Driving around the countryside in Tuscany now is one of my favorite moments. the wheat is being cut, leaving golden fields with patterns much like corduroy, bright yellow sunflowers already bending with the heat. Green vineyards, bunches or grapes already full and waiting to ripen. Figs, both green called dottati, which have been around since…
I’m It!
I was just Tagged for this MEME by David Lebovitz, but first had to figure out what a MEME was! Seems an extension of one’s profile,memories and thoughts..and passing them on…. I was just sent this by David… (pronounced meem) is an alteration of “mimeme” and is defined by Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary as “an idea,…
Pomodori Ripieni- Stuffed Tomatoes
Having a couple of days off… I cook! My husband loves these stuffed tomatoes. They are perfect for summer. His Aunt Vivetta had a restaurant in Cecina, near the sea,in Tuscany, where he spent his summers and she always prepared trays of stuffed vegetables, some with meat and bechamel, some with rice and others with…
Sunday lunch lasagna
A sudden rainfall this morning cooled us off enough that I was inspired to make a Sunday Lasagna, Tuscan Style. No Ricotta, no mozzarella, this light lasagna bakes up more like a delicate souffle, melting in your mouth! Lasagna al Forno is the baked lasagna where as lasagna can also be a smaller noodle as…
Olive progress, meeting the neighbors.
Here is a progress report on my bonsai olive tree.. I took it to meet the neighbors olives and to compare the size of the olives. They are the same! My neighbors olive trees are full, it will be a great year for oil. We live next door to the local cooperative olive press,so don’t…
Food Rules
This sign is on the wall of a meat counter in Florence’s San Lorenzo Market. I asked the Butcher, if it was real.( the sign says, “Forbidden to spit on the ground”. This sign dates back from when there were sputoons in the market, and encouraged the use of sputtoons! Other Food Rules in Italy…
Celebrating Summer
With the summer heat , we are celebrating the wonderful produce of the season. The first fabulous Florentine tomatoes are ready to be made into sauce. Although my Florentine husband, Andrea, says August is really the month for tomatoes, I can’t wait! I won’t be buying kilo’s of tomatoes to prepare for sauce until August,…
Calcio in Costume.. or boys in tights
Summer is a series of Celebrations….. and the heat is on! The summer solstice came in full force, bringing record high heat! June the 24th is St. John the Baptists day, Patron Saint of Florence, celebrated with a Renaissance parade, a game of Calcio in Costume, which is sort of a combination of rugby and…