Friday, January 8, 2010

Freak Weather and Fricos

Things started going off the rails with my blog right around the time that our Feast of Seven Fishes had to be postponed because of a freak December blizzard that struck the East Coast. We rescheduled for after Christmas, but were so worn from the holidays that not a single picture was taken at the actual feast. However, to make it up to you, here is the recipe for fricos - tasty parmesan crisps - that we served with prosecco to kick off cocktail hour. They were the surprise hit of the evening.

But first a word on "Parmesan". What I mean by parmesan is aged and imported Parmigiano-Reggiano. This:


"Parmesan" is actually a generic name for cheeses that are similar to the real deal, some may say imitators. But there are more differences than just the spelling. And this is such a simple recipe that you really need a good cheese. So, save the pre-shredded or grated versions of this for your spaghetti. If you can't get Parmegiano-Reggiano, try a Grana Padano or Pecorino Romano (again, avoiding imitators). OK, here we go:

Fricos
3 oz Parmegiano-Reggiano cheese
1 scant tbsp flour
1/4 tsp black pepper (freshly ground)

Heat over to 350. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or silpat. Grate the Parmegiano with a large grater. Mix with the flour and pepper. Scoop by the teaspoon-full onto the cookie sheet, leaving an inch between each. Spread out your mound of cheese into a round. Bake for 10 minutes until bubbly and starting to brown. Remove from oven and let cool on sheet for 2 minutes. Carefully lift to a cooling rack and let cool completely. Store in a tin or Tupperware between waxed paper for up to 2-3 days.
There you have it. Easy, easy, easy.

Over the weekend, I hope to fit in some time in the Craft Lounge, and next week I plan to get back on track with my mac + cheese experimenting. Plus, Phineas has a New Year's resolution of his own to share. So, please tune in next week when regular programming will resume.

2 comments:

Mar-Mar said...

Hooray! Regular programming will be returning! Finally, something I want to read on the internet!

Clio said...

Thanks Mar! BTW - I am MAILING your diaper bag. I just never made it to your folks over the holidays.