Italian Wine Dinner Help

[reneeinnorthwes]

My husband and I just joined a group that starts this Friday. We will meet monthly to taste a variety of wine and have dinner. The idea is to have a sit down dinner and everyone brings a dish that goes with the theme. This month (the first meeting) is Italian. I must bring an Italian wine and an Italian dish. This should be easy... except the meeting is Friday night and I don't have any ideas!

There is literally half and hour between when I get home and the event starts. It is at another persons house... so it is actually less than 30 minutes since I need time to get there.

I'm hoping to make a dish that impresses but it has to be a make ahead dish. I don't want to do pork or beef because some in the group don't eat it.
Does anyone have a t&t Italian dish they love that can be made ahead? It would be great if it is something that tastes better after sitting because I need to make it Thursday night.

It can be any course - because the first session we did not assign courses just to see how it turns out.

I appreciate any tips you can provide.

Thanks in advance,
Renee

[marshcl]

1) Bruschetta.
2) Stuffed shells.

If you do bruschetta, buy bread, cut up the tomatoes, onions, garlic, etc the night before and let them sit in the fridge. Add basil at home then assemble and bake when you get where you're going.

The stuffed shells would be great after sitting.

I can track down specific recipes for either of these if you need them...

Cat.

[reneeinnorthwes]

Cat,

Thanks for the ideas. I love bruschetta. Would you cook the shells in advance and then just reheat? Do you think they would become too dry?

Thanks,
Renee

[veschke]

Wow, that sounds like fun, but kinda stressful! How about a soup? Or maybe marinated mushrooms or other veggies?

[KimE]

Are they assigning what kind of dish to bring...salad? entree? appet?
If not I would do a antipasta platter, cheese, vegies, olives...
Or the stuffed shells are always great and better the 2nd day
Or maybe a nice gellato (sp?) for dessert

For wine, I would bring a nice red wine "blend". Quite a few of their best wines are blends and that way you are pretty much guaranteed that it would go with anything.

Let us know on what you decided and how it went. My DH & I are thinking about doing the same thing with some friends. :D
Kim

[Laurielee]

how about this, I have not made it but it looks yummy and easy and make ahead and pop it in the oven when you get to the dinner and you could serve with Pinot Grigio, a white wine found everywhere

Laurie


Cheesy Polenta Casserole with Roasted Bell Pepper Sauce

2 cups tomato-and-basil pasta sauce (such as Muir Glen)
1/4 cup chopped pitted kalamata olives
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 (7-ounce) bottle roasted red bell peppers, drained and sliced
Cooking spray
1 (16-ounce) tube of polenta, cut into 12 slices
3/4 cup (3 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons grated fresh Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350°.
Combine first 5 ingredients in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, and cook 10 minutes, stirring sauce occasionally. Spread 1/2 cup sauce in bottom of a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Arrange the polenta slices over the sauce, and spread remaining sauce over polenta. Sprinkle with cheeses. Bake casserole at 350° for 20 minutes or until bubbly.

Yield: 4 servings

[Terri_A]

A Capri Salad is always welcomed and pretty easy....sliced roma tomoatoes, sliced fresh mozzerella, fresh basil and vinagrette...You could do it all ahead and just dress it when you arrive.

[marshcl]

Here's how I would make stuffed shells.

- cook shells and let cool
- put ricotta cheese and spinach and some parmesan, spices, salt, etc in food processor and mix
- cover with marinara sauce and sprinkle with some cheese
- bake for a while but don't get the cheese to brown

cool.
then heat up when you get where you're going... they sound like they're more work than they really are.

Cathryn

[marshcl]

how about this, I have not made it but it looks yummy and easy and make ahead and pop it in the oven when you get to the dinner and you could serve with Pinot Grigio, a white wine found everywhere

Laurie


Cheesy Polenta Casserole with Roasted Bell Pepper Sauce
Yield: 4 servings

This sounds delightful. I'll have to try this.

Another 'fancy' but easy appetizer is to put little slices of polenta on a baking tray and cover with various cheese, roasted eggplant, roasted zucchini, etc. Then top with a variety of sauces like pesto, blended up red peppers... It looks fantastic and is quite easy. Sprinkle with cheese and bake.

[heavy hedonist]

Here's how I would make stuffed shells.

- cook shells and let cool
- put ricotta cheese and spinach and some parmesan, spices, salt, etc in food processor and mix
- cover with marinara sauce and sprinkle with some cheese
- bake for a while but don't get the cheese to brown

cool.
then heat up when you get where you're going... they sound like they're more work than they really are.

Cathryn i think this is a great plan, except for the baking part. if you're bringing a main dish, I think you have the right to ask the hostess to have the oven preheated when you get there, and it really shouldn't take more than 30 minutes to bake if it's spent a half hour or thereabouts in transit, right? Plus someone is bound to have brought appetizers, and that gives the shells time to heat.
I love a Sangiovese with red sauce pasta dishes.

[Goin' Coastal]

If you like a white wine a pinot grigio is good. I recently had one with the brand name of "kris". It is made in Italy and I thought it was excellent. If you have World Market/Cost Plus in your area it was in their ad last week as the wine of the week (month?). I paid $11.99 a bottle.

[marshcl]

i think this is a great plan, except for the baking part. if you're bringing a main dish, I think you have the right to ask the hostess to have the oven preheated when you get there, and it really shouldn't take more than 30 minutes to bake if it's spent a half hour or thereabouts in transit, right?

I completely agree... Good thinking. Cost Plus is great for wine. They normally also are good at recommending things... I hardly ever pay more than $10 a bottle and I'm always happy with what I get there.

[reneeinnorthwes]

Thanks so much for all the suggestions. In the end I made an antipasto and it seemed to be a hit. I'm really looking forward to trying the cheesy Polenta dish though.

Renee