There is lunch and there is dinner. There are many recipes that can be made indifferently for your midday meal or for your evening meal, they have a wild independent spirit, they suit your family needs and moods, they are welcomed anytime. Then, there is a bunch of recipes that are specifically tailored to suit [...]

Posted in Family recipes, Winter 8 Comments »

In Proust’s book À la recherche du temps perdu – which I admit I have never read – the protagonist eats a madeleine and this awakens his childhood memories. Oh, les madeleines, tiny French pastries with a delicate buttery lemon flavour, elegant and refined. My madeleines are instead bracioline al pomodoro, crumbed and fried beef slices that [...]

Posted in Family recipes, Meat, Tuscan Recipes 15 Comments »

Probably 50 years ago we would live all in the same neighbourhood and we would meet regularly for our book club or for cozy afternoon teas. We would play card games in winter and we would gather for garden parties during summer with men barbecuing pork ribs and beef hamburgers. We would share recipes written in a [...]

Posted in Cakes, Family recipes 31 Comments »

Sometimes you just want things to be simple, immediate. Mix, spread, bake. The pleasure and satisfaction come immediately. Sometimes you just need simple things. I’m coming back, I’ve finished most of my projects, I’m coming back, wait for me! Sausage and stracchino crostoni, or the praise of simple pleasures. In winter, when it’s late and [...]

Posted in Appetizers, Family recipes, Tuscan Recipes 6 Comments »

I spent the whole weekend working at home but I made it, I finished the book translation. When last night I was stuck in the traffic on the freeway clogged up by the renewal works I was happy, jammed, lit by the red shades of the cars stop lights, but happy. I was done. A strange sense of lightness mixed [...]

Posted in Family recipes, Rice 13 Comments »