Maggianos Little Italys Crepes Recipes

MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Make sauce:
• Heat oil in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté onion, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 6 minutes. Add garlic and sauté, stirring, until golden, about 1 minute. Add tomatoes with juice, water, sugar, and salt and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 30 minutes. Stir in basil and remove from heat.
• Make crêpes:
• Break up eggs with a wooden spoon in a medium bowl and stir in water until combined (don't beat). Sift in flour and salt, then stir batter until just combined. Force through a medium-mesh sieve into another bowl.
• Lightly brush an 8-inch nonstick skillet with melted butter and heat over moderate heat until hot. Ladle about 1/4 cup batter into skillet, tilting and rotating skillet to coat bottom, then pour excess batter back into bowl. (If batter sets before skillet is coated, reduce heat slightly for next crêpe.) Cook until underside is just set and lightly browned, about 30 seconds, then invert crêpe onto a clean kitchen towel to cool completely. Make at least 11 more crêpes in same manner, brushing skillet with butter as needed and stacking crêpes in 3 piles.
• Make filling and assemble manicotti:
• Stir together ricotta, eggs, Parmigiano-Reggiano, parsley, salt, and pepper.
• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 425°F.
• Cut mozzarella lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick sticks.
• Spread 2 cups sauce in larger baking dish and 1 cup in smaller one. Arrange 1 crêpe, browned side up, on a work surface, then spread about 1/4 cup filling in a line across center and top with a mozzarella strip. Fold in sides to enclose filling, leaving ends open, and transfer, seam side down, to either baking dish. Fill 11 more crêpes in same manner, arranging snugly in 1 layer in both dishes (8 in larger dish and 4 in smaller). Spread 1 cup sauce over manicotti in larger dish and 1/2 cup in smaller dish. Tightly cover dishes with foil and bake until sauce is bubbling and filling is hot, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve remaining sauce on the side.

MAGGIANO'S LITTLE ITALY HOUSE SALAD

Steps:

• In large, deep skillet, heat 1/2-inch corn oil. Add Prosciutto and cook until it turns dark brown and curls up on ends. Drain on paper towels. Cool and crumble into small bits.
• For dressing, in medium mixing bowl, combine mustard, sugar, water, garlic, vinegar and salt. Whisk until combined. Whisk in oil in thin stream. Add pepper and oregano; whisk to combine. Adjust seasoning to taste, adding more sugar or garlic if necessary.
• Place lettuce, onion, cheese and Prosciutto in large bowl; toss. Add enough dressing to lightly coat leaves; toss and serve immediately.
• Refrigerate extra dressing in airtight container for future use.

MAGGIANO'S LITTLE ITALY ITALIAN POT ROAST

Steps:

• Prepare herb marinade first; then prepare vegetables and keep warm.
• To prepare the herb marinade:Combine all ingredients in blender and briefly blend until smooth. This can be made in smaller batch, but it will be difficult to puree.
• Note: Leftover marinade can be used on steaks, fish and chicken. Brush on before grilling or saute meat in it.
• To prepare vegetables:Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• In very large oven-proof saute pan, heat oil over medium-high heat.
• Add vegetables and saute until browned, turning frequently.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer to preheated oven and cook uncovered 1 hour or until all vegetables are tender. Set aside and keep warm. Vegetables will have to be reheated briefly before they are served.
• To prepare roast:When ready to prepare meat, season roast with herb marinade, salt and pepper.
• Brown on all sides on olive oil in heavy, oven-safe braising pan.
• Remove meat from pan and set aside.
• To pan, add onion, carrots and celery and saute over medium-high flame until browned. Add tomato paste, mix well and cook 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add wine, bring to boil, then cook to reduce by half.
• Return meat to pan. Add chicken stock, herbs and bacon and return to boil.
• Transfer to 325-degree oven and cook, uncovered, until meat is tender, 3 to 31/2 hours.
• When meat is done, remove from oven and let rest at least 20 minutes.
• Remove meat from pan and set aside. Strain liquid into saucepan.
• Skim grease off top, removing as much fat as possible from braising liquid. Add veal stock.
• Bring to boil. Remove from heat and set aside.
• To serve:Place half the vegetables in center of serving plate as a base for the meat. Place sliced meat on top and garnish with remaining vegetables on and around beef. Top with sauce and beans if desired.

MAGGIANO'S LITTLE ITALY'S CREPES

Steps:

• The Maggiano's chefs note that the batter's resting time allows the bubbles to subside so the crepes will be less likely to tear during cooking. If batter thickens too much during resting, add water, a tablespoon at a time, to thin the batter so it pours evenly. In the jar of a blender, make batter by combining flour, milk, water, eggs and melted butter. Blend for 10 seconds. Refrigerate batter for 1 hour. When ready to make crepes, heat an 8-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Brush on just enough butter to lightly coat the bottom. When skillet is hot, pour in 2 tablespoons batter and swirl skillet quickly to evenly spread the batter. Cook crepe until first side is lightly browned, about 30 seconds, and then using a thin spatula, flip the crepe. Cook 10 seconds on second side and then remove crepe to a work surface and allow to cool. Continue until all batter has been used. Once crepes are cooled, they can be refrigerated and stored for up to 2 days. Bring to room temperature before using.