There is nothing like a soup to soothe all. Winter this year has not brought on the chill’s which are relieved by soup until now. So as soon as the first chill came in, soup’s on! After being in a sort of Summer in Florida, the Tuscan winter called me back to the roots of soup,…
Shop Local… Eye Candy
In my cooking classes in Florence, Italy where I moved in 1984, there was no other way to shop than daily… and local. Florence has two fixed market places, built in the late 1800’s when Florence was made the capital of united Italy. The Central Market, which is right outside my kitchen-studio window, is a…
Getting Ready for Mother’s Day
My mom loves anything Rose…perhaps because she was born in Portland Oregon. It was odd as her parents lived in Shanghai! The story goes that my grandmother got on a steamship at 9 months pregnant and had my mom in Portland and 10 days later was back on the boat to Shanghai. This is my…
a Day with Dario
I feel very blessed. When I first came to Italy, I met several people with a passion for Tuscany that changed my life. Burton Anderson, wine expert,who’s book on the winemakers and their wines, shows a true love for the people behind the bottle. His later book The Treasures of the Italian Table, did the…
Winter Shopping
While shopping for my Pumpkin soup for my Friday with Fergus I couldn’t resist the winter veggies calling my name! A woman doesn’t live by pork alone! We are getting ready for our Big Pork Blogging Weekend, have you sent us a recipe? I adore salads in the winter, and the fresh puntarelli, from the…
Virtual Cookie Swap
I love Cookies! So when I saw this Sugar High Friday on Domestic Goddess I saw a woman after my own heart! She and Alberto of Il forno are having a virtual cookie swap! Perfect timing for the holidays. When they post all the cookies they are having a contest, Vote for your favorite three…
CICCIA- Bistecca alla Fiorentina
Bistecca alla Fiorentina I received an email from a student, asking why the recipe for cooking Florentine steak wasn’t in my cookbook. It is so easy, I didn’t even think about it, as really it is more of a non-recipe. I then began to think, it is usually the easiest recipes that are the hardest…
The Great Masters of Chocolate
They say if you want to play a better game of tennis, play against someone better than yourself. I believe the same goes for food. Eating out a a wonderful restaurant is inspiring, taking a class on a new cuisine gives me a new boost, watching how someone else teaches makes me a better teacher….