On my flight home, I knew something was going to go wrong when I heard a woman hacking right behind me on the plane. It is so easy to get sick while travelling. The only thing that was ok, was that I did not get sick while in the states. I got Bronchitis! As soon…
A Stew for All Seasons- Peposo
I don’t eat a lot of meat, but when I do, I want the best. I an very lucky to be able to have a choice of several great butchers in various towns near me. Often, I make a day-trip out of shopping and head over the hills and through the woods to Panzano in…
The Florentine- a city- a steak
When I tell the story of how I came to Florence and fell in love, first with Florence and then with a Florentine-( my now husband, Andrea), I probably should also mention the other Florentine in my life. The Steak, called Bistecca alla Fiorentina- the larger than life T-bone steak Florence is famous for. Did…
Home on the Range- Maremma
I had a couple of days off and my husband worked so hard moving me while I was in America, I wanted us to have a little get-away. The weather had finally cleared up and spring was in full bloom, so we decided to head for the beach. How to choose which beach? We could…
Sicilian Involtini
Here is what I had for dinner last night. I often think that Italian cooking has a bad rap, for taking a long time to make. Actually, short prep and long cooking are great! These beef rolls, which I learned in Castelvetrano at the cooking class we went to at the Becchina Estate, take little…
Simply Divina- Polenta Gnocchi
Sometimes eating fabulous meals can take 10 minutes and give immense pleasure. I made a Tuscan Ragu, which we call sugo, the other night. I let it pippare, slowly simmer, while I watched TV, worked on the computer and talked with my hubby. One should always have ragu in the freezer for quick meals or…
Don’t Bogart those herbs… my friend
Recently David Lebovitz wrote a cute entry on his blog which had me laughing again remembering our day together. It is funny that erbe… herbs.. in Italian is slang for yeah.. that stuff. I found a cute jar in Siena, that I keep my oregano in, that says Maryjuana. Everyone has their own blend, I…
CICCIA- Bistecca alla Fiorentina
Bistecca alla Fiorentina I received an email from a student, asking why the recipe for cooking Florentine steak wasn’t in my cookbook. It is so easy, I didn’t even think about it, as really it is more of a non-recipe. I then began to think, it is usually the easiest recipes that are the hardest…