Crostini alla Toscana (Italian Style Chicken Liver Toasts)

My first order of business today is to wish my editor, a.k.a. "Mil" in the comment section (my mother-in-law!!), a very happy 85th birthday!
She gets paid very low wages for correcting my spelling errors before I even wake up in the morning.

Second order of business this a.m. is the perfect appetizer for Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year 5774), which begins sundown, Wed. Sept. 4.

Pâté and liver spread is always in season, though I only seem to make it during the Jewish holidays. Though, we frequently order it on crostini in Italian restaurants all year long, also known as crostini di fegato or crostini Toscana.

What's the difference between my grandmother's Jewish chopped liva' and Tuscan chicken liver spread?

It seems that Italians use liquor in their recipe: Port, Marsala, Vin Santo, etc.
Also sage is often used, as are garlic and shallots.
Butter is used in Venetian recipes (using calves liver).

It all sounds good to me.

Jewish style chicken liver is made sans alcohol and never butter, but instead, with a ton of sauteed onions for sweetness, chopped hard boiled eggs and SCHMALTZ baby! (chicken fat).

I am obsessed with the cookbook POLPO and decided to make the author's recipe for Venetian Chicken Liver Crostini.

This book is filled with 140 simple recipes of mostly 6 ingredients total.
Lots of little snacks (cichetti) and easy dishes from Venice, the author's favorite place on earth.

Russell Norman, a Brit, who worked as a corporate chef, was obsessed with Venice and the little cafes where the locals went for a glass of vino and an appetizer before going home for dinner. He quit his day job and studied the cuisine and traditions of Venice and decided to open a restaurant in the Soho district of London called POLPO.

The rest is history.

This is his version of Chopped Chicken Liver, and it was excellent!

Chicken Liver Crostini: (adapted from POLPO)

1 container (about 12 oz.) of organic chicken livers
4 large shallots, sliced
olive oil
sea salt & pepper
splash or two of PORT
2 hard boiled eggs
fresh sage leaves for garnish

It's pretty simple.

Clean the livers, by cutting off the little gross membrane (the stringy stuff) and set aside.

In a heavy skillet, heat about 1/4 cup of olive oil and saute the sliced shallots on low heat until soft and golden.

Remove the shallots to a bowl and add the chicken livers to the pan.

Turn the heat up and cook the livers until brown on all sides, but still a little pink inside (about 7 minutes or so).
During the last minute of cooking, splash with a few tablespoons of Port or Madeira.

Add the liver to the bowl of shallots and throw in the 2 hard boiled eggs.

With a potato masher, mash the ingredients to the consistency you like. If the liver looks a little dry, add in some extra olive oil.

Season liberally w/ salt & pepper and taste to correct seasonings.

I make my chopped liver the day before and keep it refrigerated.

When ready, spread on toasted bread and top with some sage leaves.

To gild the lily, I topped my crostini with balsamic onions (recipe can be found here).

Delicious!

How funny, a mother in law and a liver post all in one day.
I love them both!

Have a happy and healthy Jewish New Year 5774 and Happy Birthday Mil.

L'Shanah Tovah.