Baked Sliced Apples, Piedmon-Style (Serves 4)

Ingredients:

4 to 6 juicy apples

2 tablespoons lemon juice

4 tablespoons Marsala wine

1/2 cup white wine

1/4 cup melted butter

1/2 cup brown sugar or honey sweetened whipped cream

Directions:

Slice unpeeled juicy apples. Add lemon juice and Marsala wine and allow to marinate for 1/2 hour. Pour off marinade. Arrange apple slices in a well-buttered baking dish. Pour over the sherry wine, melted butter, brown sugar or honey. Bake in a 375 degree Farenheit oven until golden and bubbly. If necessary, baste with wine and lemon marinade. Serve warm or cold topped with whipped cream.

Semolina Rum Pudding (Serves 6)

Ingredients:

3 cups milk

1/2 cup sugar

2/3 cup semolina (farina)

6 egg yolks

3 egg whites, beaten stiff

2 tablespoons grated lemon rind

1 tablespoon orange juice

1/2 cup dark plump raisins, softened in warm water

1/3 cup dark rum

Zabaglione

Directions:

Heat milk; add sugar. Stir in the farina very slowly, in a thin stream, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until the mixture begins to thicken. Cook slowly over low heat for 15 minutes. Cool. Add egg yolks, beating well after each addition. Fold in the beaten egg whites, lemon rind, orange juice, raisins and rum. Pour into a well-buttered baking dish. Bake in a 375 degree Farenheit oven for 25 to 30 minutes until the pudding is puffy and lightly golden. Serve warm or cold with Zabaglione.

Nonna’s Honey Toast (Serves 6)

Ingredients:

1 cup honey

1/3 teaspoon ginger

1/3 teaspoon cinnamon

Pinch of nutmeg

1 teaspoon Anisette liqueur

6 slices white bread, trimmed and toasted

1/4 chopped Pignoli nuts

Directions:

Cook honey over low heat, stirring constantly until it becomes thick. Add ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg. Sprinkle a little Anisette liqueur on the warm toast. Spread warm honey over the toast; sprinkle with chopped Pignoli nuts. Place under a hot broiler for one minute, until the honey begins to bubble. Watch toast carefully to prevent burning.

Now you have learned some simple Italian dessert recipes to make for your loved ones!