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I've only ever eaten this delightful dish at home with my family. My mother claims it is a Czech meal call Halushky ( I could e mis spelling it). Apparently it was a poor people meal back in the day. Although today that's not really the case depending on what cheeses you buy.. so here goes:

First off you peel a bunch of potatoes. Then (after washing them) you use a hand held cheese grator. A metal one with four sides will do, pick the side with the small holes. Then you go to work..."shaving" these patatoes. And let me tell you it is a lot of work, physically.

What you're left with is a potatoe mush, don't think about blending these or using a machine it doesnt' give you the correct consistancy. The mush is moist because of the water in the potatoes.

Next to thicken up the shredded potatoe add some flour, not too much...

This you will table spoon into a boiling pot of water. The potatoe/flour mixture will sink to the bottom. When it floats back to the top it's read to take out.

These potatoe peices you but in a bowl of shredded chedar cheese and cooked bacon and onion bits. Once you get a good amount of potatoes (proportional to the cheese/bacon/onion) in the bowl mix it all together.

That's it. It's real good, sticks to the ribs.
Anyone ever have this? Or anything similiar.

"Boredom is the Ultimate Gateway Drug"- Atheist_Uprising

Well the first part of what you mentioned seems like the dough we use to make gnocchi. I think that the way to have the mush is also basically the same, as we don't use anything mechanical either (if I understood it right from you).

Also we add an egg (or more accordingly) to the dough, and then we cut it into small pieces and then we shape it with a fork, so that it has three lines on the surface. Then I guess that the procedure we use to cook it is the same: we put on some water, add salt when it boils, and we throw in the gnocchi at that point. When it's ready we serve it with fused butter and some nutmeg. But it could even be served with a melted cheese mixture or with tomato sauce. I guess you could use any kind of sauce you like. It makes me think that the two things are pretty similar.. maybe more or less the same thing in fact; only we add an egg and we use different "dressings" than you. What do you think?

Un bacio è un'apostrofo rosa scritto tra le parole "ti amo".

That sounds even more labor intensive. It does sound similiar, although with "mine" I wouldn't really call it a dough. The flour is just used to hold it together. I'm thinking with yours perhaps there is an equal or greater amount of flour to potatoe? I could be wrong, but with the Halushky I couldn't imagine shaping it with a fork, it's just not that stable- more like a mush. Of course I'm no chef, perhaps that's what the egg is for.

Sounds good though, gnocchi, I'll have to try it out. By all indicators is this an Italian dish?

"Boredom is the Ultimate Gateway Drug"- Atheist_Uprising

Sounds good though, gnocchi, I'll have to try it out. By all indicators is this an Italian dish?

Yep, you caught me :P I am Italian :) And yes, gnocchi is a typical Italian dish... also one of my favorite as well as lasagna and agnolotti (similar to what you'd call ravioli, even though we distinguish between the two, because ravioli are only with ricotta cheese and spinach, while the others have meat)

Un bacio è un'apostrofo rosa scritto tra le parole "ti amo".

And yes, gnocchi is a typical Italian dish...

Did someone say gnocchi?

also one of my favorite

Me too. ;-) Damn I love that pasta dish. Has to be one of my Top 15 favorite dishes and #1 of the pastas. Mmm, great stuff.

How many types/flavors of gnocchi are there anyways? I have had about 3 or so including Spinach which is my favorite. Im sure they are abundant there in Italy, but here in the States it doesnt seem to be a real popular dish in resturants. So, most of my gnocchi is of the pre-packed & frozen make. Which is still delicious if I must say.

Now are ye undeceived! Welcome, again, my children, to the communion of your race!

Well I am thinking you're confusing gnocchi with ravioli actually. Ravioli are with spinaches, gnocchi are not. They are made with potatoes, flour and eggs. In other words, they're not really a pasta dish, but more like a potato dish.

In any case, I love to eat gnocchi with some melted butter and nutmeg all over. They are excellent... especially the ones *I* fix (or my mom, my grandma or my aunt of course). We certainly don't like to buy the premade stuff :D Also because it doesn't take very long to make them, an hour top if you're really slow.

Un bacio è un'apostrofo rosa scritto tra le parole "ti amo".

Maybe they prepare it differently here. Or I just forgot to mention that its just the outer shell that is varying such as spinach and tomato besides a regular potato flavor.

In any case, I love to eat gnocchi with some melted butter and nutmeg all over.

It is scrupmtous with butter but I havent tried nutmeg with it. Ill have to do that next time.

it doesn't take very long to make them

Thats what Ive heard. I shall just have to do that sometime in the near future. Do you have any good recipes Andromacha or suggestions? Or will any recipe due from the internet? From what I gather its real simple so maybe theres no real need.

Now are ye undeceived! Welcome, again, my children, to the communion of your race!

Thats what Ive heard. I shall just have to do that sometime in the near future. Do you have any good recipes Andromacha or suggestions? Or will any recipe due from the internet? From what I gather its real simple so maybe theres no real need.

Just tell me how many people you want to feed with it, and I will give you the right proportions :D

Un bacio è un'apostrofo rosa scritto tra le parole "ti amo".

Just tell me how many people you want to feed with it, and I will give you the right proportions :D

Hey, thanks. I appreciate it.

Umm, as far as number of people wanting to feed, I would say just roughly myself (and enough for leftovers ;-P). I think my father likes it too, however, so lets say for 4-5 people. That should be adequate enough for me plus whoever else. I think Ill try it next week after Christmas for when I get bored here at home. Thanks again Andromacha!

Now are ye undeceived! Welcome, again, my children, to the communion of your race!

Ravioli are with spinaches, gnocchi are not.

Actually, at least in my neck of the woods, you can get green gnocchi which are coloured using spinach (similar to those 'tricolore' pasta packs they sell). He might have encountered those.

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