Usually winter means less sunlight, dark cold days, warm soups, stews and risotto. This year has only had a couple of really cold spells which have passed quicky. Not enough to get into winter foods. Except two of my favorite winter foods, salads and blood oranges. Here we are in the heart of what is…
My Chianti- Chilly days, warm soup
When September comes to Chianti, I go to Chianti too! The wine harvest fills the air with drunken perfume, too strong to ignore. Grape must fermenting , sends me spinning every breath. Indian summer skies with a light that explains why so may great artists came and stayed. A new color palate is required. As…
Gluten-Free Lunch
With guests at lunch, such as our own Gluten-Free Girl and the Chef, to inspire us in cooking class, one of my old favorites, became a new favorite Chicchi a fabulous recipe from Umbria using chickpeas and farro becomes gluten-free using Riso Venere, or Forbidden Rice*. The texture and flavor of the rice was a…
Market to Table – Certaldo- Francesca’s Figs
Spending more time out in Certaldo, most of my best new recipes come from Francesca at the Certaldo weekly market. She only sells from her own farm and that of an aunt, so what you see is what you get. Today I saw the first figs! We picked up a whole tray of them when she…
Brutto ma Buono
Brutto ma Buono….Ugly but good Heirloom tomatoes are not always pretty but they are pretty good! Rich and almost meaty! Today’s Cuore di Bue ended up in a riff on a traditional summer salad lightened up. Insalata Russa , russian salad, is a classic, made from tiny boiled veggies, usually peas, carrots, potatoes and string…
Market leftovers- turnip greens
Saturday’s Turnips from the market, had such beautiful greens, I followed Roberto’s advice and cooked them twice. This is quite common for any leafy green in Tuscany. Overcooking by boiling in salted water, tenderizes even the toughest stems. Draining the greens and squeezing out all of the water and creating little balls is the base…
Soothing Soup Minestrone
There is nothing like a soup to soothe all. Winter this year has not brought on the chill’s which are relieved by soup until now. So as soon as the first chill came in, soup’s on! After being in a sort of Summer in Florida, the Tuscan winter called me back to the roots of soup,…
Francesca’s Pumpkin Risotto-Market to Table- Certaldo
At Saturday’s market in Certaldo, the local farmer Francesca is a wealth of knowledge. She only sells what she grows, and I trust a woman with a smile! She has a real passion for cooking and is full of ideas, today she gave me a recipe for a Pumpkin and Leek Risotto. Risotto di Zucca…