I am always so impressed when I see a large Paella pan filled with red rice, succulent pink shrimp, black mussels opened up, sausage and chicken, topped with parsley and lemon wedges. There is something so romantic and festive about cooking this large dish over an open fire in a special pan with a large group of friends.
What could be more homey than a chicken roasting in the oven with the smell of rosemary and thyme wafting through the air? The promise of a hearty meal soon to be set at the table. In our modern era of convenience foods the smells of a slow cooked meal are almost extinct. But this smell conveys the feeling of family and love and contributes to the families feeling of well being.
Seasons are changing and here in Italy fall is in the air. The mornings have that cool crisp feeling and we are starting our day a little later as even the sun wants to stay in bed longer. This slight change is bridging that gap between two seasons: the waning of Summer and the start of Autumn.
I’m starting to get into the grove of the Italian Kitchen! I have taken on a love of Risotto, so creamy and decadent in its simplicity. I haven’t had a guest yet that hasn’t reveled in its delights as a Primi Piatti (first course).
Whenever I have company that spends the night and I want to make a special breakfast that is not too labor intensive, I turn to Dutch Baby Pancakes. With summer coming to Italy we are starting to have more house guests, so I’ve been whipping them up lately! Dutch Babies are an American invention by Manca’s Cafe in Seattle.
We live in Nettuno, a beach town one hour south of Rome. The only thing Italians love as much as sun tanning on the beach is sauntering up from their sun beds into the Borgo for a steaming plate of mussels and pasta.
I currently live in Italy and this recipe for Tiramisu has become my new “go to” recipe for making a dessert for company. It is prepared the day in advance, it’s easy and always a hit! Whenever we have guests arriving from the US we always make this dessert and it woos them everytime, but even my Italian friends love my recipe and rave about how authentic it is, high praise indeed!
I’m still trying to catch on to the true “Italian Style” of cooking and it often eludes me. I especially have been baffled on what to make as a “Secondi Piatti” or Second Course when I have people over for dinner. This Saturday morning I walked to my local grocery store around the corner and was amazed at the spectacular choices available and it dawned on me that I have been shopping at the wrong time! Saturday lunch is traditionally the biggest family meal of the week.
I love Vietnamese food, and here in Italy is impossible to eat at a Vietnamese restaurant. So if I want to eat Vietnamese, I must make it. Fortunately I can find the ingredients pretty easily. So I pick up a package of celophane rice sheets and an array of vegetables in my shopping bag and head home to whip up my own Vietnamese Spring Rolls.
Whole wheat waffles are one of my favorite breakfasts. This summer we have celebrated each fruit on a Sunday morning under the cherry tree in the cool of the morning. We walk outside with our plate heaped high of crisp waffles while the scent of vanilla waifs through the air behind us.
