Often after I return back home to Italy from a teaching tour, I crave some of the simple flavors which are part of the pantry here in Tuscany. One of the sauces I adore is Salsa Verde. In Italy, it is a sauce served with boiled beef meals or on the lampredotto sandwiches served all…
Spring is Here
I just returned from two weeks in California where Spring is far ahead of Spring in Tuscany. But on arriving home, I did find that the winter chill has finally left and sunny days have arrived. At the weekly market in Certaldo, we found signs of spring. In the village I live in, Certaldo, we…
Celebrating Spring- Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms with Foraged Borage
Spring gifts from my garden. Wild borage. The leaves are prickly, handle with care! I often cut into thin slices and add to my salads, they have a bright cucumber flavor. Another traditional use is to cook the leaves like spinach. I was craving naked ravioli, called Gnudi. It is especially good with the spring…
Tuscan Trinity- Soffritto
When you work through my cookbook, Secrets of My Tuscan Kitchen,you find that the base of many of the sauces and stews consists in one of the Tuscan Trinity’s, the Soffritto. Carrot, red onion and celery, some people add parsley too. Each cook makes their own variations, personalizing the recipe. Today I made a ragu,…
Sweet Tuscany- Frittelle
Tuscany has been dark and grey, wet and windy this past week. The hills are saturated with water, mudslides blocking the roads near where I live, rivers overflowing near Pisa. We did receive a small window of sun and a reason to celebrate. March 17th is St Patrick’s day, but although it is said he…
Simply Divina- Fagioli all’Uccelletto
Fagioli all’uccelletto are Tuscan comfort food for me. Since I got home from my teaching tour in the states, the weather has been windy, rainy and perfect for staying in the house and being sick! I seemed to have picked up Bronchitis on the flight home and it knocked me out. I am just getting…
Comfort Me with Leftovers- Lesso Rifatto
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…
Cooking Therapy- Sbriciolona
My best therapy is cooking and I needed some therapy! Am up in Seattle now where I have a lot of friends. Did a huge Valentine’s day cooking class at my friend Carol’s cooking school in Bellvue, Sizzleworks and we had a blast. But teaching cooking is not like the quiet zen of just preparing…