MY FOOD POSTS
Fagioli al Forno -Italian Baked Beans – is a popular Northern Italian Dish. Beans have always been a popular peasant food, but, during the Renaissance, Catherine de Medici wanted to refine Italian cuisine, and beans fell out of favor with the nobility and the sophisticated. The poor however couldn’t be particular — they still made their bean …
Autumn is nearly here and it is wine harvest time in Tuscany. Sadly, we had a very hot summer and were forced to pick our grapes a little early this year.. white ones middle of august and the red ones this week. The delicate grapes are monitored daily during the month of August so they …
Italians are geniuses in the kitchen. They can throw together the most simple of ingredients, and they are so good that I often find myself wanting to get up in the middle of a meal to write everything down. Of course, you have to ask the cook immediately how they prepared the meal or they …
I wasn’t going to write a post about this milk because it just seems so simple to me, but someone I care for asked for the recipe so I thought I’d simply share it with all of you. As you already know I’ve been slightly obsessed with black sesame this summer, from sprinkling it on …
Hello beauties. I’ve had a full and busy July so far.. motorcycle rides through the Tuscan countryside in search of sunflower fields, late night concerts under the stars, dinners with friends, visitors from the states. It’s all been fun, but I am finding that in between all of the social engagements all I want to …
Summer is in full swing now in Tuscany and our orto (vegetable garden) is overflowing with ripe summer zucchini. Each fruit and vegetable clearly has a prime time when it’s at its seasonal best. Some are great for over half of the year; others only hit their peak for a month. To me eating from …
I always forget just how amazing panzanella is, but last week while on retreat in Tuscany our amazing chef prepared it for lunch and I was reminded just how much I love this dish. Panzanella is a traditional Tuscan salad made with chopped salad vegetables, anchovies, and day old bread soaked in a simple dressing. …
As a general rule, Americans love Italian food, or at least they think they do. But what I’ve discovered by living in Tuscany is that most Americans have no clue what real Italian or Tuscan food is. Most American tourists come here, over indulge on pasta, pizza, bread, wine, etc.. and then lament the fact …
Yesterday as I was walking through the olive grove I couldn’t help but notice all the new purple wildflowers that have popped this week. It seems that every few days a new color seems to dominate the land and I’ve been memorized by the sheer beauty and saturation all around me. Spring is such a …
my oh my, it seems like winter just won’t give up. While the past few weeks have been sunny, warm, and filled with springtime blooms this week has been surprisingly cold in Tuscany. A good reminder that seasons don’t change overnight and that everything is always in a state of flux. My fantasies of spending …