I love pasta that mixes and matches vegetables, and every season offers an array of tastes, textures and colors to play with. Since I am a CSA member, I often take my clue from my weekly box, and this week, these ingredients were among the offerings. I thought about adding sweet peas, a classic spring […]
Surprise!!!
I love fresh filled pasta such as tortellini and ravioli, but most of the time I just do not have the time to make it myself, and the store-bought are not an option for me (too far from my standard!). Since I truly miss its taste, I came up with a compromise solution: what if […]
In this salad, bitter dandelion greens contrast wonderfully with salty, decadent, almost crispy pancetta. And, the garlic-infused tangy dressing makes them just… Irresistible. I just love the bitter, distinctive taste of dandelions. And knowing that they are a super healthy food makes them even more appetizing to me. Whenever I have time, I take a […]
Have you been hit hard by the recent cold weather? Make yourself a bowl of Ribollita, one of my favorite soups. Hearty and herbaceous, loaded with leafy green vegetables, Ribollita is also very satisfying: beans, potatoes and bread provide an almost creamy texture. Not to mention the addition of thyme, which delivers an aromatic twist. […]
Dull day? All you need is a fireplace, a glass of medium-bodied red wine such as Chianti, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and… These crostini. Still redolent of the fragrances of woods and fall season, these crispy bites are aromatic, indulgent, with just a touch of tanginess. My friend Cinzia gave me this recipe (grazie Cinzia!), which she […]
A dear friend of mine (ciao Zikki!) from La Spezia gave me this very quick and delicious recipe some time ago. It is a great dish to enhance the taste of newly pressed extra virgin olive oil, and it should be cooked only if you have some olio nuovo of the best quality in […]
This recipe will hopefully give an answer to my neighbors on what did I do with those wild greens (what is this bizarre woman picking on the sides of the paths???). Well, I was gathering dandelions for this amazing salad! Dandelions are a very versatile greens, with a well defined, bitter taste, something in […]
I just love receiving my weekly box with fresh, organic, gorgeous goodies… I feel like a child unwrapping presents at Christmas! Wow — this time around I got so many pears!!! Not a difficult dilemma: I will just make… Classic pear jam. There is nothing like homemade jam – with its fragrant, intense,