copyright 2010, art of living, PrimaMedia,Inc

In honor of the official release of The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions-2nd edition (ISBN 978-1928911-19-7) the award winning recipe novel that includes recipes and Holiday food memories- we will be posting one story a week from our readers about their favorite food memory and why it holds a special place in their heart. This is the first, and we will be posting one new story each week till December 31st. Thanks Jennifer for sharing this great story with us!

From:  Jennifer Reich, co author of the new book The Mommy MD Guide to Pregnancy and Birth and cofounder of www.MommyMDGuides.com

“My husband and I honeymooned at Walt Disney World in 2002. We were married in their beautiful wedding pavilion with a view of Cinderella Castle. That night , we enjoyed a great meal at the Italian restaurant in Epcot. I had their delicious Fettuccine Alfredo, one of the best meals I’ve ever had. A few weeks after we got home, I found the recipe online for that restaurant’s fettuccini alfredo. Now I’m not the best cook ever–a passable cook at best. But there must have been a little pixie dust included with that recipe because I managed to recreate dish just as I remembered it from my honeymoon!”

 Here’s a Recipe for a Lighter version of Fettucini Alfredo

Be a Guest Writer:If you have a special food memory and would like to share it with our 100,000+ subscribers from all over the world, email the story to: sharethejoy@marialiberati.com  For more details

Get your copy of the book that was selected as Best Italian Cuisine Book in the USA- The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions-2nd edition

Filled with recipes, charming stories and food memories from a country house in the mountains of Italy and Holiday ideas.

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I always think of myself as a ‘gastronaut’- ( gastronomy + astronaut=gastronaut) someone that travels and explores through food..and I think there are many of you out there! 

Sundays in the center of Rome are my favorite way to spend a lazy summer afternoon,  exploring as a gastronaut..while many flock to nearby beaches I prefer to ‘sweat it out’ walking through the cobblestoned streets and admiring  the view and  some of the simple foods special to this city..gelato, pizza,cornetti, tramezzini..

You can find these in other places in Italy..but you will find the best of them here,in Rome.  And on Sundays if  lunch isn’t eaten at home in grand fashion,it is a casual lunch while making my way through this living art museum they call Rome. A tramezzini is my usual choice for lunch..I call it the elegant sandwich (If you have a favorite food from your trips to Rome, let us know!)

Tramezzini are beautifully decorated sandwiches usually placed in front in the glass cases at the coffee bars at lunchtime,sometimes even for breakfast and during happy hour eaten with aperitifs. When I’m not in Rome but longing for my days there, I make a tramezzini on a lazy Sunday afternoon-wherever I am and reminisce…

Tramezzini are great to bring to the beach or a picnic or even to the office. Who thought Italians use sliced bread? crusts are removed to make this an elegant sandwich

Tramezzini

serves 1

3 slices of thinly sliced white or whole wheat bread (crusts removed)

1- 3ounce can of tuna packed in water

*1 chopped celery stalk

*1 small tomato sliced

*1 tsp chopped red onion

*1/4 cup shredded romaine lettuce

*4 large green or black olives hulled and chopped

*2 tsps extra virgin olive oil

Drain and flake tuna, place in bowl. Add in chopped red onion, chopped celery,olives. Drizzle one tsp olive oil on top and mix.

Cut bread slices in quarters- triangle shapes. Brush both slices with olive oil, place in oven under broil for a minute to toast. Remove from oven. Make small sandwiches by placing tuna mixture on top of one slice then place a triangle on top, then place a slice of tomato, drizzle with olive oil, cover with another triangle. Now stick a toothpick through to hold it together. Place a grape tomato or olive on top of toothpick. Make 4 of these. You can use the same fillings for your sandwiches that you use for almost any sandwiches-cheeses, meats, roasted veggies

Garnish with parsley leaves,serve. No passport needed!

Any foods that take you back to a special place? Share your summer food memories here..or foods that bring you back to a special place…we would love to hear about them!

More on tramezzini

For more recipes get your copy of the award winning book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holiidays & Special Occasions-2nd edition –selected as the Best Italian Cuisine Book in the USA

Sept 9-12-Hudson Valley Wine Festival- Maria Liberati and The Basic Art of Italian Cooking take center stage for cooking demos and book signings. Held at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, NY. For more  info to attend or to sponsor the cooking demos, email us at : info@marialiberati.com

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Your Chance to Share your Holiday and food memories and see them in print!

Just a short note to invite you to Share the Joy! with all of our readers. In honor of the release of The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions-2nd edition the Gourmand World Cookbook Award winning book which includes recipes ,menus and food memories  of the Holidays-we invite our readers to share their food memory stories of the Holidays! Submit your story of no more than 300 words about any special Holiday food memory related to any Holiday, can include but does not have to include a recipe, can be related to any nationality.

Each week from September 1st to March 30th a story will be selected to be published on the Blog here. Stories become permanently archived on the Blog and may become part of a national publication at a later date. Go to Share the Joy for more details or email: sharethejoy@marialiberati.com

Look forward to your Holiday stories

For recipes and Holiday stories get your copy of  the book selectedas the Best Italian Cusine Book in the USA -The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions-2nd edition

Sept 10-12 join me at the Hudson Valley Wine Festival. I will take center stage with Celebrity Chef Vincent Tropepe there at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds. Book signing for The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions-2nd editon and recipes. For more info or to sponsor the cooking demos email: Info@marialiberati.com

copyright 2010, art of living,PrimaMedia,Inc/Maria Liberati

It was the beginning of summer, much like today,the warm summer sun  ‘kissing’ the mountains of Abruzzo and an invite to go to a spot known as ‘il Vittoriale’ in a resort known as Lago di Garda (Garda Lake).

Vittoriale was the last known but much loved  home of famed Italian statesman,poet, writer, politician-Gabriele D’Annunzio.

We arrived in Garda and the next day began to set out on our intended journey, to il Vittoriale. Set aside the water’s edge with a brightly colored flower garden decorating the borders.  D’Annunzio was a very interesting figure in Italian history. Walking through the place is like walking through an open book of his writings..you could tell that he was from Abruzzo because of the  Abruzzese ‘chitarra’ used to make the famed dish ‘pasta a la chitarra’

He always said ‘chi piu gode conosce’ literally translates as the more someone enjoys or savors  something the more they will understand how to appreciate it. And appreciate and enjoy he did ..frequently. There are postcards that he wrote to his chefs after a great dish was prepared….One begins”:Dearest Albinia: Your fritatta, after eating many other mediocre ones, is sublime! I consider myself someone who has tasted many slices of frittata around the world”.he goes on to say how he loved this frittata so much that he would testify in front of St Peter when he gets to heaven that this was the best frittata in the world!

The thought of a delicious frittata..I  no longer was  interested in history..I have to admit that my eyes kept glancing down at my watch for 1:00 (l’ora di pranzo) lunchtime. We had reservations at Aquariva..and were so looking forward to the ‘tagliolini fatta a casa’(homemade egg noodles) with white truffles.

Situated on the marina..could the color blue be any bluer than  sunny day here?

The tagliollini were inspiring..befitting the palate of one Gabriele D’Anninzio..but still thinking of that illustrious he must have experienced to pen that postcard.

Spinach Frittata

6 eggs

8 ounces fresh spinach, washed, chopped, sauteed with garlic & olive oil

1/4 cup parmigiano-reggiano freshly grated

pinch of salt

dash of freshly ground black pepper to taste

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 clove garlic

In large saute pan, place olive oil and whole clove of garlic. Saute for 2 minutes over medium heat, remove garlic. Break eggs into bowl and whip with wire whisk for 2 minutes, add in pinch of slat and dash of freshly ground black pepper. Place in chopped, sauteed spinach.Stir with fork, place in freshly grated parmigiana-reggiano.Stir. Pour egg mixture into heated olive oil. Saute, till sides are cooked. Toss onto plate and trun over and cook on opposite side.

Serve hot or cold..makes a great filling for a portable pannini…

Sept 9-12th-Hudson Valley Wine Festival-Rhinebeck, NY, on stage cooking appearance and Book Siginng of the book voted as Best Italian Cuisine Book in the USA-The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions-2nd edition

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Maria

http://www.marialiberati.com

where food meets art ,travel & life!

The summer gives meaning to eating ‘al fresco’..a true reason for eating ‘al aperto’ ..Mornings.. I find myself lingering longer with my morning cappuccino outside on the terrace.. waiting as the warm (almost summer) sun wakes up..And soon my passion for foods  that are  fresh, light and bright  come to mind..… Here are some ‘al aperto’ foods- uncomplicated..

For the center of the table..a bouquet of fresh mint  placed in a jar or vase. Any favorite recipes for eating ‘al fresco’? Please share them with us here..

Spinaci Aglio e Limone

2 pounds fresh spinach ,washed and cleaned

2 cloves of garlic,chopped

1/2 fresh lemon

2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

Heat olive oil in a saute pan ,add in chopped garlic. Add in fresh spinach, saute for 5minutes, starring with wooden spoon. Remove from heat. Place in serving dish. Squeeze half lemon over spinach, season with dash of salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with lemon peels cut into spirals. Serve with shaved Pecorino or Grana Padana on the side.

Olive Verde Fritte (Fried Green Olives)

1 lb of pitted green olives

2 ounces of anchovy filets packed in olive oil

2 egg whites

1 cup of plain bread crumbs

1 cup olive oil

In deep fryer, place oil, heat.

Place egg whites in bowl and beat till frothy. Stuff olive with anchovy filet piece.Place olive in egg white. Place bread crumbs on flat dish and add in pinch of salt. Roll stuffed olive into bread crumbs, fry till golden brown and crunchy. Place olive on paper towels before serving

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Mark your calendar for Sept 9-12th..see you at the Hudson Valley Wine Fest in Rhinebeck, NY, I will  be onstage cooking and signing copies of my newly released book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions-2nd edition..  winner of the Gourmand World Cookbook Award. see you there. To sponsor one of my cooking demos or book singing booth-email: info@marialiberati.com

Maria

copyright 2009, art of living,PrimaMedia, Inc.

The Holiday Season is in full blast , especially  now that much of the US got their first dose of  Holiday snow this weekend. Here is a perfect recipe for a Holiday appetizer or light course for a brunch or light dinner. Special thanks goes to Fred Cohen a culinary student at J & A Culinary Arts school in Philadelphia for coming up with this Holiday recipe using Tuscan Picnic Spice Blend

The 2009 Holiday Gift Guide has 27 pages full of our Best of 2009 Products selected for their artisan quality and the experience they provide for the consumer. See it here:

Holiday Gift Guide 2009

http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1jim0/HolidayGiftGuide2009/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=

*Roasted Fig Salad with Crispy Prosciutto and Parmigiana cheese (served with
a Tuscan spiced crouton and reduced balsamic dressing)**Dressing*:* *
Serves 6:
1/2 c balsamic vinegar reduced by half to make 1/4 cup of  balsamic syrup
2 t chopped parsley
3 T extra-virgin olive oil (check out our selections of  olive oil in the Holiday Gift Guide)
1/2 – 1 t dijon mustard
Salt  & Pepper  to  taste

*Figs*:
Black figs sliced in half lengthwise
Coarse Sea Salt
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
A sprinkle of sugar

*Other:
Salad Greens
Crusty Loaf Bread
Shaved parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

2 tsps Tuscan Picnic Spice Blend 

Proscuitto slices cut into  julienne strips

*Directions*:
-Combine the reduced balsamic  syrup with the chopped parsley, olive oil, and dijon
mustard. Whisk until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper and hold to the
side.
-Slice thin slices of crusty loaf bread and brush with olive oil. Season
with the Tuscan Picnic  spice blend and toast in the oven (or grill/broil if
desired) until toasted. For dryer croutons hold them in the oven (heat off)
until they cool.
-Lay the figs in a roasting pan and sprinkle with olive oil and the coarse
salt. Roast in the oven at 375 degrees until cooked. If desired, sprinkle a
little bit of sugar onto the figs three – five minutes before the figs are
done.
-Lay the prosciutto slices on a sheet pan and crisp in the oven, roughly 1 -
2 minutes.
-Gather the shaved cheese and assemble the salad. Lay the crouton on the
plate, topped with the salad tossed in the dressing. Lay the roasted figs on
the side and top the greens with the prosciutto and then the shaved cheese.
For garnish, paint some of the remaining balsamic syrup with a spoon on the
side of the plate.

Form more recipes get your copy of The Basic Art of Italian Cooking:Holidays & Special Occasions- winner of the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards as Best Italian Cuisine Book in America in 2009. Thanks for all those that voted for the book and have purchased copies of the book and have been ’spreading the word’.

Hope to see you on December 12th at the Franklin Township Library at 12 noon for a Holiday book signing and cooking demo!

copyright 2009, art of living,PrimaMedia,Inc/ Maria Liberati

For those of you that came to my book reading /signing at the Warren Twp Library in Warren, NJ..here is the recipe for the chocolate ricotta tartufi that we enjoyed during the presentation.

Thanks to everyone that came out and to everyone at the library.  I enjoyed meeting everyone and sharing my stories of  Holidays spent in the mountains of Abruzzo and special undiscovered places in Italy and my Holiday recipes. The  stories  and recipes  are  included in my latest release The Basic Art of Italian Cooking :Holidays & Special Occasions, get your copy now in time for the Holidays.

Everyone in Italy is crazy for their decadent tartufi found in many parts of Italy and used sparingly on pizzas, salads, risottos, pasta, polenta as well as truffle oil. They are really a treasure to behold… and luckily for me they are found in parts of Abruzzo..someone usually sends them to our house before I get back in December..so the first thing I do when I get to our country home before Christmas is open up my freezer to find the tartufi ..waiting for me…my favorite Christmas present! You only need a little, so one tartufi will last for many dishes.

 But many desserts are made  in the shape of the treasured tartufi from ice cream desserts to little sweets. These (below)  are easy sweets to whip up in no time but taste like you have been baking all day. They are no bake as well. Tartufini means little tartufi or little truffles

Ricotta Chocolate Tartufini

*1 lb of ricotta

*1 lb  of  amaretti cookies crushed

*1 tbsp of  amaretto liqueur

*1/2 cup powdered sugar

* 1/2 cup powdered unsweetened cocoa

Mix ricotta with crushed amaretti, amaretto liqueur, sugar. Place powdered cocoa on a flat plate.  divide ricotta mixture into small balls the size of a nut (to resemble tartufi) and roll in the powdered cocoa, refrigerate for at least an hour or until served. Serve with  Bracchetto D’Acqui for a really festive touch.

Get your copy of The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions  just in time for the Holidays

Hope to see you at: my book signings/readings at:
Dec 9th-Girls Night out-Chestnut Hill Business Association

December 12th-Franklin Twp Library

December 29-January 29th- Italy- I will be hosting one day semi private culinary and vineayrd tours and cooking classes. We still have a few spots open if you will be in Italy during that time and want to join one of our culinary tours or cooking programs email : events@marialiberati.com  for more info

In just a few more days we will be releasing The 209 Holiday Gift Guide..look out for some great and yummy special gifts for this Holiday Season

Mangia Bene, Vivi Bene,

Maria

http://twitter.com/Marialiberati

     copyright 2009, art of living,PrimaMedia,Inc

by Maria Liberati

My recent trek to the region of Ancona in the province of Le Marche led to the discovery of a few culinary delights.. Il Lacrima di MorroD’Alba …the locals call it  the ‘little prince’ of red wines in the region..

You can find the vines for this particular wine grown in the hills of Morro D’Alba and nearby towns of Senegallia and Jesi. Il Lacrima is really unique and different from the more well known reds, not full of tannins but very fragrant. More of a new wine ,not particularly aged. It is not presented as  a noble wine but considered the ‘little prince’ of wines..’profumatissime’ (very fragrant) and charming, endearing to the senses..

When it comes to wine not everyone appreciates those characteristics..but many are curious to taste it and slowly fall in love with this wine’s endearing qualities.

At one time, Il Lacrima, in the ‘novella’ stage, was the wine of the peasants,they would use it to accompany their grilled meats eaten while on break working in the fields. They could not wait for the juice to finish aging and would pour it directly from the barrels into bottles. So it is popular to this day as a new wine…more remnants of cucina povere…

Il Lacrima can be found for sale usually after the 15th of December quickly after the vendemmia of that year.

Great wine to accompany local pasta or meat dishes..recipes to follow soon..

Get your copy of The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions before the Holiday rush. With over 140+ recipes, menus, wine parings and short stories of Holidays spent in the mountains of Italy.

have any questions on wine or Holiday celebrations..call in tonight to Celebrations trasio show and I will answer your questions or just listen in http://tinyurl.com/lkxl2v
 

 October 5th.. 7 PM- Sampler Dinner and Cooking Demo. Horsham Library, Horsham Pa. Join me for a Dinner/cooking demo at the  Horsham Library in Horsham Pa for a sampler 4 course dinner including specialties from  The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions  Email:juzz@aol.com for reservations or email events@marialiberati.com Places limited!!

Nov. 5-7th- Christmas in Italy weekend..join me for a culinary weekend complete with cooking classes with fresh produce from Lancaster County and wine pairings using menus from

 The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions

at the Harvest Moon Bed and Breakfast

Experience Italy for the Holidays with no passport required in Lancaster, Pa… Spaces limited,

call 1-888-824-3763  or email info@harvestmoonbandb.com

Copyright 2009, Maria Liberati

Sundays in Rome always turn into special days..and this weekend was no exception. A  trip there  for an event on Saturday  for my latest book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking-Holidays & Special Occasions turned into more than just that ..Sunday was  filled with finding  favorite foods in Rome and seeing old friends-Moses &  Michelangelo..

 It  became a  trip to revisit those old friends..a stop to see Michelangelo’s Moses, the Trevi Fountain and canlt forget Santa Maria sopra Minerva… I have seen them many times and can sit in front of them for hours upon end and take in their beauty..almost embarassingly so..my eyes become wide open in amazement.. thinking of Michelangelo toiling in front of his Moses…

But enough about the art..let’s get into the food.. From cornetto & cappuccino near Santa Maria Maggiore to Pizza in Trastevere..coffee at St.Eustachio and EUR and gelato near Montecitorio…what a weekend program..  attempting to fit in all the local food stops one could fit in..It seemed like so many foods but  so little time to get them all in..

Pizza in Rome is at its best when it is thin ,made with fresh mozzarella, extra virgin olive oil and most places display a sign to tell you the ingredients uses as do the places that make their own gelato. The sign is usually somewhere on the glass case that displays the pizza and/or gelato..

In 100 degree weather the  gelato creations, looking as something that may have been created by one of the masters, melt so quickly one has but a split second to  admire the aesthetic beauty. Enjoying a dish of gelato outside in Rome under the summer sun is an experience in contrast..the heatof the August sun beating down,the cool,creamy liquid refreshing your senses..the intense flavors hypnotizing…almost diverting your attention away from the uncomfortable temperatures at least for a few minutes.

A linguine with cold pasta sauce coming later today  for lunch..

Mangia Bene, Vivi Bene,

Maria

http://twitter.com/Marialiberati

Uova in Curry (eggs in curry sauce) is something out of the ordinary and a dish I  have come up with  for my next book. It makes a great second course dish for almost any meal. Although, the recipe is done in an Italian style  with the tomato based sauce-the adding of the curry is not something traditionally Italian. But the curry does give this easy and healthy dish its’ own chaarcter.

Try it and let me know how you like it….

Uova E Curry

copyright, Maria Liberati 2008- The Basic Art of Italian Cooking, Holidays and Special Occasions.

Uova al Curry (Eggs in Curry Sauce)

(serves 4)

8 large eggs

2 medium eggplants

16 ounce can of crushed tomatoe

1 tsp powdered curry

1 tsp fresh chopped parsley

4 tblsps extra virgin olive oil

1 clove garlic

Salt and pepper to taste

Wash. dry eggplant. Cut of both ends of eggplant. Cut into small cubes. Place I ncolander and sprinkle 1 tsp of salt on top, let sit for 30 minutes. Rinse and pat dry.

In sauté pan heat 1 tblsp olive oil, whole garlic clove for 1 minute. Place in eggplant cubes and powdered curry. Cook over low heat for 15 minutes.

Add in crushed tomatoes,salt and pepper to taste. Cook for another 20 minutes over low heat.

I n separate pot cook eggs in boiling water for 10-15 minutes or until hardboiled. Peel.

Remove eggplant from heat. Remove garlic clove. Sprinkle with chopped parsley.  Arrange 2 eggs on each serving plate and cover with eggplant mixture.

Ciao for now..

Maria

http://www.marialiberati.com

http://mediterraneandiet-healthy.blogspot.com

For more recipes get your copy of the best selling book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking at

http://www.marialiberati.com and recieve free shipping and $5 off retail price.