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Need Some Barbecue Ideas for Your Next Outdoor Party?

Posted on July 19, 2009

Don’t you just love summertime? The part I look forward to the most is getting together with close friends or family and having a good ol’ summer barbecue. If you’re like me, you may sometimes find yourself running out of barbecue ideas or you may just get bored with the same old grilled chicken and steak recipes. Here are some fabulous barbecue ideas in which you may not bee all too familiar, however, I guarantee satisfaction and your mouth to begin watering! If you know how to barbecue at all - even just a little bit - you can pull these summer barbecue recipes together for your next backyard party.

To have a delicious and unique burger, try an Italian style prosciutto burger. If you or your friends and family like tender, rich flavor, then Italian traditional proscuitto is the perfect choice. Just simply mix diced prosciutto in with the beef. I suggest using one package of Volpini Diced Prosciutto for each pound of ground beef. It really is simple to do and adds greatly to your usual run-of-the-mill hamburger. You can make it even more tasty by putting a tomato on top of it, mozzarella, and basil leaves. These burgers make an effortless and crowd-pleasing addition to a camping barbecue as well. Your camping buddies will be pleasantly surprised when you cook up this treat instead of the usual grilled hot dog.

While your guests await the main course, delight them with Italian appetizers hot off the grill. A great option for you is proscuitto-wrapped shrimp skewers. These delicious skewers are easy to make, and the sweet and salty flavor is simply the best compliment to a summer meal. If you purchase extra large or jumbo uncooked shrimp for this recipe, it will work perfectly. Rinse, peel and devein the shrimp. Then, skewer the shrimp once along its length to make wrapping easier and to prevent the shrimp from curling as it cooks. Next, season the shrimp by squeezing lemon juice over them and sprinkle with lemon zest. Wrap a thinly sliced piece of Volpi prosciutto around each shrimp. If you’d like, place a basil leaf on the shrimp before wrapping with prosciutto. Take olive oil and brush over the prosciutto-wrapped shrimp. Also, you can add a slice of lemon or two to the skewer. Put prociutto-style shrimp on the grill.Cook approximately three to four minutes or at least until shrimp are pink. Serve immediately and savor the look on your guests’ faces as they enjoy their first bites.

With these wonderfully delicious and simple barbecue ideas, you can look forward to planning your next backyard party or camping barbecue. You can spend less time preparing the food and more time socializing with friends, while still serving a meal that will have everyone raving. Happy grilling!

Tagged as: barbecue ideas, camping barbecue, how to barbecue, Italian appetizers, italian meat, italian meats, Italian traditional, volpi foods No Comments

That’s Amore! Italian Appetizers Make Easy and Delicious Bridal Shower Food

Posted on June 19, 2009

Bridal showers should be stress-free and enjoyable for the bride, but that doesn't mean that her hostesses can't have a good time too. It is possible to plan an elegant and elaborate bridal shower where the hostess can enjoy herself too.

One way to do this is to simplify the bridal shower food. Rather than serving one full meal, why not offer guests a variety of Italian appetizers? They offer guests a variation of food options, and they are easy to eat since they don't require sitting at a table with a fork and knife. Paired with an assortment of wines and arranged on nice serving dishes, these Italian appetizers can make a stylish and tasty statement.

An appetizer, or antipasto, that's always a winner is bruschetta. Thanks to Volpi Foods, the oldest and most prestigious authentic Italian meat manufacturer in America, making bruschetta is easier - and tastier - than ever. Volpi produces Italian traditional rotola, which is thinly sliced prosciutto hand-rolled in whole milk mozzarella. Volpi's Basil Rotola, which has fresh basil leaves rolled in the layers of mozzarella and prosciutto, is the key to a crowd-pleasing bruschetta recipe.

Pre-heat your broiler on a low temperature. Take one loaf of French bread, and cut vertical slices about one half inch thick. Put the bread slices on a cookie sheet, then place in the broiler to lightly toast. Once the bread is toasted to a light golden brown, take them out of the oven and spread a thin layer of basil pesto on top of each slice. Cut one package of Volpi Basil Rotola into thin slices, and place one slice onto each piece of bread. If you prefer the cheese to be slightly melted, layer the pesto and rotola slices onto the bread slices before you toast them.

Volpi Rotola gives the Italian traditional bruschetta recipe a modern twist, saving time in the kitchen and making an impressive addition to any party menu. The combination of mozzarella, prosciutto and the basil, garlic and pine nuts in the pesto creates a flavor that will transport you to Tuscany with the first bite. Suggested beverage pairings include dry sparkling wine or Pinot Grigio wine.

Volpi Rotola can be an Italian appetizer in itself with variations such as Sun Dried Tomato, Hot Capocolla and Hot Salami. Simply arrange the slices with olives and crackers for a delicious antipasto platter.

You don't need to be a chef to prepare gourmet bridal shower food, and you certainly don't need to hire an expensive caterer. Delight your guests – and the bride – with Italian appetizers that are easy to make and impressive to serve.

Tagged as: bridal shower food, bruschetta recipe, Italian appetizers, italian meat, Italian traditional No Comments