Off Day cooking-- Perfect Italian meal!!!

"What is for lunch today??", I was asking myself in the morning. Well, how about a pure Italian meal. I have some quails, some parma ham, a sponge cake, which I made yesterday, also some edible stuff. Let's cook Italian today.
I am not interested in Antipasti right now, since I would love to have it with a dry white wine, may be Chardonnay[but I dont have license to buy alcohol]-so dropped the idea of making an antipasti for *myself* [Antipasti for one????]. My favorite antipasti is bruschetta[pronounced as "Broosh-ketta", not "Brooshetta"!!] with endless toppings. I remember a guest wanted some bruschetta--I made the basic one--with tomatoes, chopped basil & little balsamic reduction--she enjoyed it than the pizza she ordered!!
Another favorite is deep-fried calamari & prawns with alioli [Garlic mayonnaise].
So I started off my meal with the primo piatto & it is "Risotto alle Fragole "--Risotto with strawberries. When I told a colleague about this, he said its perfect for Valentine's day--true, but strawberries in season. I never made it in my life--how about giving it a try???

Following to the next...Quagliette Bardate con polenta e verdure mista grigliata --Quails wrapped with pancetta, cooked with little stock & then served with mixed grilled vegetables, polenta & roasting juices. It is another simple stuff!!!

Finally "Il Dolci"---something to sweeten the mouth--Zuccotto, the tuscan ice-cream cake

So today's menu

Primo Piatto

Risotto alle Fragole

-

Secondi Piatto

Quagliette Bardate con polenta e verdure grigliata mista
-

Dolci

Zuccotto

Recipes??It follows next with the pictures!!

Risotto Alle Fragole

Ingredients:
Italian Arborio Rice- 100 gm
Butter- 50 gm
Onion- 20 gm[chopped]

White Wine, dry- 50 ml
Vegetable Stock- 300 ml
Seasoning- As required
Fresh Strawberries- 8 nos.
Cream- 20 ml
Parmesan Chese, grated- 15 gm
Method:
Heat all but half of butter & saute the onion. Once translucent, discard the onions & add in the rice till it crackles. Add in hot vegetable stock in batches.
Wash the strawberries. Reserve two-three pieces for garnish & slice the rest.
When the risotto is almost done, add in the strawberries & cook till done. Finish off with parmesan, reserved butter & cream. Serve hot.

***

Quagliette Bardate

Ingredients:
For the roasted quail

Quail- 2 nos
Seasoning-As required

Pancetta-4 nos [or streaky bacon, if you dont get one]

Carrot- 1no.

Oil- 50 ml

Celery- 1/2 stick

Bayleaf- 1

Parma ham, chopped- 20 gm

White Wine, dry- 100 ml

Brown stock- 200 ml

For Grilled Vegetables
Asparagus, woody- 3 nos
Red Bell-pepper- 1/2
Yellow Bell-pepper- 1/2
Baby corn- 2 nos [cut into half, lengthwise]
Oil- as required
Seasoning- As required
Prepared polenta- 30 gm[cut into long strips]
Method:
For the Quail
Wrap the quail with the pancetta. In a roasting pan, place the the quails & scatter the rest of the ingredients & pour the wine on top. Roast at 200 Deg C for about 20-25 minutes. If the wine dries up, pour in the brown stock.Reserve the drippings & use it for sauce.
For the grilled vegetables
Cut the vegetables into batons. Peel the asparagus & par-boil the babycorn & reserve. Marinate with oil & seasoning & grill till done. Keep hot.
For assembling
Put the grilled vegetables on the plate & top it up with roasted quail. Put the polenta on top of quail & drizzle the sauce around.

Recipe for Zuccotto??Next time, when I make it the best way!!
Buon Apetito!!