What’s Cooking?

Let the cooking begin!!!

Yesterday was my first new “Kitchen in Chianti” cooking class at Villa il Poggiolaia, near my home in Certaldo. We had a blast.

Certaldo will never be the same now.

 

 

The vendors at the weekly market where thrilled with our joy and enthusiasm with the ingredients we found and the treasures, from some fun slip-on shoes to garden gloves and stovetop Tuscan “tostapane” my favorite tool in the kitchen.

After a nice porchetta sandwich in the market and owner’s wine- off to the local grocery store to fill in the menu with meat the other pantry items for our impromptu menu.

This is what we bought at the Market to create our meal

 

We began with some Burrata cheese from the stand from Naples and some wonderful salty Tuscan Schiacciata as appetizers while cooking.

Grilled marininated Squash with white wine vinegar, garlic, olive oil marinade

Hand-rolled Pici pasta with an arrabbiata sauce, (tomato sauce with garlic and chili)
They perfected the Pici technique!

Pork tenderloin in baguette with Tuscan herb mixture which we also made with the mezzaluna

Sauteed artichokes

Sicilian Orange salad

Rice Fritters with raisins and orange zest!

I am looking forward to these fun classes again. Being inspired by what is in season and fresh, you can’t go wrong!

Buon Appetito and Buon Shopping!

This week-end is the Truffle dinner parties sponsored by the local truffle hunters. We went last year and it was a blast!