So we have passed our first week in our new house in the Itri hills in Italy. It was a week of hauling our things to the new house an hour and a half away. A hectic week of getting situated and figuring out how things work in the new place. But what better way to cozy up in a new house then to bake a fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies?
This pasta dish is rich in flavor and so easy to make with ingredients that are easily available and probably already in your house. It is a sure crowd pleaser that will make its way in to your regular menu rotation
This story of our visit to Ischia is a good example of the frustration, joy, exhaustion, exhilaration, disappointment and beauty that is the life of a budget traveler. Don’t get me wrong, I’m too old to be a “backpacker” traveling through Europe staying in Hostels.
The most common way I have eaten artichokes in Italy is the “Roman Style”. This is reasonable since I am living in the general area of Rome and all cuisine in my area is influenced in the Roman Kitchen . Roman Artichokes are trimmed of all tough parts, with most of the Artichoke discarded. Each leaf is snapped off in such a way that the tough fiberous parts are removed.
Recently we were with some friends talking about places we would like to see in Europe and we all agreed that we would like to visit Budapest. I had heard from other friends that it was a beautiful underrated European City with amazing buildings and low prices. So a little research on the internet and the next thing we knew we had cheap tickets booked on Ryanair and an Airbnb rented for four days and three nights.
My American Italian family has been making Ravioli as a tradition for as long as I can remember. As I child my grandparents would come over one day in the winter or fall and we would make ravioli together. I have one particularly good memory of my Grandfather picking me up from High School on “Ravioli Making Day”. He arrived in the front of the school on his motorcycle with a side car. I happily strapped on the helmet and climbed inside the side car and then drove off. I’m quite sure this elevated my “cool” status to unprecedented levels, at least in my mind. I mean, who has a grandpa as cool as that?!?
Persimmons are a fruit you either love or hate. In the Central Valley of California where I grew up, Persimmon Trees were plentiful, yet mostly unloved by most people. But how can you not admire a fruit that dares to sport a bright orange color during a time when all other fruit trees are shedding their leaves barren of fruit? In fact, I have memories of the bold, plump, orange persimmon fruit dangling on bare branches in the cold months of winter. I remember looking at this strange tree in a field of fog, barren of all leaves but the orange fruit still clings tight to its branch.
Shrimp Tacos originate from California, Baja California that is, and they are definitely my “go-to” dish. I first had them years ago at a restaurant in California and quickly went home and came up with my own version. They are fast and easy to make and I usually have the ingredients on hand.
Grilled vegetables are a great addition to any dinner menu, buffet table or Aperitivo spread. They help to balance out all of those platters of salami and prosciutto and cheese adding much needed fiber to the diet!
Summer desserts are all about being cool, refreshing and light. This lemon Tiramisu is light and airy with just the right amount of lemon and sweet. Don’t let the name distract you, this Tiramisu has no coffee or cocoa in it. But it is created in the exact same recipe and style as a true Tiramisu. If you don’t want to distract your guests you may try just calling it a lemon cake or Torta di Limone.
