Irene's Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage

The other day I wandered into this lovely book in the library... Cooking with Italian Grandmothers... from Tuscany to Sicily. As the title suggests, the book is a collection of time-honored Italian recipes by Italian Nonnas. In the foreword, Jessica Theoroux describes her book as one about women, food and listening.  As a young chef, she had spent a year travelling around Italy, learning from Italian mothers and grandmothers all about their food, culture and life in general. In her book, she dedicates a chapter to each of the twelve Italian women with whom she spent a considerable time, and shares the recipes that she learnt from them. While each story and recipe has a charm and flavor of its own, the ones I was instantly attracted to, were by Irene of Piedmontese, Bra. Her recipes looked earthy yet intriguing and her approach towards cooking and life in general resonated with the idea that I constantly try to imbibe in our life... "welcome whatever arrives, .. then listen closely and nourish well." 

One of the first dishes that I tried from Irene's menu was her Sweet 'n' Sour Red Cabbage. Apparently, "Irene is known far and wide for her wine-flavored red cabbage.." and once I tried it, I knew the reason why.  Simmered with red wine, apples and caramelized red onions, her slow cooked red cabbage is by far one of the tastiest cabbage sides I have ever tasted. 'The dish makes use of one's leftover wine', and compliments a meal of meat and/or lentils wonderfully....

Sweet 'n' Sour Red Cabbage

Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage (Cavolo Rosso)

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Recipe from Cooking with Italian Grandmothers: Recipes and Stories from Tuscany to Sicily 

Prep time: 10 minutes                     Cook time: 55 minutes                           Total time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Serves : 2

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium sized red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 thick clove of garlic, crushed
• 1 pound of red cabbage, shredded (I used half of a medium sized cabbage)
• 1 small sweet apple, cut into thin wedges (I used red delicious apple)
• ¼ cup + 2tbsps red wine
• ½ + ⅛ tsp salt

Cooking Directions

1. Heat the oil in a medium sized pan.
2. Add the onions and a pinch of salt and cook till it softens a bit and turns golden, about 5 minutes.
3. Add the garlic, then the cabbage and apple and stir well to combine.
4. Cook uncovered for 5 minutes until the cabbage and apple begins to caramelize.
5. Add the red wine and salt and bring it to a simmer. Then cover the pan and stirring occasionally, cook for 45 minutes.
6. Know that the cabbage and apple are done when they are tender through but still holding their form.

I shall be sharing this at the following parties..

Monday 
 Mix it up Monday, The Scoop, Made with love Monday, 
Marvelous Mondays @ This Gal Cooks, Recipe Sharing @ Jam Hands
Melt in your Mouth Monday, Inspiration Monday Party 
Inspire Me Monday, Clever Chicks Blog Hop,
Meatless Monday :  Meatless Monday My Sweet and Savory

Tuesday 
Totally Tasty Tuesday @ Mandy's Recipe Box,
 Tasteful Tuesday Party @ Nap Time Creations, Show Me What You Got @ Our Delightful Home ,  Hand Made Tuesday @ Ladybug Blessings
Share it Link Party @ Winthrop Chronicles,  Tasty Tuesday @ Anyonita Nibbles,  
Hearth and Soul blog Hop @ Zesty South Indian Kitchen,
In & Out of the Kitchen @ Feeding Big & More, Tuesday's Table @ Love in the Kitchen, 

Wednesday 
What's Cooking Wednesday @ Buns in my Oven, 
Cast Party Wednesday @ Lady Behind the Curtain, 
Show and Share @ Semi Homemade Mom, 
Wine'd Down Wednesday, 
Wonderful Food Wednesdays at @ All She Cooks
Wonderful Food Wednesdays at @ Mom's Test Kitchen 
Wednesday, Whatsit@White Lights on Wednesday,
Wednesday Extravaganza @ Hunger Little Girl, 
Create & Share @ The Trendy Tree House,
What I Whipped Up Wednesday @ Sugar & Dots Look, 
What I Made @ Creations by Kara

Thursday
Link it Up Thursday @ Seven Alive, Fantastic Thursday @ Three Little Chiefs, 
Thriving on Thursdays @ Domesblissity,  Full Plate Thursday @ Miz Helen's Country Cottage , 
 Freedom Friday @ My Turn,  Pin it Thursday @ Sweet Bella Roos

Friday 
Foodie Friday @ Simple Living and Eating,  Friday Linky Party @ The Pin Junkie, 
Get Him Feed @ Anyonita Nibbles,  Friday Favorite (DYI too) @ Simple Sweet Home,  
Foodie Friday @ Not Your Ordinary Recipes,  Foodie Friday @ Rattlebridge Farm, 
Weekend Wonders @ The Thriftiness Miss, Friday Food Frenzy @ Mostly Food and Crafts, 
Weekend Potluck @ Sunflower Supper Club, The Weekend re-Treat @The Best Blog Recipes

  Fresh Foods Wednesdays, Let’s Get Real, Fight Back Fridays

Chocolate Red Wine Mousse Cake

Husband and I have never been much into Valentine's day or for that matter any other Hallmark holidays. We however like chocolate cakes and for that reason alone I decided to make a big deal of  Valentine's day this year and celebrate it with this heavenly Chocolate Red Wine Mousse Cake...

The recipe is an adaptation of Michel Rostang's Double-Chocolate Mousse Cake from Dorie Greenspan's book Around My French Table: More Than 300 Recipes from My Home to Yours. I mostly followed her recipe, just made a tiny adjustment... replaced the brewed coffee with an equal measure of red wine... and created "one of the most elegant desserts ever"... so said the husband. We relished and enjoyed the dessert over the next 3 days, each time feeling decadent and wonderful....   

This is a flourless cake and is baked in two sessions. You first make the batter, bake part of it for the crust, chill the crust, then pour the remaining batter over the baked crust and bake the whole cake again. And then you chill it all over before serving. Yes. The process involved it is somewhat lengthy and tedious. However once you have baked, chilled and tasted the goey chocolately deliciousness, and seen the delight on your partners face,  you will forget about all the tiny details and will want to make the cake again for your special someone...