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7 days ago
I love vegetables of all types, but if I had to choose my favorite, definitely the artichoke would be up there in the top three. Artichokes are relatives of the thistle, which isn’t surprising when you consider their appearance. The artichoke is native to North Africa and southern Europe and has been cultivated in Italy since Roman times. In Italy there are three principal varieties of artichokes cultivated, which do not seem to resemble the larger, sturdy, commercial grown varieties available in North America. While living in Italy the first time, one of my favorite memories of spring was being in Venice and tasting my first tiny, purple spring carciofi or artichokes. Here in Umbria the larger, sturdier artichokes shown above are the type we find in the markets from late fall through to the spring.11 days ago
Gnocchi is one of my hands down favorite Italian dishes and if I see it on a restaurant menu here in Italy and find out it is made "in house", chances are it will be my first selection. A well made gnocchi should be delicate enough to be described as tender, yet sturdy enough to hold it's own when combined with sauce. Gnocchi are basically dumplings, and can be made of almost any ingredients that can be formed into a dough. Gnocchi, (pronounced NYOK-ee) are made in most regions in Italy, although they are generally made with different ingredients in each. Some gnocchi are round while others are oval and grooved to hold the sauce.20 days ago
Although Thanksgiving is not a holiday Italians (in Italy) traditionally celebrate, there are many wonderful Italian dishes that would fit perfectly into a holiday menu. Italian Americans have embraced Thanksgiving wholeheartedly and made this holiday their own by adding their own special touch to the celebration. They often do this by including traditional family favorites such as a special pasta dish or a pasta based soup to the holiday menu. There are so many wonderful different fall foods that can be incorporated into your Thanksgiving menu to give it a special "Italian" flavor. I am giving a number of my favorite holiday options below to help you plan a very special Italian Thanksgiving this year. Many of these dishes may not be typical for this specific holiday, but they do celebrate the season's best and are perfect for any celebration.26 days ago
I awoke a little sore but well rested and quite excited to see the process through at the olive mill so we could bring home the fruits of our two days of hard work. I was surprised to see my husband managed to cram all 11 cases into our small little leased Citroen, but somehow he managed to do so without an inch to spare. Our appointment was at 10:30 and our landscaper planned to come along with us to make sure everything went smoothly. I guess he thought we might lose our way and get stranded with a car full of olives.544 days ago
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