author of several books:

  • Abbasso l’indice glicemico 50+4 ricette per contenere l’IG mangiando bene
  • Indice GliceAmico
  • Gala Cox e i misteri del viaggio nel tempo
  • Storia degli strani animali della fattoria dei Monaci Templari e del coraggio della piccola Nicole (e di Claude)
  • Un tè con Mr Darcy
  • Christmas Love. Di biscotti, amore e fortuna

She collaborated on the culinary part of the novel Il gusto speziato dell’amore (The Spicy Taste of Love ) by Silvia Casini Fanucci, and on the L’Astro Narrante series by the same author

In 2021 the following books were published: Il taccuino delle parole perdute, La cucina incantata, ricette tratte dalle anime di Hayao Miiyazaki and 50 sfumature di caffè, segreti, curiosità e ricette sulla bevanda più amata al mondo. Co-authors Casini and Pasqua. 

She is also the creator and coauthor of Upside Down Magazine- Film, Book & Food Love. and with a group of friends in 2007, she founded P.E.N.E.L.O.P.E. odv, an active association for gender equality.

At this point, I think you will be excited to try the recipe I have chosen for you, which is associated with one of my favourite films, Pulp Fiction! Naturally, I have adapted Raffealla’s recipe to the needs of diabetes and celiac disease.

Coffee-flavoured Ricotta Gnudi with Parmesan fondue

11.53g carbohydrates per 100g

 

Ingredients for Gnudi

  • 350g buffalo’s or cow’s milk Ricotta cheese
  • 80g Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, grated
  • 80g potato starch*
  • 30g brown rice flour* to flour the Gnudi
  • 15g coffee powder
  • 3 egg whites
  • salt and pepper

Ingredients for the Parmesan fondue

  • 250g heavy cream
  • 120g Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, grated
  • pepper

**Ingredients specific for celiacs

*Ingredients whose labels must read “gluten-free” (or, in Italy, present on  Prontuario AIC)

Preparation

  1. In a bowl, mix Ricotta with Parmesan, coffee, potato starch, egg whites, salt and pepper. Place the mixture in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes.
  2. Form balls with 30-40g of the mixture and roll them in rice flour.
  3. For the fondue, place the cream in a small saucepan, bring it to the boil, then remove it from the heat and add the grated Parmesan cheese, stirring well so that it mixes well. Season with pepper and place a few spoonfuls on the plates where you serve the Gnudi.
  4. Put a pot of water on the stove, bring it to the boil, salt it and throw the Gnudi, cooking them for about 2 minutes or until they rise to the surface. Drain them with a slotted spoon and arrange them directly on plates, then top them with more Parmesan fondue.

gnudi di ricotta al caffè

Version of gluten of Coffee-flavoured ricotta Gnudi with Parmesan fondue

Prepare Gnudi with 100g wheat flour instead of potato starch and use wheat flour instead of rice flour to flour them.

 

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Papaya sauce with vegetables

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For the ‘friends’ recipes‘ section, I am sharing with you a tasty recipe that Cecilia sent us: Papaya sauce with vegetables. It is a great idea to accompany tortillas, but also to top crackers and bread. In short, a perfect hunger-breaker or a tasty aperitif to propose to friends.

And don’t be misled by the fact that the main ingredient is a fruit: the sauce is savoury and perfect for stimulating your appetite! This sauce is also great to be served with cheese and, why not, with my beloved Pinzimonio.

If you wish to stay in this area of the world, try my Vegetarian Chili.

Papaya sauce with vegetables

8.97g carbohydrates per 100g

Ingredients

  • 550g papaya
  • 200g tomatoes
  • 15g spring onion
  • 3 tbsp fresh lime juice
  • 2g fresh cilantro
  • 1 teaspoon jalapeño chilli
  • salt

Preparation

  1. Peel the papaya, remove the seeds and blend it. Remove the seeds from the tomatoes and chop the pulp finely. Also finely chop the spring onion, cilantro and seeded chilli.

salsa-di-papaya-alle-verdure-blog-uno-chef-per-gaia

  1. Mix all ingredients together, add lime juice, adjust salt and serve the sauce to accompany tortillas or crackers.

Version with gluten of Papaya sauce with vegetables

The recipe contains only naturally gluten-free ingredients, so no adaptation is necessary for its version with gluten.

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Spicy recipes: let’s cook Falafel

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For “Friends’ recipes” today we share an idea that Aura sent us: the recipe of Falafel.

The think that struck me in this recipe is that chickpeas are not cooked, but soaked in water for a long time to make the dried chickpeas soft enough to be blended to a creamy texture: this is something very different from the use we make of chickpeas in Italy.

This is an extremely tasty North African and Middle Eastern dish consisting of spiced and fried pulse balls. An appetising main course, also perfect for children and those who choose a vegan diet. To stay in the same geographical area, try an enchanting rosewater dessert: Mahalabiya.

Let’s see how to prepare them!

Falafel

20.78g carbohydrates per 100g

Ingredients

  • 150g dried chickpeas
  • 50g onions
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • 2g parsley
  • 2g cilantro
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • ½ tsp bicarbonate
  • ½ tsp sesame seeds
  • 1/3 tsp pepper
  • salt to taste, oil for frying

Preparation

  1. Soak the chickpeas for 24 hours, then dry them well on a tea towel.
  2. Blend in a processor until the mixture is not completely creamy, but remains somewhat grainy. Add finely chopped garlic, onion and parsley to the mixture, then add pepper, salt, cilantro, cumin and bicarbonate of soda and mix well (in case the ingredients remain too divided, blend again). Finally, add the sesame seeds.
  3. Using two soup spoons, form small elongated patties and fry them in hot oil. We made them round to speed up the process. Be careful not to overcook the patties, they must be thrown little by little into the boiling oil because the presence of bicarbonate in the mixture will make it fizz, so it is difficult to see when the patties are ready.
  4. Once golden brown on both sides, drain them and let them dry on kitchen paper.

Falafel

Version with gluten of Falafel

The recipe is naturally gluten-free, so no adaptation is needed.

 

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Original main courses: Ricotta and speck patties

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For our ‘friends ‘ recipes‘ section, we have prepared the recipe suggested by Emanuela, an original main course with a full, enveloping flavour: Ricotta and speck patties.

It is a preparation that can suit the palates of young and old alike, as it combines the pleasure of delicate yet mouth-watering flavours with the enjoyment of fun and quick patties.

Here is how to prepare them.

Ricotta and Speck patties

9.33g carbohydrates per 100g

Ingredients

  • 250g ricotta cheese
  • 40g bacon*
  • 40g breadcrumbs**
  • 30g Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, grated
  • 20g extra virgin olive oil
  • parsley, salt and pepper

**Ingredients specific for celiacs

*Ingredients whose labels must read “gluten-free” (or, in Italy, present on  Prontuario AIC)

Preparation

  1. Chop the parsley, put it in a bowl and add the ricotta and chopped speck. Mix everything together, add the Parmesan cheese and 15g of breadcrumbs. Finally, season with salt.
  2. When the dough is ready, form small balls, dip them lightly in oil and then in breadcrumbs. Then place them on a baking tin covered with parchment paper and bake at 180°C in grill mode for 15 minutes.

Polpette_ricotta_e_speck_uno_chef_per_gaia

  1. Once cooked, they can be presented on skewers and served on a layer of mixed greens.

Version with gluten of Ricotta and Speck patties

Replace gluten free breadcrumbs with standard breadcrumbs.

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Sweet breakfast: Rice and buckwheat biscuits

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For the ‘friends‘ recipes‘ section, today we offer you the recipe that Simonetta recommended: Rice and buckwheat biscuits prepared with naturally gluten-free flours.

Breakfast is essential for the energy boost we need to get through the day and is also the time when we can indulge in the sweet moment with less fear of not being able to deal with the carbohydrate load. Furthermore, homemade gluten-free biscuits are certainly an extra guarantee of the quality of the food we consume. Also try my Lavender biscuits to enrich your breakfast.

We really liked them…we couldn’t stop eating them.

Rice and buckwheat biscuits

69.46g carbohydrates per 100g

Ingredients

  • 250g wholemeal rice flour*
  • 250g buckwheat flour* (or 200g buckwheat flour* plus 50g cocoa* or Venere rice flour*)
  • 200g brown sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 100g butter
  • 8g baking powder
  • ginger, cinnamon and jam to taste

*Ingredients whose labels must read “gluten-free” (or, in Italy, present on  Prontuario AIC)

Preparation

  1. Wait until the butter is soft and mix it with sugar, eggs one at a time, flour and baking powder. Mix everything together to a firm, smooth ball.
  2. Divide the dough into 3 parts; leave one part plain to form the biscuits that will be filled with jam; add ginger to the second part and cinnamon to the third part.
  3. Then roll out the doughs with the help of a rolling pin and cut the biscuits to the desired shapes. Put them on a baking tin lined with parchment paper and bake at 180°C for about 15 minutes.

Biscotti_al_riso_e_saraceno_senza_glutine

  1. Finally, choose the shape you want to give the biscuits with jam, fill them and join them two by two.

Biscotti_gluten_Free

Version with gluten of Rice and buckwheat biscuits

The recipe contains only naturally gluten-free ingredients, so no adaptation is necessary for its version with gluten.

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