Zurracapote Recipes

ZEPPOLE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a deep-fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• In a medium saucepan, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Stir in the eggs, ricotta cheese and vanilla. Mix gently over low heat until combined. Batter will be sticky.
• Drop by tablespoons into the hot oil a few at a time. Zeppole will turn over by themselves. Fry until golden brown, about 3 or 4 minutes. Drain in a paper sack and dust with confectioners' sugar. Serve warm.

QUICK SUPER-DELICIOUS ZUPPA TOSCANA

Steps:

• Cook and stir Italian sausage and red pepper flakes in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat until sausage is browned and crumbly, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer sausage mixture to a bowl.
• Stir bacon into the same Dutch oven and cook over medium heat until bacon is crisp, about 10 minutes. Drain fat, leaving a few tablespoons of drippings in the Dutch oven.
• Stir onion and garlic into bacon; cook and stir until onions are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Pour chicken broth into bacon mixture; bring to a boil. Stir potatoes and kale into broth; cook until potatoes are tender and soup is flavorful, about 15 minutes.
• Stir sausage and heavy whipping cream into soup, reduce heat to medium, and cook until soup is heated through, about 5 minutes more.

ZURRACAPOTE

Steps:

• For the zurra red wine syrup: In a pot, combine wine, sugar, juniper berries and cinnamon stick. Place over low heat and stir just until sugar has dissolved; do not bring to a boil.
• Pour over apricots and raisins. Let stand 20 minutes. Strain over a bowl and reserve fruit and syrup separately. Discard juniper berries and cinnamon stick. This makes more than needed (2 cups syrup and 1 1/2 cups fruit), but syrup and fruit may be stored separately, covered and refrigerated, for up to 1 month.
• For the zurracapote: In a 3-quart container, combine the zurra syrup, wine, liqueur and vodka. Refrigerate until chilled, at least 3 hours.
• To serve, divide punch between two 1 1/2-quart pitchers. Fill each of 12 tall glasses with ice, 1 slice lemon and a spoonful of diced apple. Divide remaining lemon and apple, 1/4 cup apricot-raisin mixture and 2 cups ice cubes between the pitchers. Pour 5 ounces zurracapote into each glass, and top with 1 ounce of Sprite, or to taste. Stir before serving.