Monthly Archives: November 2013

Friends with Trends … Potluck and a Truffle Hunter

Posted on November 18, 2013 by

It’s good to have friends with food trends … or is it because we like our food that we become friends in the first place? Whatever … let me introduce you to three of them. (A) Entry number one is … Continue reading →

Posted in Basic Techniques, italian home food, Polpette: Meatballs as well as vegetable crocquettes, Primi (first courses - usually a pasta or risotto), Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Good Golly Pasta e Fagioli!

Posted on November 14, 2013 by

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5VkTcmQxD8 I “sure like to ball” just like Miss Molly in the song above and try and maintain a cheerful outlook about having to cook something even when needs must I do it in a hurry.    That’s when the … Continue reading →

Posted in Basic Techniques, Herbs and plants, italian home food, Primi (first courses - usually a pasta or risotto), Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Foraging inside the Fridge and a Hot Dip – Bagna Caoda

Posted on November 11, 2013 by

“When it comes to stocking the refrigerator,” I should like to say suavely with knowledge born of long experience, “my general goal is to stick to three staples:  the sort of ingredients that are required on a daily or regular … Continue reading →

Posted in Antipasti, Basic Techniques, italian home food | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Pasta alla Gricia

Posted on November 7, 2013 by

It’s lunch time and I decide to make pasta alla Gricia … just ‘because’. It is being unseasonably warm for this time of year but, even so, there is an inescapable feel of Autumn in the air, of days slowing … Continue reading →

Posted in italian home food, Places to eat, Primi (first courses - usually a pasta or risotto), Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

The Importance of Afternoon Tea

Posted on November 3, 2013 by

Under certain circumstances there are few hours more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.” ― Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady Upon learning that I had become a Girl Scout Leader, friends of mine who … Continue reading →

Posted in Travel and Tales, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Sausage and Roman Broccoli (Broccoli e Salsiccia)

Posted on November 2, 2013 by

This is such a ‘homey’, unpretentious and simple dish that I almost feel silly talking about a ‘recipe’ for it.  Instead of ‘bangers and mash’, this is salsiccia e broccolo romano.  It can be eaten as a main dish or … Continue reading →

Posted in Basic Techniques, Secondi (main course, usually meat based), Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments