Sometimes I have to travel for work, I know, it is tough living in Italy. We all make choices for the life we have. This is mine. I have always spent the small amount of money I have for travel- now I have a little more than when I was younger, but still am frugal….
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…
Sicily – Coast to Coast
Sicilian gold! Escaping from the grey skies of Florence, we took off to Sicily to do research.In October tour I am doing a west coast Sicily Food Lovers Tour and then acoast to coast to tour with my Slow Food chef and friend Jasper the week after! I have spent time on the west coast, and…
Eggplant Fetish
I must admit.. I have a thing for eggplants! I love the color, the look,the feel and the flavor of eggplants! Called Melanzana in Italian from the latin Mela insana, a “not healthy” vegetable and was considered to be poisonous, but so were tomatoes and potatoes! I love them grilled,roasted,fried… and even with chocolate! Yes there…
Granita di Caffe
Summer in Italy wouldn’t be summer without Granita! Besides fruit flavors,such as watermelon, as I mentioned before, or lemon, made with lemons from Sicily or the Amalfi coast, coffee granita is one of my favorites. I am very lucky as I can get it here in Florence at my Sicilian gelateria Carabe owned by Antonio…
Caponata
Attended a party last night in the hills above Chianti, about 70 people. We had a sweet and sour, preserved bell peppers, cut into wedges and served with tonné sauce, pureed tuna with hardboiled eggs, capers and olive oil. Two pasta’s one with porcini sauce and the other with tomato and eggplant with basil. The…