Dolce Italiano: Six Degrees of Separation and Chocolate Salami
This has been a lucky year full of wonderful surprises and accomplishments. I stepped out of my comfort zone to pursue my dream of working in food, turning my passion for Mediterranean cooking and leftovers into a job description I made up for myself:
Professional Foodie. I am still not exactly sure what path lies ahead of me, but I am sure I am at least going the right way as it seems I have been rewarded each step of the way. I have met so many lovely foodies online from all over the world and have gotten little signs everywhere confirming that I am on the right path. One of these signs is a great honor I have been given. I am so excited about it that I can hardly contain my enthusiasm. I have been asked to participate in a very special food blogging event.
Shelley from At Home in Rome lives in Rome (Obviously), which just so happens to be Roberto’s hometown. She also just so happens to know Gina DePalma, the pastry chef for
Mario Batali’s Babbo Restaurant in New York City.
Gina’s newest cookbook: Dolce Italiano: Desserts from the Babbo Kitchen has just come out and in order to commemorate this event, Shelley, along with a few of us fortunate food bloggers have had the honor to try two recipes from Gina’s new cookbook and blog about it. How fun is that?!
But that is not where the fun ends – oh no siree – you too can join in too. Go blog hopping with us and comment on each Dolce Italiano post on each of our blogs and you will be entered in a contest to win a Dolce Italiano cookbook signed by Gina herself (who is such a nice person to boot!).
Here is how you enter: Check out each of these blogs on the days mentioned (if you are just hearing about this contest for the first time, be sure that you go to visit all these blogs for their posts THIS week) and then comment on the post about Dolce Italiano. Do the same next week and you will have 10 chances to win that book! Here are the other great blogs and the days you need to visit them:
MONDAY: Sara – Ms. Adventures in Italy
TUESDAY: Ilva – Lucullian Delights
WEDNESDAY: Sognatrice – Bleeding Espresso
THURSDAY: Shelley – At Home in Rome
FRIDAY: Jenn – The Leftover Queen – RIGHT HERE!
Gina DePalma’s Dolce Italiano is a must have for foodies that love Italian food. Even for someone like me, who does not fancy herself a baker or pastry person, despite all the baking I have been doing through the Daring Bakers, I found the recipes to be well-explained, unique and wonderful – just full of the flavors of Italy. It is also a fun book to read! I can really relate to Gina’s intense passion for the food she makes and also her story as an Italian American deeply in touch with the foods of her roots. I am so excited to have this wonderful cookbook in my collection as I know I will be using it often!
So on to the great recipe!
One of my choices of recipe just had to be Salame di Cioccolato. This is a dessert that every child in Italy has had. It is like Nutella, ubiquitous when talking about the foods of Italy for kids. I first heard about Chocolate Salami from Roberto when I asked him what the first thing he remembers cooking was. This was it. Apparently there is (at least when he was a bambino) what he describes as a Disney/ Boy Scout guidebook for kids in Italy known as Manuale delle Giovani Marmotte (Jr. Woodchucks Guidebook) and a recipe for Chocolate Salami was in his version of the book. In his memory it was crushed up cookies and cocoa powder rolled up, chilled and then sliced. Well, as soon as I saw the upgraded, new and improved version in Gina’s new cookbook, I knew I had to make it for Roberto and bring him back to his childhood. So we spent the afternoon in the kitchen making this delicious concoction and having a wonderful time. In his opinion it is WAAAAY better than the one from Manuale delle Giovani Marmotte, shocking, isn’t it? 😉
Try a chocolate salami today!
Salame di Cioccolato (Chocolate Salami)
INGREDIENTS:
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate (I used Ghiradelli)
4 TBS unsalted butter, softened
2 TBS Dutch-processed cocoa powder (I used Hershey’s Special Dark)
¼ cup boiling water
¼ cup whole shelled unsalted pistachios ( I used salted as it was the only available)
½ cup whole hazelnuts, skinned or unskinned
½ cup sliced almonds, toasted and finely chopped
@ 2 ounces (3/4 cup) of plain cookies such as biscotti or butter cookies crushed into coarse chunks (Gina recommends using Stella D’Oro original cookies or anisette toasts – I went with the original)
4 large egg yolks
1 cup granulated sugar
1 TBS grappa or dark rum (I did not have either, so I subbed Godiva liquor)
freshly grated zest of 1 orange
Confectioner’s sugar for dusting
METHOD:
Melt the chocolate and butter together in a large bowl set over a pan of simmering water, whisking to combine them; set aside in a warm spot (I was making Lasagna this day, so I just set it on top of the stove).
In a small bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder and boiling water and set aside. Coarsely chop the pistachios and hazelnuts with a sharp knife and combine them with the chopped almonds and crumbled cookies in a medium bowl.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, use the paddle attachment on medium speed and beat the egg yolks and sugar together until pale yellow and thick (about 1 minute). Beat in the grappa and orange zest.
Whisk in the cocoa mixture into the melted chocolate and butter then add that mixture to the egg mixture and beat to combine.
Add the nut mixture and beat briefly to incorporate the ingredients. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill the mixture until it is firm enough to handle, about 1 hour.
Lightly dust your rolling surface with confectioner’s sugar. Using your hands roll the mixture into a plump log about 2 inches in diameter to resemble salami (we made two smaller salamis so we could eat one and then freeze the other for another occasion). Lightly dust the surface of the salami with more confectioners’ sugar . truly making it look like a real, cured salami. Wrap the salami in a sheet of parchment paper and twist the ends. Chill for 2 more hours.
To serve, cut thin slices, either straight or on the bias. I served mine with a pomegranate syrup drizzle. Wrap any leftovers in plastic wrap. The salami may be kept, wrapped and chilled, for up to three days.
Cathy - December 1, 2007 at 6:07 am
Chocolate Salami sounds delish
Easy to make and it looks very swish
The family will think I’m an amazing cook
Thanks to 5 bloggers road testing Gina de Palma’s amazing cookbook!
Trotter - December 1, 2007 at 7:10 am
I’m not going to enter the contest, otherwise my diet will definitely go burst… and fortunately chocolate is not my top choice; should it be coconut…
Have a great weekend!
Rachel - December 1, 2007 at 3:59 pm
I may have to try this. I can’t say it looks very appetizing (I see a sausage – good, but not dessert), but I like the ingredients!
Pasticcera - December 1, 2007 at 6:53 pm
What can one say after so many comments, other than with those ingredients, how can it be anything but fab.
Also, I love your photo with the crown. It’s great and just makes me smile.
Vicki - December 1, 2007 at 11:10 pm
This looks so good! I’m making a shopping list as soon as I hit submit.
Italian Woman - December 2, 2007 at 12:46 am
Jenn, I am so happy for you! Your photos are gorgeous and the chocolate salami is such a fun idea. I’m going to take it to my Mom’s house for Christmas. You cannot get more Italian.
Congrats.
sylvia - December 2, 2007 at 7:37 am
First of all congratulation on the blogggin event. I never try to make chocolate salami. But I ate and love, is time for me try your recipe.
Windy - December 2, 2007 at 11:24 am
Oh my goodness! It looks really amazing with rich chocolate… I think it would be good to have it over the Christmas period, esp. if one doesn’t like Christmas Pudding…
Linda - December 2, 2007 at 1:42 pm
sounds wonderful!! thanks for participating in this contest.
lieludalis - December 3, 2007 at 6:59 am
You had me at butter & chocolate.
I’m going to try this with Specoloos (a traditional spice cookie here in Brussels)!
Yea!
Rosa - December 3, 2007 at 9:31 am
A wonderful recipe! That rich chocolate salami looks ever so scrumptious!
Cheers,
Rosa
Suzana - December 3, 2007 at 11:10 am
Wonderful chocolate salami! My mum used to make chocolate salami with us when I was a kid – it was such a great time to do it by ourselves and then have a thick slice in the end! Such nice memories.
I might have to try the salami again. 🙂
miss eliza - December 3, 2007 at 11:36 am
the name sounds awful at first blush, but it looks fantastic!! yum!
The Leftover Queen - December 3, 2007 at 12:14 pm
Thank you everyone for all your comments on the Chocolate Salami and the Dolce Italiano Event! Two wonderful things! I am having such a great time reading all your comments about the name of this treat and am enjoying the fact that so many of you even have heard and once owned copies of Manuale delle Giovani Marmotte! I wish that I could comment individually, but I must get back to the kitchen at some point! Thanks everyone!
Akeminyx - December 3, 2007 at 1:29 pm
Great blog! Just looking at the photos makes me hungry.
Patti in Italy - December 3, 2007 at 4:22 pm
Interesting that I should happen upon your website as I sit here, just south of Rome, Italy, searching for food ideas for an ex-patriates Christmas party! I am here with my husband, on a university campus with mostly americans, and for those of us not returning to the U.S. for the holidays a party is in the works. I have just begun to scan your site and am very interested to surf the whole thing. For the moment though I wanted to thank you for the cioccolato-salami log recipe! Good luck with all your are doing-sounds like a ton of fun!!
Janet - December 3, 2007 at 6:58 pm
A strange name for a delectable dessert, so I had to read it to find out what was in it!
Maryann - December 3, 2007 at 7:32 pm
Yes, I know this treat. It’s wonderful 🙂
Cara - December 3, 2007 at 10:27 pm
I’ve neverheard of such a thing! It looks so rich and delicious though, perfect for a chocoholic like me 🙂
Francesca - December 4, 2007 at 2:54 am
My mother makes this salame al cioccolato since my childhoon. It is very simple and very good. Yours looks delicious! Do you want to partecipate at ‘Waiting for Christmas with FrancescaV’? All info in the post. Very nice your recipes and your pictures. Bye Francesca.
Pene - December 4, 2007 at 11:18 am
A very interesting creation with chocolate & lots of nuts. Tantalizing to look at!!
Kaykat - December 4, 2007 at 11:22 am
These look delightful! I love the idea of adding rum (or Godiva :)) to the chocolate. And all those nuts too! Yum!
Katie - December 4, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Kept for 3 days…. I don’t think so… It would never last that long.
What a fun event!
My Melange - December 4, 2007 at 8:17 pm
I must admit, chocolate salami did not sound very appetizing…but your pictures say something very different!!!
Diana - December 4, 2007 at 9:59 pm
excellent photo’s. if I’m not cooking or eating, I’m reading or watching it on TV. I love food. I would love to win Gina’s cookbook. Please enter me in your contest. thank you.
Figs Olives Wine - December 5, 2007 at 11:01 am
Just fabulous Jenn! I love chocolate salami too, and this sounds like a great book. Congrats on a fabulous year.
MEJ - December 5, 2007 at 11:20 am
I am jealous of people who have this cookbook already! Everything you have shown is wonderful AND Gina was on a Martha Stewart special airing on a local channel last night — and made yet ANOTHER fabulous dessert. What a talent. Thanks for introducing her so effectively and so generously!
Colleen - December 5, 2007 at 4:56 pm
YUM!!! I have always wanted to try this but never had the chance so now I am going to have to do it!! Sounds wonderful! Thanks 🙂
Toni - December 6, 2007 at 4:09 am
At first I thought you were kidding — but no! A child’s dream come true – chocolate salami! Also sounds like a dream come true for us grownup children!
Congratulations on being invited to such a great event!
Cindy - December 6, 2007 at 8:47 am
This recipe looks decadent! I skimmed through and had to go back to check the ingredients. Mouthwatering!
The Leftover Queen - December 6, 2007 at 10:11 am
Hi Everyone! Thanks again for all your lovely comments! I am really enjoying them. This cookbook is really fantastic and this event has really been a blast! Thanks to everyone for tuning in each day and checking out all the great recipes.
MyKitchenInHalfCups - December 6, 2007 at 10:30 am
I don’t see any leftovers here Jenn but if you say this recipe is better than the boy scout one, it must be pretty good. I do love Roberto’s story!
I’m getting the idea this is a book to have.
Lovely write up and great photos as always.
katy - December 6, 2007 at 10:52 pm
gorgeous! it looks absolutely delicious.
Karina - December 7, 2007 at 11:14 am
I’m here via Sognatrice. When I saw that your choice of recipe today was the “chocolate salami” I knew I had to come check it out. I’m Portuguese, and my mom makes this every Christmas, it’s one of my favorite desserts. Her’s is quite different from this recipe, but the gist of it is the same.
Maybe I’ll try this one this year and see what she thinks. Hmmm….