We were hit with more rain and cold weather again! BASTA! Finally Summer has arrived. It felt like we were going to have a long wet summer with all the rain we have had. The cold which hit earlier in the year but so much agriculture at risk. I will be walking down the hill…
Christmas Eve Salad from Naples- Insalata di Rinforzo
Happy Holidays! This Christmas Eve Salad is a new favorite in our house. Bringing a little Southern Italy into Tuscany. I can’t get enough cauliflower which is in season now, we have had it in so many ways. Baked, boiled, battered and roasted. The Markets are filled with such a variety. Have you seen the…
Market Recipes | Pork Filet from Massimo Manetti- Mercato Centrale
I opened my cooking school in front of Florence’s Mercato Centrale in 1988. I had moved here in 1984 and took 4 years to really learn the language and study the local cuisine. When I arrived here I was pretty much an Italian food virgin. Like many people, Italian food of the 80’s was more…
Eat Your Wine- Mangia Bevi
September is Wine month. There have been festivals all month long. I don’t go to them all, but have been to them all. The harvest is starting, first the white wine grapes for white wine. They also harvest the grapes to be hung and dried to make the dessert wine Vin Santo. Then the red…
Italian Polpettone- Cooking like a Nonna
I didn’t grow up eating Italian food. My mom was raised in China so almost everything was seasoned with soy sauce and ginger. I taught myself American food using my Betty Crocker Cooking for Boys and Girls cookbook . One of my big successes was a meatloaf pie, using the recipe which was on the…
Summer’s Magic Potions
June is an important month for the summer season. The Solstice has always been a day to celebrate, but all over June 24th also has magical potions being created. I have posted the recipe on the traditional Nocino liquore which is made with the green walnuts harvested on June 24th on my site. My friend…
Charcutepalooza- First project- Duck Prosciutto- DONE
I came home from my pizza workshop in Rome with Gabriele Bonci and the first thing I did was to check the duck breasts!!! They have been hanging under the attic and were not ready when I left. They were PERFECT. I adore learning new tricks and the challenges from the Charcutepalozza will be a …