Recipe: Saltimbocca alla Romana

"In addition to great contests..., CiaoDC.com always keeps me up to date on what's happening!" -- Matthew Ludlum, Winner of December Family Holiday Giveaway, signed copy of cookbook 'Lidia Cooking From the Heart of Italy' by celebrity chef Lidia Bastianich.

Serving Italian for your holiday gathering? One bite of Chef Carmine's Saltimbocca alla Romana recipe below and guests will be saying, "buonissimo!"

Saltimbocca alla Romana by Chef Carmine Marzano

Serves 4

8 thin veal cutlets (About 1 pound)

8 thin slices Italian prosciutto ham (Parma)

8 fully-grown sage leaves

3 to 4 Tbsp. butter

1/2 cup dry white wine

Salt and freshly ground pepper

Preparation:

Carefully flatten the slices of meat with the smooth side of a meat mallet. Place 1 leaf of sage on each veal cutlet and spear the leaf onto the slice of meat with a wooden toothpick . Melt 2 tbsp. of butter in a large frying pan. Add cutlets and pan-fry 2 to 3 minutes on each side.

Lightly season the meat with salt and pepper, remove the cutlets from the pan, keep warm. Dilute the pan juices with 1/2 cup of white wine and bring to rapid boil. With a heat resistant whisk, dissolve 1 to 2 Tbsp. of butter into the sauce. Season with salt and pepper, return the cutlets to the pan, and heat them up quickly. Serve on preheated platter and drizzle with the pan juices. Pair with a dry white wine.

Catering by Carmine: Interested in having Chef Carmine host your holiday gathering or at-home cooking class? Contact ciaodc@gmail.com for more information.

Buon Appetito e Mangia!

Silver Treasure Italian Embassy Exhibition

Discover historic Italian silverware during the exhibition of Silver Treasure now at the Italian Embassy from Dec. 8 - January 7, 2010. Exhibit hours Mon. - Fri., 10:00 a.m. - 12:00; 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Italian Embassy, 3000 Whitehaven Street, Washington, DC 20008. Organized by the Italian Cultural Institute.

Winner of CiaoDC.com Family Holiday Gift Pack

Thank you to all of the participants of CiaoDC.'s December Giveaway. Your referred family members will now be receiving ciaodc.com news just in time for the holidays. Only two winners could be chosen this time -- but please stay tuned to enter to win for next month's giveaway!

Congratulations to Cyndi Zeiman and Matthew Ludlum of Alexandria, VA. They are the lucky winners of CiaoDC.com's Family Holiday Giveaway! Cyndi is the winner of Gift #1: Private Cooking Demonstration by Chef Carmine. Matthew is the lucky winner of Gift #2: Signed copy of celebrity Chef Lidia Bastianich's latest cookbook, Lidia Cooks from the Heart of Italy. Grazie e Congratulazioni!


Read exclusive interview with ciaodc.com and celebrity chef, Lidia Matticchio Bastianich about family, food and the heart of Italy.

Enjoy a special holiday recipe from Lidia's cookbook, Chocolate Bread Parfait. Recipe here.



CiaoDC.com Holiday Blog is being crafted daily to inform subscribers of holiday happenings, Italian traditions, recipes, New Year's Eve events and more! Check in each day for all things Italian holiday.

*Winner will be selected and posted on blog December 10, 2009. Chef demonstration to include preparation only. Food or beverage not included. Demo to be provided at a mutual agreed upon date and time of winner and donor.

Winner of Ciao Italia Five-Ingredient Favorites Cook Book

Congratulations to Dr. Richard Bucciarelli. He is the winner of the latest cookbook, by TV Host/Chef/Author Mary Ann Esposito, Ciao Italia Five-Ingredient Favorites. Buon Appetito Dr. B! Thank you to all of ciaodc.com subscriber participants of this months giveaway...stay tuned for next months contest.

Interview with Mary Ann Esposito & Book Giveaway!

Exclusive Interview with Chef/Author and TV Host of PBS' Ciao Italia, Mary Ann Esposito.

CDC: What is the concept of your latest cookbook, Ciao Italia Five-Ingredient Favorites?

MAE:Less is more; all recipes from antipasto to dessert use only 5 ingredients excluding salt and pepper.

CDC: Where did you find inspiration for this book concept? Is there a specific audience you had in mind?

MAE:Italian food has always been about the integrity of the ingredients and simple preparation. This was my inspiration. I created the recipes based on easy and economical availability and for the times we find ourselves in.

CDC: Is there a favorite Autumn recipe that you recommend for this book?

MAE:Lentil, ditalini and sausage soup.

CDC: When can our ciaodc.com subscribers see you in the Washington, D.C. metro area?

MAE: Closest I will get is IKEA in College Park on November 5 for a cooking presentation and book promotion.

CDC: What is growing in the Ciao Italia garden this season?

MAE: The Ciao Italia garden is full of Italian varieties from San Marzano tomatoes, to eggplant, Romanesco zucchini, Neapolitan basil, hot and sweet peppers, Sun Gold tomatoes, Swiss chard, arugula, pole beans, escarole and radicchio. There are many recipes from the new book that use these fresh ingredients such as my Sicilian specialty, Peperonata (mixed sweet pepper casserole.)

CDC: When can ciaodc.com subscribers see you on our local WETA? Can we also view your cooking segments online?

MAE: Ciao Italia airs every night at 8:30 p.m. on WETA Create. Can't get enough of Mary Ann? Visit www.ciaoitalia.com and become a standard or premium member. It only costs $5.99 per month to watch unlimited videos of Mary Ann making recipes whenever you want!

CDC: Are you planning a special cooking tour in Italy this year?

MAE: Tuscany in September 2010. Visit www.ciaoitalia.com travel section for more information.

CDC: We are thrilled to plan a special event with you, Mary Ann, for our ciaodc.com subscribers. What would you like to say to our subscribers today?

MAE: I look forward to creating a special event for ciaodc.com subscribers in the near future. When I visit the Washington, D.C. metro area, I use ciaodc.com as my guide to the Italian community...food, people, culture. Buon Appetito Washington, D.C.!
CDC: Thank you for bringing Italy to the D.C. metro area everyday via WETA Create and for offering a signed book of Ciao Italia Five-Ingredient Favorites to one lucky ciaodc.com subscriber. Enter to win at ciaodc@gmail.com. One lucky winner will be chosen on November 9 and announced on the ciaodc.com blog.

Winner of DC's Ticket to Italy!

Thank you to all that participated in CiaoDC.com's Italian Heritage Month Giveaway. We appreciate your enthusiasm, referrals and loyal subscription to ciaodc.com. Each month, CiaoDC.com will be giving away a piece of Italy here in Washington, D.C. So stay tuned and keep participating. We are thrilled to announce this month's winner of DC's Ticket to Italy to Carolina Valencia of Washington, D.C. Her prize includes two tickets to see Antonello Venditti tonight; two tickets to the National Italian American Foundation Gala; and four pints of G.S. Gelato! Special thanks to our promotional partners G.S. Gelato and NIAF. "I always click on CiaoDC.com for things Italian in Washington, D.C." -- Carolina Valencia.

Celebrate Italy in the Western Caribbean

Celebrate all things Italian aboard the MSC Poesia. Opera singing, tarantella dancing, pizza making, chef demonstrations, and more. Booking now for April 2010. For more information, contact Stefania Impeduglia at Best Cruises International Travel at BCRUISEINET@aol.com.