A visit to the gourmet market

    Today I tracked back and made 2 appetizers. I made Involtini di Bresaola and Carpaccio di Bresaola. I wasn't able to make them before because I didn't know where I could get the thin cured beef, but David Rocco- himself wrote me that I could find them in a gourmet grocery store. Yesterday I went to Pusateri's for the first time, and was in awe of the selection of food there. I picked up these Quail's eggs because they taste soooo good- and not to mention they are so pretty!

I also found the Bresaola-hooray! I gathered all the ingredients and within minutes, I put together the 2 appetizers.

The Involtini di Bresaola was delicious! The ricotta was mouth watering and the Bresaola gave it the salt it needed. It had a wonderful crunchy, soft and chewy texture.

The Carpaccio di Bresaola reminded me of a pizza I once ate- with prosciutto and arugula on top. I also liked this dish because I just love the taste of parmiggiano with arugula.

Just the other day -on TLN- I watched David make the Bresaola at the beach. On that note, I will leave you with the cute opening of David Rocco's Dolce Vita. His babies were soooo cute!

Blogging while I eat...

I was away all weekend and am now trying to catch up. Just before I hopped onto my blog here, I made Dolce Vita's Insalata di Pere e Parmigiano di Nonno Antonio. Both my Nonno's loved pear too! Anyway, I thought it would make a great blogging snack.

So as I write to you, I am devouring this simple yet flavorful dish. Again I was surprized at how well the ingredients compliment each other! The pear went well with the arugula and the vinegar and cheese gave it a great kick. Now please excuse me while I finish my insalata..........

Tuscan Dreams

As fate would have it, I bought a new house! We were too crammed in our old house, so it was time. Now I am busy planning the design of my new Tuscan-style kitchen. I am sooo looking forward to cooking my Dolce Vita meals in my dream kitchen!

In between ripping out pages from home magazines, I made this quick and delicious dish: Insalata di Fagioli e Tonno. This is a hearty salad yet it is light and fresh. Next time though, I will add some garlic to this recipe.

One Must Dine Well!

As it says on the spoon; 'One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well!' On that note -although I am super busy- I made sure to make some Insalata di Carciofi (artichoke).

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I used canned artichokes, since they currently aren't in season here. Although I wasn't a fan of the dish, it went very well with some toasted crostini. At least now I can think well, love well and sleep well now :) Have a great day!

A quick tomatoe fix

Just stopping by with a quick post. I used fresh tomatoes for my next dish: Insalata Caprese.

I love this type of salad because Fior di Latte cheese is one of my favourite cheeses. It's a great dish to make when you're busy because it's quick and satisfying.

Now I'm off to throw a fabulous birthday party to my precious little girl Emily. Happy 8th Birthday sweetie!

No Kitchen Tools Required

I love how in the Dolce Vita cook book, no expensive instruments are required. It makes sense because most Italians use their hands and basic kitchen tools to prepare their meals. It also ensures that the flavors are preserved.

Today I made Insalata del Contadino (Farmer's Breakfast). All I needed for this recipe, was an old-fashioned Mortar and Pestle- to crush the garlic and tomatoes.

To be honest, we make this all summer long because the tomatoes are in season. David adds a few different ingredients in this dish though, and it is infused with delicious flavour. Make sure you dunk your bread into this dish!

An Insalata a day, keeps the Doctor away...

Now I know what it means when people say 'you need a vacation from your vacation'. I have been going none-stop -since I got back- and I have had so little sleep, that now I have the flu!

I'm not worried though, because I made this Vitamin packed fruit salad from the Dolce Vita cook book. It's called Insalata Del Contadino.

This is a sweet and sour fruit salad and the olive oil helps to mellow out the sourness. I loved how fresh and tart it was. Now I hope it does it's job and helps me to recover quickly.

I'm so high...on sugar!

    I'm  baaaack from the 'City that never sleeps'; Las Vegas!! I figured out that the city never sleeps because everyone loads up on sugar. I myself tried a frozen hot chocolate for the first time and it was so chunky and sweet.

   Then of course I had to try a deep-fried Twinky! It tasted like a doughnut with sweet icing inside. I wish I tried the deep-fried oreo cookies as well but it's just too fattening.

  I was pleasantly surprised to see that there were olive trees all over Vegas!

There were rosemary bushes everywhere too!

I wanted to take some home with me because they were so aromatic!

   We also went to Arizona on a business trip and enjoyed some prickly pears. Here we are- playing bocci with our friends among the lime trees in front of our hotel. Now please remind me why I'm back?! It's so cold and rainy here :( I'll have to cheer myself up with a fresh salad from the Dolce Vita cook book. Be back soon!

On Strike!

   I am taking a little break from cooking, and heading to Arizona and Las Vegas baby! I really need the break! When I get back, I will start the Insalata section of the Dolce Vita cook book. There are two recipes in the appetizer section that I didn't cook yet, because I am waiting until the ingredients are in season. I'll see you soon!

Don't Forget to Stretch!

PHEW! I am finally down to the last appetizer in the Dolce Vita cook book! Looking back, I have to say, my favourite dishes (that I actually made more than once), were the Arancini, Frico, Lenticchie con Pancetta, Mozzarella in Carrozza, and Pasta Fritta.

So my final dish was the Crochette di Patate. This is a fried potatoe log- filled with fresh mozzarella. It looked complicated, but it was fairly easy to make.

I had guests over, and their mouths were watering, as they watched my cook this dish. In the end, the crocchette were a crowd pleaser. I enjoyed the crunchy outside and soft inside, and the sesame seeds gave it the kick it needed. My Husband enjoyed seeing how far the mozzarella could stretch out of them too :)

'I Can't Believe it's not B(i)tter!'

Today I made David Rocco's Radicchio alla Griglia. My In-Laws always grow radicchio in their garden, and love to mix it with other leafy greens in their salad. As you can tell-from my last few posts- they still keep with the old traditions. The above photo is my Sister-in-Laws Mary and Gina in their home town of Calabria, Italy.

I don't like the bitter taste of raddichio, so I left this recipe for last. I marinated and grilled them, and I was surprised at how they didn't fall apart on the grill. Not only that, but I was very pleased that they didn't taste bitter at all! They were so juicy and delicious! Next time I roast zucchini and red peppers, I will throw radicchio on the grill too. My Husband said it was his favourite dish in the cook book so far!

This sure beats Hospital food!

Today I made Pappa di Pomodoro from the Dolce Vita cook book. I used my MIL's fresh jarred tomatoes- instead of the plum tomatoes- since they aren't in season right now. I'm so lucky my in-laws make this for us because it makes the perfect pasta sauce.

I also used my MIL's dried home-made bread instead of Tuscan bread. Nothing beats the taste of home-made bread-let me tell ya!

This dish is like an appetizer soup. I found it to be rich and hearty. Emily loved it because she said it's like dunking bread in sauce and oil- which she loves! My Sister is in the Hospital, so I will have to bring this to her. It will warm her up and make her feel like she's at home.



Recycle your food!

A favourite past-time of mine- is to go antiquing. I like to buy old objects and recycle them- by giving them a different purpose. In this case, I am using old tins as vases for my fresh herbs.

In a way I also recycled food- as I used left-over pasta for the Pasta Fritta recipe. This recipe made sense since nothing goes to waste in an Italian home. As I combined all the ingredients and saw how the dish looked- I was worried. The dish doesn't look very pleasing but boy was it a joy to eat! It tasted like a cross between Veal Parmiggiana and Pasta al Forno- if that makes sense. It was also so quick to make, which really helped since I was exhausted from waking up so early to watch Prince William get married :)