Italian Cheeses
Things to Do
 
Here is a checklist of things to do and things to buy to prepare our Italian Cheeses menu.

Italian_cheeses_things_full_table

Our Italian Cheese family meal engages the whole family in meal-related activities that are enjoyable and relaxing.   This is a great opportunity to involve them in mealtime preparation.   

Here is a checklist of things to do and buy in order to plan this family event:

Table decorations
• Purchase (or choose from your wrapping paper supplies), brightly colored tissue paper for centerpiece flowers

• Florist wire and tape

• Colorful small objects, like marbles and bracelets, to place in glass jars on the table for guessing the number

• Roll of  wide, white drawing paper for tablecloth
• Construction paper

• Color paper

• Crayons

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barilla Italian Pasta

Shop for groceries (may be done in advance or same day):

Produce
4 whole leeks
4 ripe tomatoes
1 bunch Italian parsley
1 bunch curly parsley
1 bunch fresh basil
12 whole walnuts
1 clove garlic
1 fresh pear
2 lemons


Meat
1 pound Italian sausage


Dairy
1 wedge Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
1 wedge (8 ounces) Pecorino Sardo cheese
1 pieces (8 ounces) Fontina cheese
1 pound mozzarella cheese, sliced
1 container heavy cream
1 stick unsalted butter


Grocery
1 bottle extra virgin olive oil
1 bottle Erica honey or regular bee honey
1 jar apricot jam or preservers
1 package polenta
white pepper
anchovies
1 bottle lemon-lime soda or ginger ale
1 jar maraschino cherries

Bakery
1 loaf white sandwich bread
1 loaf French bread
1 package Ladyfinger cookies


Possible Pantry/ Fridge Items on hand
flour
milk
butter
7 eggs
regular salt
sea salt
black peppercorns
whole cloves
cinammon stick
vanilla extract
sugar

Specialty Items
Sangiovese red wine
Grenadine syrup

Italian_cheeses_ilmenu_lasagne

 Day before: 
• May assemble the Lasagne with Sausage and Leeks in advance.
• Prepare and bake Ricotta cake

Same day:
• Prepare appetizers
• Prepare polenta
• Assemble and fry mozzarella croutons with kids
• Bake Lasagne

½ hour before:
• Set table
• Prepare Shirley Temple cocktails