With the weather getting cooler and the first frost of the season predicted for tonight, my mind is on getting the remaining herbs in from the pots outside, including chives. Here’s an easy to make ’country’ recipe for cheddar-chive biscuits courtesy of my mom. Perfect as a side with a bowl of veggie soup or hot out of the oven on a crisp October day. Use good aged cheddar to give it an extra kick. I like Hooks 3 year old Cheddar from Mineral Point.
The last sunny days of fall are the time to prepare for winter. For my grandmother this means filling up the cellar with preserves and pickles of all kinds. Here is my mom’s easy interpretation of a grape jam inspired by the concord grapes that seem to be growing in all of our family member’s backyards this fall. Easier than true canning or jarring, this recipe is a great way to use up backyard grapes. It’s meant to be kept in the refrigerator and will hold for 4-5 months. Although I doubt it will last that long!
There is something to be said for doing things the old-fashioned way. In our rush to keep up with our busy lives we take shortcuts. We grab something prepared for dinner as we rush home from work and we lose the joy of hearing a stew simmering away on the stove. We buy bread at the grocery store and never experience the feeling of our hands kneading dough or the taste of bread just out of the oven. In other words, modern life makes things easy & convenient in a million little ways but, does something important get lost along the way? For all our modern conveniences are we better off than our grandparents or great-grandparents? (more…)
I am seriously obssesed with gelato. To me strolling around a piazza with a gelato in my hand is the quintessential Italian experience. If you aren’t able to hop on a plane, you can still recreate a bit of that experience at home. (more…)
One of the most important words in understanding how Italians view food is ‘tipico’ or typical. Want to learn how to pronounce it? Click HERE
In Italy, each region, each town and sometimes each family has recipes that are ‘typical’ of that area and based on traditions passed down through generations. In reality, Italian food doesn’t exist. Instead there is the food of Sardinia or Rome or Piedmont. In a world where food traditions are disappearing and the same fast food is available from Kansas City to Cairo, I find it comforting to know that food that speaks of a place, that is typical of a region, still exists. (more…)
In order to entertain like an Italian, you have to really embrace using only what is fresh, available and in season. Most Italians shop daily and get what looks best for that day instead of stocking up for the week. They will search out the very best bread by making a trip to their favorite bakery instead of buying it at the supermarket. If you had planned on making asparagus, but it’s not available or doesn’t look fresh….use whatever looks best! For example, when I went to the fish market looking for swordfish but the salmon looked good. If you go to the market and the trout looks good make the recipe with trout instead. Fresh thyme not available? Pick another fresh herb that looks good and that you like. That means that the recipe might need to be tweaked a bit. It’s about learning a preparation and using what’s fresh where you live. Think of this recipe (and all recipes) as just a starting point…and don’t be afraid to improvise! (more…)
If you are going to entertain like an Italian….the first step is understanding that Italians take their pasta very seriously. Let me say that again. Very. Seriously. When it comes to pasta there are some unbreakable rules. Here are a few tips for understanding Italian’s collective obsession with perfect pasta.
Ok. Ready to make your own pasta course? Here is an easy recipe for your perfect pasta course. This can be one course in a meal or an easy summer dinner. (more…)
This time of year it’s such a pleasure to wander through farmer’s markets and see the bounty of summer. Here are a couple of my favorite pics from markets I’ve been to around the world….make it your summer resolution to get to a farmer’s market and eat local wherever you are!
At the Oxbow market in Napa
At the market in Frascati, Italy
Picture it. You’re sitting by the sea holding a glass of chilled white wine. Everyone around you is talking loudly and gesturing wildly. The afternoon seems to linger on forever. Everything seems effortless…from the simple, delicious food to the easy laughter at the table. That’s entertaining like an Italian. Effortless, relaxed and always delicious.
With my Yoga & Wine retreat to Italy coming up this fall…I thought I would share a few easy summer recipes over the next few weeks with Italian wine pairings. These are perfect for effortless summer entertaining. None of them should take longer than 30 minutes so that you can enjoy your party and not be left sweating in the kitchen. So put on some good music, pour yourself a glass of something delicious and don’t think too hard about making things perfect. Both you and your guests will have more fun when you entertain (effortlessly) like an Italian instead! So don’t wait for a trip to Italy….make your own ‘la dolce vita’ instead.
Rambutan fruit at the market in Saigon....tastes similar to a lychee.
Outdoor street market in Saigon. I love the variety of fruits!
