Pancetta Recipes

When I was growing up we didn't have cabbage that much but I did like my mother's minestra. My Mother's family had 10 children and my Father's side had 8; so as you can understand, they had to stretch a buck. Not that my generation was considered poor growing up but we did eat the same foods that our parents did. MINESTRA, ZUPPA, MINESTRONE & BRODO all refer to soup in Italy. However, when we had minestra at home, this is what we got. First off, the only time we had it was after a ham dinner on Sunday and the bone was left over with some meat still left on it. Mom would boil the bone, add cabbage, a can of cannellini beans, some garlic, some olive oil and it was done. To serve it, she would put a slice of stale Italian in a soup bowl and scoop the minestra over the top. Well that was the extent of my cabbage eating when I was a boy.

Sorrel (SOR uhl) is a delicate salad green with smooth, arrow-shaped, bright green leaves. It has a sharp, lemon tanginess and spinach like flavor can be used in salads or cooked as flavoring for soups. The word "sorrel" comes from a general Germanic root meaning sour. The plant has been cultivated for centuries and grows abundantly in most of Europe and is grown as a leaf vegetable. Although its popularity has decreased considerably over time it is quite available year-round here in the U.S. It is funny that the sorrel consumption is quite low considering its health values. When you buy it, look for bright green leaves with no signs of yellowing. It can be stored by rinsing in cold water, pat dry and place in a plastic bag lined with paper towel and store refrigerated up to 3 days.

In a variation, a couple ounces of bone marrow may be added to the filling.If your butcher has lace fat, you may want to use it instead of the lard or pancetta.This makes an excellent leftover!

Fabulous recipe!

You can add whatever vegetables you like to this. I especially like to add red bell peppers. Also, you can use left-over baked or boiled potatoes. American style ham or bacon may be substituted for the pancetta or prosciutto.