Carmela Soprano's Quail Sinatra-Style

Our local grocery's staff is beginning to look forward to my Soprano-inspired visits.

I'm becoming good for a laugh.

This week was no exception.

Artie Bucco is a bit more chatty than Carmela is.

It's just as well he never got into 'The Business'.

Loose lips sink ships is still a good motto.

And no one wants to sleep with the fishes.

Anway, Artie has a chapter about his training and his own creations.

In Mia Cucina, he explained how he got his inspirations.

Sophia Loren.

Marriage Italian-Style.

Okay...  Sophia inspired a lot of things.

Quail Sinatra-Style was inspired by Frank Sinatra singing Luck be a Lady.

Go figure.

Artie's secret ingredient is sun-dried tomatoes.

Tomato paste can do in a pinch.

Back to my local butcher...

My request for quail cracked him up.

He directed me to the cornish hens.

Okay...  a small bird is a small bird.

He also explained the Italian-style fennel pork sausage is mild, not hot.

He doesn't totally want to lose me as a customer.

Oh, and I left the wing tips and legs as is.

                         

                        Quail Sinatra-Style

Preheat oven to 375º

Rinse and pat dry 

8 fresh or thawed quail

Tuck the wing tips under the backs

Remove the sausage meat from

8 ounces Italian-style fennel pork sausages

2 Tablespoons very finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes

Stuff the meat mixture into the quail.

Tie the legs together.

Put the quail in a flameproof covered casserole that is large enough 

to hold the quail in a single layer.

Add

1 Cup dry white wine

1 Tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary

1 garlic clove, minced

salt and pepper

Cover and bake 1 hour.

Uncover and bake 40 minutes, basting 3 times, until the meat is browned.

Transfer the quail to a serving platter.

Cover and keep warm.

Place the casserole over a medium flame.

Simmer, stirring, until the liquid is reduced to a glaze.

Spoon the sauce over the quail.

Sprinkle over the quail

Chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Serve immediately.

Would I make Quail Sinatra-Style again?

Sure, using cornish hens.

Maybe I'll even try the stuffing with a roasting chicken.

If Artie can experiment, so can I.

One recipe down.  Ninety-five more to go.  

Dump Cake

When you're right, you're right.

Where's a quick dessert to go with the Seven Layer Dinner?

Here's a quickie.

And it bakes at the same temperature as the Dinner.

Perfect.

No, Ma didn't make it.

She drew the line at cake mixes.

If you don't have such scruples, this is a handy recipe to have.

                        Dump Cake

Preheat oven to 350º

Grease a 9 x 13 inch pan

Melt

1/2 Cup margarine or butter

Dump in and spread evenly

1 large can crushed pineapple DON'T DRAIN

Over this spread evenly

1 can cherry pie filling

Dump in and spread evenly

1 package yellow cake mix

Sprinkle over top of cake mix

1 Cup chopped pecans

Drizzle melted margarine or butter over all.

Bake 55 minutes.

Anna Sultana's Seven Layer Dinner

Lately stores have been having 'case lot' sales.

And 'buy one, get one free' sales.

Gotta love those sales!!

Okay... now to cook that stuff.

Especially before the veggies turn into compost.

But who wants to slave in the kitchen now that Spring is finally here?

Winters in Manitoba are long enough.

And the yard is calling.

I mean, the garden isn't going to plant itself.

Ma didn't just learn how to make Rouladen when we lived in College Point.

There was a popular casserole recipe floating around in the 50s.

You probably remember it.

If you don't - or aren't sure of the order - here it is.

Life's too short to stay in the kitchen.

                        Seven Layer Dinner

Cook and drain

1 1/2 pounds ground beef

Mix together

1 can tomato soup

1 can water

Preheat oven to 350º

Grease a casserole dish

In the prepared casserole dish place in the following order

3 potatoes, thinly sliced

1 onion, thinly sliced

3 carrots, peeled and sliced

1/4 Cup uncooked rice

1 Cup peas

the cooked ground beef

the tomato soup / water mixture

Cover and bake 1 1/2 hours.

Uncover and bake another 1/2 hour.