NONNA MAKES MEATBALLS
What goes in a chopped Italian sandwich?
Whatever your heart desires! The only thing to learn here is the technique of chopping everything all together but the things you chop are up to you. Working at an Italian deli for 3 years, I learned a thing or two about a good meat and cheese mix. If you’re short on ideas, feel free to use these combos to get your imagination going and create your ultimate chopped sandwich:
– Spicy: hot soppressata, capicola ham, pepperoni, and hot pepper cheese
– Classic: Genoa salami, mortadella, sweet soppressata, and provolone
– Ham lovers: Capicola ham, prosciutto, speck, and smoked mozzarella
INGREDIENTS :
CHOCOLATE GANACHE CAKE
Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4. Grease and line two 20cm/8in sandwich tins.
For the cake, place all of the cake ingredients, except the boiling water, into a large mixing bowl. Using a wooden spoon, or electric whisk, beat the mixture until smooth and well combined.
Add the boiling water to the mixture, a little at a time, until smooth. (The cake mixture will now be very liquid.)
Divide the cake batter between the sandwich tins and bake in the oven for 25–35 minutes, or until the top is firm to the touch and a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
Remove the cakes from the oven and allow to cool completely, still in their tins, before icing.
For the chocolate icing, heat the chocolate and cream in a saucepan over a low heat until the chocolate melts. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk the mixture until smooth, glossy and thickened. Set aside to cool for 1–2 hours, or until thick enough to spread over the cake.
To assemble the cake, run a round-bladed knife around the inside of the cake tins to loosen the cakes. Carefully remove the cakes from the tins.
Spread a little chocolate icing over the top of one of the chocolate cakes, then carefully top with the other cake.
Transfer the cake to a serving plate and ice the cake all over with the chocolate icing, using a palette knife.
