Italy is art, history, stunning landscape, warm and welcoming people – and food. An integral part of lifestyles here, as varied as the terrain and the hill towns, the culinary wonders of Italy vary region to region – and even town to town.
Ingredients (for about 8): 8 to 10 very ripe peaches juice of 2 lemons 2 c. or so of fruit juice (pear juice or apricot juice preferred…but…experiment!) bar of dark chocolate 1 large package cripsy lady fingers (but Graham crackers work well, too!) sugar, q. b. (“quanto basta”, ie, as much as you need) ricotta /…
Ingredients: about 1-1/2 c. (more or less) of fresh ricotta about same (more or less) of mascarpone 6 – 8 eggs 1 quart very ripe strawberries or about 6- 8 very ripe peaches sugar……about 1 cup? lady fingers (savoiardi) – 400 g package – you’ll need about 20 cookies or more 1/2 pkg of amaretti cookies 1/2 qt approximately…
*This is a dish I learnt from a Milanese friend and I find it a pleasant finish to a filling Italian meal. Ingredients: 1 crisp cooking apple per person 1 package of amaretti cookies butter white wine Optional: crushed almonds (about 1/2 c) Preheat oven to about 400 F. Wash and core apples, stopping just…
The Torcolo di San Costanzo is a rich raisin, pinon, and citron-laden, sweet bread created in honor of San Costanzo, one of the patron saints of Perugia, Italy. Executed on January 29 during the reign of Marcus Aurelius, his memory is celebrated every year in Perugia with various festivities, one of them being a competition…
During the week before Easter, the Umbrian farmwomen bake the traditional Easter cheesebread in their outdoor stone bread ovens. Here is a recipe for la torta di formaggio – thanks to my friend Christine Hickman, top chef and cooking teacher – do see www.sonomarcella.com Note: In the country, the farmer’s wife would make a yeast…
Ingredients – serves 6 3 1/2 cups unbleached flour 1 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 to 1/3 cup finely grated parmigiano reggiano or pecorino 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 2 teaspoon active dry yeast 1 3/4 cups warm water Dissolve yeast in warm water and let sit until creamy and bubbly-about 10 minutes.…
Ingredients: 2 lbs or more of orange winter squash, cut into pieces 1 1/2 leeks, washed, then sliced Parmesan cheese (q.b. or “as much as you need”) salt, pepper, q. b Extra-virgin olive oil, q. b. bay leaves…or rosemary branch bouillon cu bouillon cube optional: Swiss cheese Cut the squash. Wash and slice the leeks and then saute’…
Ingredients (for 4-6 persons): about 2 c. of farro about 2 c. of dried borlotti beans 1 to 1-1-1/2 c of tomato sauce 2 slices diced prosciutto Extra virgin olive oil, q. b. (“quanto basta” or “as much as you need”) salt, pepper, q.b. 1 medium-sized onion top leafy part of celery stalk a garlic clove 4 – 5 sage leaves…
for about 6 persons Ingredients: 1 lb lentils 1 carrot, finely-chopped 1 medium-sized stalk of celery, finely-chopped 1 small white or yellow onion, finely-chopped 1 handful parsley, finely-chopped Extra-virgin olive oil – to taste, as needed Salt Optional additions: hot red pepper, sprig of fresh rosemary Soak the lentils overnight in cold water. (Try to…
Ingredients – serves 6 extra virgin olive oil (about 1/4 c.) 1 white onion clove of garlic 7-8 medium-sized carrots 3-4 medium-sized potatoes (As all ingredients will be pureéd, fine to chop into smallish pieces of whatever size). Cover bottom of saucepan with olive oil, then add chopped white onion, garlic clove, chopped potatoes and…