Everybody Loves Tuscany

Tuscan Pate Crostini Ingredients: 250gr. (1/2 lb.) chicken livers and hearts 1/2 medium size white onion, finely chopped 2 anchovies, boned and chopped, or 1 tbsp anchovy paste 2 tbsp capers, chopped 50gr. (2 oz.) butter 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 3 tbsp dry white wine freshly ground black pepper salt to taste 1 […]

Italian Superstitions – Hospital   Rebecca Del Rosso is La Signora Fiorentina. She was an Italian teacher in private schools for over 30 years. She taught group and individual lessons to foreign students in Florence. She was also my Italian teacher and now has become a good friend.   Italian Superstitions – Hospital Italy is […]

Pisa Sights Pisa is about a 1 hour train ride from Florence and is definitely worth the trip.   Piazza dei Miracoli, declared a Unesco World Heritage Site, is where you will find The Leaning Tower of Pisa, Baptisty and Cathedral.  Beyond the leaning tower, there are also some beautiful squares, good restaurants and a […]

How to Dry Herbs There’s nothing like opening a jar of dried herb — say thyme, rosemary or oregano — in the dead of winter and having the scent remind you of the glorious summer day you picked it and set it to drying. The peak time to dry herbs is right before flowering when […]

How To Start an Herb Garden If you don’t already have an herb garden or haven’t had much success with it, here’s a video which will walk you through the process of starting your own garden.  Think fresh herbs such as oregano, parsley, basil and more! Video from youtube Italy is a dream that keeps […]

How To Build A Raised Garden Bed Flower beds do not have to be elaborate to produce fresh vegetables and beautiful flowers. With a DIY raised garden bed, you can customize your garden plan as you want. Building a standard 3-ft x 5-ft garden bed with wood is typical; however, you also can use blocks, […]

Italian Grilled Corn It’s grilling time!  Corn grilled on the bbq is always a good side dish.  Although grilled corn on the cob is not common in Italy, Chef Fabio Viviani spices it to makes it Italian style grilled corn.   Here’s a way to kick up your grilled corn! Video from youtube Italy is a […]

La Bella Figura La bella figura or beautiful figure is a state of mind that Italians try to live by when presenting themselves.  Giorgio Locatelli is an Italian chef who explains what la bella figura means to Italians in this video. Video from youtube Italy is a dream that keeps returning for the rest of […]

Pesto Lasagna Ingredients 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 onion, peeled and finely chopped 1 large carrot, peeled and grated 1 celery stick, finely chopped 500 g minced beef 1 glass of Italian dry red wine 700 ml passata 1 tablespoon tomato purée 12 fresh lasagne sheets (each about 10 x 15cm) 50 g cold salted […]

Pollo Alla Milanese Ingredients 4 medium chicken breasts, skinless and boneless 100g/3½ plain flour 1 handful of fine breadcrumbs, toasted 2 eggs, beaten with salt and freshly ground black pepper 4 tbsp Italian extra virgin olive oil For the sauce 4 fresh large plum tomatoes, chopped 1 handful of pitted black olives, sliced 3 tbsp […]