--- title: Italy --- [![Gourmet Book Club Company Logo](https://gourmetbookclub.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Gourmet%20Book%20Club%20Logo%20RGB.png?width=200&height=95&name=Gourmet%20Book%20Club%20Logo%20RGB.png) ![Gourmet Book Club Logo RGB](https://gourmetbookclub.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Gourmet%20Book%20Club%20Logo%20RGB.png?width=250&height=119&name=Gourmet%20Book%20Club%20Logo%20RGB.png)](https://www.gourmetbookclub.com) [![Gourmet Book Club Company Logo](https://gourmetbookclub.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Gourmet%20Book%20Club%20Logo%20RGB.png?width=200&height=95&name=Gourmet%20Book%20Club%20Logo%20RGB.png)](https://www.gourmetbookclub.com) - [Home](https://gourmetbookclub.com) - [About](https://gourmetbookclub.com/about-us) - [Who it's For](https://gourmetbookclub.com/who-its-for) - [How it Works](https://gourmetbookclub.com/how-it-works) - [Blog](https://gourmetbookclub.com/blog) - [FAQ](https://gourmetbookclub.com/faq) - [My Favorites](https://gourmetbookclub.com/my-favorites) - [Photo Album](https://gourmetbookclub.com/the-thursday-night-gourmet-book-club-photo-album) - [Contact Us](https://gourmetbookclub.com/support) - [Home](https://gourmetbookclub.com) - [About](https://gourmetbookclub.com/about-us) - [Who it's For](https://gourmetbookclub.com/who-its-for) - [How it Works](https://gourmetbookclub.com/how-it-works) - [Blog](https://gourmetbookclub.com/blog) - [FAQ](https://gourmetbookclub.com/faq) - [My Favorites](https://gourmetbookclub.com/my-favorites) - [Photo Album](https://gourmetbookclub.com/the-thursday-night-gourmet-book-club-photo-album) - [Contact Us](https://gourmetbookclub.com/support) [Get Started](https://gourmetbookclub.com/#join) [Members Click Here](https://gourmetbookclub.com/members) # Murano, Italy ![clement-philippe-8g_j67M7Y0w-unsplash-1](https://gourmetbookclub.com/hubfs/clement-philippe-8g_j67M7Y0w-unsplash-1.jpg "clement-philippe-8g_j67M7Y0w-unsplash-1") ## *Book of the Month* ## *The Glassblower of Murano Fiorato, Marina. The Glass Blower of Murano, New York:* *St. Martin's Griffin, 2009*   *Here's what The Thursday Night Gourmet Book Club thought of the book...* *"An interesting story interwoven with history, mystery, a little love, and a woman's desire and spirit to carry on her family heritage to create beautiful art in a traditionally male dominated craft.* ## *Destination* ## *Murano, Italy* *Featuring Italian Cuisine* *(Murano is an island north of Venice, in the Venice Lagoon and dishes from this region are typically lighter fare such as seafood and risotto.   This menu is actually heavier and more traditionally what one identifies with Italy in general and particularly, regional dishes from Rome) * ## *![IMG_7835 (002)](https://gourmetbookclub.com/hs-fs/hubfs/IMG_7835%20(002).jpg?width=284&height=490&name=IMG_7835%20(002).jpg)* ## *Menu* ## *Chianti Spinach Caprese Salad Sunday Sauce with Ribs and Meatballs over Rigatoni French Bread* *Limoncello Cake* ![IMG_3500 (002)](https://gourmetbookclub.com/hs-fs/hubfs/IMG_3500%20(002).jpg?width=420&height=551&name=IMG_3500%20(002).jpg "IMG_3500 (002)") ![IMG_7834 (002)](https://gourmetbookclub.com/hs-fs/hubfs/IMG_7834%20(002).jpg?width=707&height=537&name=IMG_7834%20(002).jpg "IMG_7834 (002)") ## Sunday Sauce Ingredients 2 Cans Plum Tomatoes with Basil 2 cans tomato sauce 2 Cans tomato paste ¼ C. Extra virgin olive oil 4 Cloves garlic 1 medium onion chopped ½ Tsp. ground black pepper ¼ tsp. red pepper flakes ½ c. red wine ½ c. parmesan cheese 1 tsp. salt 1 c. water ½ c. fresh basil cut in strips 1 tsp. oregano and/or also Italian seasoning Optional – fresh Mushrooms 1 box of rigatoni pasta 1. In fry pan, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil, add onion, fresh basil strips, fresh mushrooms if desired and garlic cloves.  Cook until soft but not browned. 2. Mix all other ingredients in large sauce pan.   3. Add onion, basil, mushrooms if desired  and garlic. 4. Cook on low for several hours with meatballs and ribs 5. Cook rigatoni as directed.  Serve sauce over pasta. Meatballs 1 lb. hamburger 1 lb. Hot jimmy dean sausage 1 tsp. garlic powder 1 tsp. onion powder 1 tsp. Worchester sauce ½ C. bbq sauce 1 egg ½ c. panko bread crumbs Mix in a large bowl all ingredients Form into tennis ball size balls Place in 9x13 glass/ceramic pan Sprinkle with more garlic powder, then onion powder, then adolph’s meat tenderizer, then mccormick’s Cajun seasoning, then spray with pam Put in microwave for just 1 minute remove and pour… 2 cans rotel tomatoes over meatballs Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes until browned/cooked Add to Sunday sauce Ribs 2 lbs pork spare ribs 1. Cut ribs apart and place in glass baking dish 2. Season with the following… 1 Tsp. Garlic powder 1 tsp. Onion powder 1 tsp. Adolph’s meat tenderizer 1 tsp. Mccormick’s Cajun seasoning 3. Spray with pam 4. Place in microwave and cook for just 1 minute 5. Turn ribs over and repeat seasoning/microwave process. 6. Place ribs in fry pan and brown ribs. 7. Add ribs to Sunday sauce and cook several hours or place in crock pot or bake in oven for several  hours and then add to Sunday sauce. Serve with Parmesan Cheese and French Bread French Bread Slice length wise.  Butter top and bottom and sprinkle with garlic powder.  Replace top and wrap in foil and place in oven for 15 minutes at 350. ## Spinach Caprese Salad Ingredients: 1 bag of Fresh baby spinach 1 container of Heirloom or cherry tomatoes 1 Red onion 1 pint Baby mozzarella balls Garlic infused olive oil Aged balsamic vinegar 1. Wash and Place fresh spinach on each serving plate 2. Cut in half cherry or multicolor heirloom tomatoes and place a few halves on each serving plate 3. Slice in small slivers, red onion and place on each serving plate 4. Cut in half baby mozzarella balls and place a few halves on each serving plate 5. Drizzle garlic infused olive oil and balsamic vinegar ![leonardo-sanches-ZKf2B9v19bM-unsplash](https://gourmetbookclub.com/hs-fs/hubfs/leonardo-sanches-ZKf2B9v19bM-unsplash.jpg?width=387&height=400&name=leonardo-sanches-ZKf2B9v19bM-unsplash.jpg "leonardo-sanches-ZKf2B9v19bM-unsplash") ## Limoncello Cake Ingredients: 21/4 C Flour 2 tsp. Baking Powder 2 tsp. Baking Soda 1/2 tsp. Salt Combine and set aside. In a sauce pan, heat until sugar dissolves 1 1/2 C. Sugar 1 C. Water Add 6 Tbls. Butter until melted and refrigerate to cool down 20 mins. Add sauce pan ingredients and combine with: 1/2 C. Greek Yogurt 1/3 C. Limoncello Liquor 1/4 C. Lemon Juice 2 Lemon's Zested 2 Tbls. Vegetable Oil 2 Large Eggs Add dry ingredients and fold gently Grease 2 round cake pans, line with parchment, and dust with flour. Split the batter between the two cake pans and bake at 350 for 20-25d mins. Frosting Combine and beat until fluffy 16 oz. Cream Cheese 8 Oz. Marscapoone Cheese 1/3 C. Limoncello Liquor 2 C. Powdered Sugar Frost top of first round cake and place second round on top.  Frost whole cake and top with some curled lemon rind for decoration. ![Gourmet Book Club Logo RGB](https://gourmetbookclub.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Gourmet%20Book%20Club%20Logo%20RGB.png?width=300&height=143&name=Gourmet%20Book%20Club%20Logo%20RGB.png) - [Home](https://gourmetbookclub.com) - [About](https://gourmetbookclub.com/about-us) - [Who it's For](https://gourmetbookclub.com/who-its-for) - [How it Works](https://gourmetbookclub.com/how-it-works) - [Blog](https://gourmetbookclub.com/blog) - [FAQ](https://gourmetbookclub.com/faq) - [My Favorites](https://gourmetbookclub.com/my-favorites) - [Photo Album](https://gourmetbookclub.com/the-thursday-night-gourmet-book-club-photo-album) - [Contact Us](https://gourmetbookclub.com/support) ©2026 Gourmet Book Club. 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