giugno 12, 2011
Thank you everyone for attending the Fresh Pasta Monthly Mingle and thank you Meeta for letting me host this event, I really enjoyed seeing so many recipes, all inspired by the most genuine flavours, the best seasonal ingredients and the deepest passion for cooking and food. I am honoured to have been the hostess of such an event. And now, without further ado, let me introduce you all the contributors to the Monthly Mingle! Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Fresh Pasta 
8 Comments »
giugno 9, 2011
I’m not very much into dancing and sometimes I prefer staying at home to cook or write, rather than going to a club… Yet, the harsh life of a single woman would require an attendance, if not constant at least assiduous, of socializing sites to get this label off. Despite this behaviour, I am good company and I like parties, those parties crammed with friends, where you have the chance to talk, to laugh to tears and, obviously, to eat. If at the disco my eyes start to close at the stroke of midnight (what an anachronistic person I am… will it be the influence of Cinderella’s tale?), at a party with friends I can stay up till late chatting over a set table, losing track of time and enjoying the atmosphere.
I’ve always had the dream of throwing large parties, like in the movies, with music, colours and set tables in my garden. I live in the countryside, this is one of the many benefits I have: no time constraints, no grumpy neighbours, open spaces to fill with joyful hands, feet and smiles. But until a few years ago there was a problem, to fill that garden, until…
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Posted in First course, Lunch box, Pasta, Summer 6 Comments »
giugno 7, 2011
My friends and I love picnics: genuine food, open air lunches and the sun playing among the tree branches, that’s our perfect day. Every time we organize a picnic, we try to be as much eco-friendly as possible, that is, we try to reduce the impact on the environment. No plastic dishes or cups, each one of us carries his own dishes, glass and cutlery and we share the food from our lunch boxes. At the end of the day everyone just collects his own dishes to leave completely clean the lawn or the shrubbery. As I said, zero impact.
Then a few weeks ago I saw this article posted on Facebook by Alex, a volcano of interesting ideas: I immediately saw those little jars with chalkboard paint lids as perfect lunch boxes for a picnic. Just imagine: a red checkered blanket, a large straw bag, your favorite book, the play of light through the trees branches and many small glass jars with coloured chalk writings on the black lids. A scene that is a cross between Le déjeuner sur l’herbe by Manet and the Mad Hatter tea time banquet in Alice in Wonderland. More or less playful writings and explanations, each one free to choose the jar he fancies the most. At the end of the day, just wash the jars and clean the lids with a damp cloth and they are ready for the next picnic. Zero impact, greatest fun.
Simple and easy to carry recipes. Practical glass jars that can be customized every time with colourful chalk and ribbons to match. A picnic in the shade of the trees on a lazy Sunday afternoon. That’s our theme, today!
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Posted in Lunch box, Spring, Summer 8 Comments »
giugno 4, 2011
After more than a year of Twitter, Facebook and obviously blog friendship, finally this Autumn I’ll meet Asha during her holidays in Europe: yet to decide when and where exactly, but since we’ll be sharing the same continent for a while, we’ll definitely have the chance to meet. I’m so excited, because it will be like meeting an old friend, but for the first time!
I’m proud to be in such a great company to celebrate Asha’s blog anniversary, three years of mouthwatering recipes, vivid photos and – more important – three years of honest and contagious love for food. If you still don’t know Asha’s blog, Fork Spoon Knife, it’s time to pay her a visit and enjoy her street food series to celebrate her three year blog anniversary! I asked Asha to contribute to her street food series with one of our typical street food, the Florentine panino al lampredotto. I felt brave enough to introduce offal into the street food parade! Follow me at Asha’s to read the recipe.
Posted in Autumn, Meat, Spring, Summer, Tuscan Recipes, Winter 2 Comments »
giugno 1, 2011
When Domenica asked me to take part to the Food bloggers pasta party to celebrate the launch of her brand new book, The Glorious Pasta of Italy, I was deeply honoured and excited. Why? Just have a look at Domenica’s blog, at her light-hearted yet professional recipes, at her enjoyable and sensitive writing, at her positive look at life and you’ll easily understand why I was so happy.
Domenica, as her name foretells, grew up in an Italian family: her mother was born on the hills around Chieti, on the Adriatic coast. She spent her summer holidays in Italy with her mother’s three sisters, all great cooks. She has a true passion for simple, honest food. You can almost touch this great respect for ingredients and traditions in her recipes and through her words. I was captured by her work, by this genuine love for food.
As Italian pasta lover, I couldn’t help but leafing through her new book for hours, lingering on beautifully photographed and well described recipes. A special mention to the fresh pasta chapter, enriched by step-by-step instructions and plenty of variations on the classic egg pasta. Thank you Domenica for being such a brilliant Ambassador for the authentic Italian food abroad!
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Posted in Books, First course, Pasta, Summer 17 Comments »
Coffee break. Hazelnut, barley and cocoa cookies
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