Featured Photo Friday | Lunch Receipt Italian Style
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Copyright 2013 Andi Brown, Once in a Lifetime Travel
Posts tagged ‘italian cooking’
Jan 25
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Holiday Recipes from Italy
It is that time of year again! The holidays just aren’t the holidays without something yummy baking in the oven. I have compiled links to some of my favorite recipes that I am getting ready to test out this year. Let me know what you think, and if you have a favorite tell me about it!
Madonna del Piatto
If you were following me this August, you will remember my month of favorite Italian websites. This wonderful lady was one of those. Here is her recipe for Bace di Dama cookies and she even put the measurement conversions in for us Yankees. Another is her Assisi apple and olive oil strudel.
Baci di Dama
Over a Tuscan Stove
Another of my favorite cooking bloggers. Here are several links and I can’t decide where to get started. Fig and Walnut Paneforte, Christmas Treats, Bollito Misto (ok I’m dreaming here, following the links to actual recipe).
Red Star to Lone Star
I stumbled across this blog and loved the looked of it, then later found this post about the famous Italian cookies called Befana.
The Italian Dish
Another new mouthwatering blog that I am now following. So so many recipes to go through. Croccante, pine nut brittle and Mosiac Biscotti just for starters.
Croccante courtesy of the Italian Dish
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Copyright 2012 Andi Brown, Once in a Lifetime Travel
Peppermint Chip Chocolate Biscotti
Peppermint Chip Chocolate Biscotti
I had to bring this one back for the holidays! The perfect festive and yummy treat for this time of year.
Ingredients:
1 cup coarsely chopped Hershey’s Kisses Candy Cane (hurry, only available during the holidays!) plus approx 1 cup whole for drizzle
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup butter
2 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 to 2¼ cups flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1½ tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
Directions:
1. Heat the oven to 350°. Melt the butter and chocolate chips together (I put them in a Pyrex measuring cup and microwave them) and set aside.
2. Beat the eggs and sugar until lightened, about two minutes.
3. Add the vanilla and chocolate mixture.
4. Mix in the flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt just until combined. You should have a soft, but not sticky, dough. Add the extra 1/4 cup of flour if dough is too sticky. I usually have to add more. Mix in peppermint chips.
5. Divide the dough in half. On a lightly floured surface, form each half into a log that is 3½ inches by 9 inches. Place the logs on a heavy-duty baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the tops are set.
6. Reduce the oven to 275°. Let the logs cool, then slice into 1/2-inch thick slices. Arrange the slices on baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven, carefully turn the slices over, and bake for another 20 minutes.
7. Cool on a wire rack. Heat remaining peppermint chips in microwave on 70% power for 1-2 minutes, then drizzle over cooled biscotti. Store in an airtight container or freeze.
Copyright 2012 Andi Brown, Once in a Lifetime Travel
White Chocolate Pumpkin Biscotti Recipe
I had to re-post this in honor of the return of fall. Welcome October! I can’t wait to get my hands on the pumpkins growing in our little garden.
Ingredients:
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cups firmly packed brown sugar
- ½ white sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (see below for substitution)
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup melted white chocolate, for drizzling or dipping (optional)
Directions
Preheat oven to 350*F.
Combine flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and pumpkin pie spice in a large bowl; stir well. In another bowl, combine pumpkin, eggs, and vanilla, stirring well with a wire whisk. Slowly add pumpkin mixture to flour mixture, stirring until dry ingredients are moistened. (Mixture will be very crumbly; it will gradually become moist after stirring.)
Place dough on a lightly floured surface and divide into 2 portions. Lightly flour hands and shape each portion into a 2 x 10″ long log. (Or I just made one large 8″ x 16″ log.) Place logs 3″ apart on lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake for 25 minutes. Cool logs for 10-15 mins. Reduce oven temperature to 300 F.
After cooling, move a loaf to a cutting board and cut diagonally into 1/2″ thick pieces. The interior of each biscotti should still be just a little moist, with the crust of the loaf hard.
Place the biscotti with a cut side facing up on a half sheet pan and bake for 8 minutes. Remove the pan and flip all the biscotti over so the other cut side is now facing up. Bake for another 8 minutes. Set all the pieces on a wire rack to cool making sure that none of the biscotti are touching each other.
Once the biscotti have fully cooled, drizzle with melted white chocolate. Microwave chips for 1 minute on 70% power. Drizzle looks best when a fork is dipped in the melted chocolate and then dripped over biscotti.
If you don’t have pumpkin pie spice, you can substitute in:
- 1 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ginger
- 1/4 tsp cloves
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
Copyright 2012 Andi Brown, Once in a Lifetime Travel
Trattoria da Sandro Open Again | Vernazza
When people ask me where my very favorite restaurant in Vernazza is, without hesitation I say Sandro’s. It is one of the only restaurants without a view of the harbor, but that doesn’t keep it from being packed every evening. The crowd Sandro’s draws is also important: locals and Italians. Going where the locals go has always been my secret for finding the best places and I wasn’t disappointed here. So much so that almost one year ago I placed it on my Top Ten Favorite Places to Eat list.
The village of Vernazza
But when the floods hit Vernazza last October, I was afraid Sandro’s would be lost for good. This restaurant was one of the hardest hit and the owner barely escaped with his life. The location of the restaurant and the way the kitchen was set up meant a difficult clean up and recovery.
This hardship makes announcing Trattoria da Sandro’s re-opening even more exciting. If anyone is getting ready to travel to the Cinque Terre, make sure to stop by Vernazza and spend an evening here. Let them delight you!
For the most recent photos from Trattoria da Sandro, I invite you to my blogging friend’s mouth-watering article at Cultural Comments. I have been trying not to be too jealous of Nicole, but come on! Those photos are just NOT FAIR!
Courtesy of Cultural Comments. And I’m not jealous at all. Really.
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Copyright 2012 Andi Brown, Once in a Lifetime Travel
Italy’s Slow Food
I just finished reading an inspiring article for the National Geographic Traveler magazine (my favorite!) about the little traveled to Piedmont region. This is in the northern part of Italy and literally means the foot of the mountains. What this region is known for is the wine and the birth of the Slow Food Movement.
I had the opportunity to plant my first real garden this year and it was quite frankly addicting. The vegetables flourished, I found myself knocking on neighbors doors to give away my lettuce for fear they would rot. Proudly, I have been able to put fresh corn, tomatoes, peas, lettuce, peppers and soon pumpkin on the table. Fewer trips to the grocery store, more creative meals made around what was picked that day. Even better? Watching my 2 and 9 year old in the garden hunting for ripe veggies. Now that I know what I can grow, I’m busy planning for new things next year.
Slow Food. Simply speaking, food to table. Grown fresh and locally. I like that concept.
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Copyright 2012 Andi Brown, Once in a Lifetime Travel
Day 26 of My Favorite Italian Websites | Madonna del Piatto
Welcome to Day 26 of my 30 days of Italian websites that will draw you in and keep you dreaming.
Italian family cooking. Say no more, I’m in love. You will find amazing recipes, local information and a great itinerary schedule suggestion for those visiting Umbria. Lovingly written and it shows! Click here.
Feel like you belong on my list or have a favorite link to share? Let me know!!
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Copyright 2012 Andi Brown, Once in a Lifetime Travel
Day 25 of My Favorite Italian Websites | Flavors of Rome
Welcome to Day 25 of my 30 days of Italian websites that will draw you in and keep you dreaming.
I just discovered Flavors of Rome as I researched the internet for new blogs and I have absolutely no idea why I had missed this one in the past. I am going to get myself into trouble I am sure for saying this, but Rome my favorite big city and also my favorite place to eat. I barely can pull myself from the table to go see the Vatican. To find someone even more in love, click here.
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Copyright 2012 Andi Brown, Once in a Lifetime Travel
Day 17 of My Favorite Italian Websites | Marche Breaks
Welcome to Day 17 of my 30 days of Italian websites that will draw you in and keep you dreaming.
Le Marche is essentially unknown to the majority of tourists, yet it is an amazingly beautiful area that I have only to begin to discover. For anyone looking for something off the beaten path, Marche Breaks is the perfect place to start.
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Copyright 2012 Andi Brown, Once in a Lifetime Travel
Day 16 of My Favorite Italian Websites | Sapori e saperi
Welcome to Day 16 of my 30 days of Italian websites that will draw you in and keep you dreaming.
I obviously have Italian cuisine on the brain, but you will find this is much more than a foodie site. I love this blog and its thoughtful posts that go beyond food and into the relationships that are built. This site to me completely embodies the importance food has in the Italian culture. Flavors and Knowledge. Very well said. There is a great post about three generations learning the art of ricotta. Click here.
Feel like you belong on my list or have a favorite link to share? Let me know!!
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Copyright 2012 Andi Brown, Once in a Lifetime Travel
