The holidays in Italy are always a little overwhelming as they involve huge amounts of food and drink. This year I decided to slide though the holidays, avoiding over-doing it. The weather has been mild, and the hills near my house are filled with these tiny blossoms which are so sweet. Not sure when winter…
My Wish for YOU
This year Divina Cucina is becoming Simply Divina, inc and will be sharing my Chianti:Food&Wine secrets on tour this year as well! I am just writing up my Kitchens in Chianti program where we will eat and drink out way through Chianti, cooking in the kitchens of my friends!!! Can’t wait!
Time Flies When You Are Having Fun!
It is hard to believe we have been married 23 years, but harder to realize we have been together for 29 years! I met Andrea the year after I arrived in Italy. Next year, I turn 60 and celebrate 30 years in Italy- half my life. It has been a wild ride, I have consulted…
Gifts from My Kitchen- Limoncello
Winter is time to get your Limoncello going for the year! Using the whole grain alcohol, it only takes 3 days, not 40 to make. So if you start today, it will be ready for the holidays. I like to peel my organic lemons with a potato peeler, over the jar I am going to…
Thanks- Giving
Here in Italy, it is just another Thursday. But, everyday should be thanksgiving. Look around. Appreciate. Invite someone to your table. Mille Grazie A thousand thanks
Zuppa di Ceci e Farro con ‘Nduja
This year nature is taking revenge around the world. We had horrible storms and flooding again in Florence a few weeks back and this week a cyclone hit Sardegna. What makes it all worse is the over building of homes in the wrong places, as soon as a storm comes, the land no longer holds…
Sicilian Spaghetti-O’s
I am not Italian-American and have no Italian blood in me. I was never a big fan of the Italian-American food I had in America, for me the portions were HUGE and too many courses. NOW I get it! After living here for 30 years, I get it. I can see where a lot of…
ExtraDolcemente Pisa
There is a lovely artisanal sweets fair in Pisa yearly. I participated in creating a dessert using olive oil for one of their online events. I created a sweet sformata, a flan sort of a cheesecake, based on a friends savory dish. I have been making olive oil gelato since I first heard about it…