In our American culture we tend to consider things that are not  pristine and spanking brand new less than worthy..but if you are planning a trip to Italy you will need to change your frame of mind… Italy is like a woman that has aged  beautifully..yes there are wrinkles and the foundation is not perfect but the history she has lived through and experienced all contribute to a different type of beauty. It is a type of beauty that you can’t purchase in a makeup bottle.. a beauty that is not achieved  easily..one that takes years to develop..like a fine bottle of wine or aged cheese.

ahh..fine aged cheese..gruyere cheese and potatoes and the perfect ‘pranzo’ (lunch)…working on this easy recipe for lunch for our first course..a change instead of pasta..great with a bottle of chilled Prosecco. You can also have these as a ‘chic’ appetizer…

Crostatine di Patate e Gruviera (Potato & Gruyere Tarts)

1 lb of gold potatoes

1 cup flour (unbleached)

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese

1 egg

1/4 lb of gruyere cheese (Or substitute fresh mozzarella cheese) cut into small pieces.

Homemade breadcrumbs (put day old bread in food processor,grind to crumbs and place in oven on cookie sheet till toasted)

dash of nutmeg

salt and pepper to taste

Peel, clean potatoes,place in boiling water and boil till tender-approximately 20 minutes). Place in food processor and mash. Place in bowl while still hot and add in butter, parmigiana-reggiano, egg, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Blend with a wooden spoon, add in some breadcrumbs to make the mixture firm.  Divide mixture into small meatballs-the size of small peach. pat down slightly to make small pizza shapes.  Place on cookie sheet or grill pan that has been lightly coated with olive oil.Cover top of patties  with gruyere cheese. place under broiler for approximately 4 minutes or until cheese has melted and slightly golden. Serve hot with some freshly chopped parsley leaves and or top each little pizza with some chopped ,fresh tomatoes.

Buon Appetito!
Serve with a chilled white wine,Prosecco or Champagne

As Napoleon once said “one needs to drink champagne to celebrate  victory or to console oneself  upon defeat” .

For more great recipes get your copy of the award winning book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions-2nd edition

Visit me at OpenSky

Sept 9-12-see you at Hudson Valley Wine Festival in Rhinebeck, NY. I will be bringing The Basic Art of Italian Cooking to center stage with cooking demos, wine pairings from the latest book release.  For info or to sponsor on stage apperances email us at: info@marialiberati

I’m really not fond of pate..are you? But I am always on the lookout for ways to make a non-traditional type of pate.

At our country house in Abruzzo-we have an organic garden that I love to tend to-we had so much thyme one year..I made some bouquets of thyme and placed in the kitchen or la cucina..but wanted to use it up before the bouquets dried.

A fridge full of fresh mushrooms..a quick trip to the local cheese store on Via Corradini.  I look forward to my walks to Via Corradini.  A principal street in the center of town..one can find a local coffee bar,a fresh pasta store, a forno (or pizza & Bread oven), a bakery and a small local grocery store. If you pick the perfect hour  and if the wind is blowing just the right way your nose will be entertained by the fragrance of fresh bread baking or pizza just dancing it’s way out of the oven.

As you continue your walk the mountains of Abruzzo provide a live painting to view as you make your way the sight of an old church steeple..no need to bring a watch..you can depend on the church bells to ring out the time on the hour, every hour.

When the stores begin to lock their doors and close their lights it is time to head home to prepare the afternoon meal. But that’s okay..by this time you are ravenous from the sights, smells and sounds.

A bottle of Montepulciano D’Abruzzo will make this a perfect summer meal..add a plate of fresh fruit for dessert.

Crostini with Mushroom Pate

1 egg

8 ounces of fresh mushrooms-washed and sliced

1 branch of fresh thyme

1 head of lettuce

2 slices of thinly sliced (American style sliced) bread with crusts taken off

1 tablespoon of mayonnaise

1 tablespoon of Greek yogurt

½ tablespoon of butter (unsalted)

dash of salt and freshly ground black pepper

Place butter in a non-stick pan, add in mushrooms, pinch o f salt, and 4 washed lettuce leaves. Cover and saute over low heat for 10 minutes. Boil egg in water for 10 minutes. Place under running cold water and peel. Remove mushrooms from heat, set aside a few slices for decoration. In food processor or blender place in mushrooms mix, egg, yogurt, ½ tsp finely chopped thyme, mayonnaise. Belnd till smotth cream. Cut out 8 circles from bread slices.. Toast till golden under broiler. Remove from oven and spread with cream mixture.

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

Tours to Italy

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

“We do not remember days, we remember moments” once said Cesare Pavese-Italian author/novelist…

so create a special moment for Father’s Day..a meal ..a brunch  together..a picnic..a meal…time together ..created by you…create a moment to remember.

Ingredients for a Happy Father’s Day:
A recipe that uses local and in season ingredients

Your Dad or someone that is a Father figure to you

Time spent together… accompanied by great food, friends and family..

Strawberries are at their sweetest..try this dish accompanied by a Prosecco or Spumante:

Risotto alla Fragole (risotto with strawberries)

4 cups vegetable broth

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 leeks chopped finely

1 cup arborio or carnaroli rice

1 tablespoon butter (unsalted)

pinch of salt

1 cup Prosecco, Spumante or dry white wine

10 ounces fresh strawberries, washed and cut in half

Heat vegetable broth till boiling. Place olive oil in large saute pan. Place in chopped leeks and saute till leeks are just about golden. Place in rice and toast till rice is coated with oil and all liquid is evaporated. Add in wine or Prosecco. Stir till all liquid is evaporated. Place in ½ cup of vegetable broth and stir till all liquid is evaporated and repeat placing in ½ cup liquid til evaporated till rice is al dente (approximately 15 minutes).

Puree strawberries. When rice is almost done, place in strawberry puree. Stir in well. Remove from heat. Let stand for 2 minutes. Place 1 tablespon of butter on top and stir till melted. Serve ,top with grated parmigiana-reggiano cheese. Decorate plates with strawberry garnish.

Happy Father’s Day!

For more recipes and menus for Special Occasions get your copy of the book selected as Best Italian Cuisine Book in the USA The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions-2nd edition

Hope to see you at the Hudson Valley Wine Festival in Rhinebeck, NY on Sept 9-12 at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds. As one of the selected  Celebrity Chefs for the event , I will be  on stage cooking demos of recipes from my latest book with some great wines from the event. For more info, or for sponsorship info email: info@marialiberati.com

Maria

www.marialiberati.com

where food meets art ,travel and life!

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

Summer has just begun, but here in Italy it means the sunniest and hottest days of the year are soon to come. A small dish or cone of gelato is the perfect way to refresh. But to avoid the boredom of the same cone or dish of gelato, here is a unique dish that has become my favorite after dinner dessert or afternoon ‘pick me up’. This dessert is approx 175 calories per portion.

Ginger & Peach Delight

*2 cups of vanilla or cream gelato

*4 ripe peaches

*1 small piece of fresh ginger

*2 tsps butter

*2 tsps sugar

*1 tsp cinnamon

Wash the peaches and cut into slices. Finely chop the ginger. Place butter, chopped ginger and peach slices in a saute pan over low heat. Sprinkle sugar on top of fruit and saute for 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. Let gelato sit at room temperature or soften for approx 10 minutes. Add in cinnamon and blend well. Divide peach mixture into 4 glasses, placing some first on bottom of glasses, then place in gelato, then top with remaining peaches. Serve.

For more recipes get your copy of The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions-2nd edition- order your pre release copy now. Voted as The Best Italian Cuisine Book in  the USA

Hope to see you at the Hudson Valley Wine Festival in Rhinebeck, NY on Sept 9-12 at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds. As one of the selected  Celebrity Chefs for the event , I will be  on stage cooking demos of recipes from my latest book with some great wines from the event. For more info, or for sponsorship info email: info@marialiberati.com

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copyright 2010, art of living, PrimaMedia,Inc

by Maria Liberati

Eat like you Love with passion…make recipes that are easy but provide pleasure for cooking and eating…..one of my favorite and fuss free recipes is ‘chocolate salami’ -an uncomplicated but fun to make and eat dessert.

No it is not a meat dish… but it is a dessert and is meat free! And best of all quick and simple to prepare..but the secret is to use only the best ingredients..even in a simple dish like a chocolate salami.

Take 3 ounces of bitter cocoa powder-use a good brand one that is at least 70% cocoa…place cocoa powder in a bowl and add in 2 whole eggs,4 tablespoons of sugar,1 ounce of unsalted butter-melted.Stir with a wooden spoon till well blended. As you are blending you will, be hypnotized by the fragrance of the cocoa and butter being melded together..mmm..enjoy the aroma and now crush an ounce of amaretti cookies and 2 ounces of biscotti into the chocolate mixture. Blend crushed cookies into the chocolate mixture with your hands…now place a little sample of yoru creation into your mouth, close yoru eyes and concentrate on the pure,intense taste..but what could be missing..some crushed nuts, perhaps a liqueur??brandy or a coffee liqueur?? Now add in and mix..

Place the mix onto a piece of parchment paper.Roll up into the shape of a salami. Massage it into form so that it forms a perfect compact salami shape.Cover with parchment paper, place in freezer for a few hours. Remove from freezer,remove parchment paper and slice..

All in all the chocolate salami should take no more than 30 minutes to make ..but will provide so  many hours of eating pleasure,..

Get more recipes in the award winning.. The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions

Visit me at OpenSky

May 25th 11 AM-Re-release book signing at Book Expo America, Jacob Javits Convention Center in NYC. First 100 visitors to the booth gets a free mini pre-release copy of the book.. Hope to see you there..

copyright 2010  Maria Liberati

I love Holidays ..especially Spring Holidays..it’s like we are waking up after this long winter nap and all of a sudden..Bam!! there they are  the shining rays of  the sun..real flavors of strawberries and asparagus and mint..and lnoger days…. and if that isn’t enough to celebrate..along comes some Holidays that give us a reason to bring friends and family together with incredible dishes. At my house, we  celebrate Easter but I love some of the flavors  of Passover and like to ‘mix things up’.

Almonds are used a lot in Italian cooking and one of my favorite flavors..so if you’re a fan of the healthy almond you will want to make this cake part of your Spring Holiday meal

  Almond  Passover Cake

6 eggs

1 cup white sugar

1 cup finely chopped almonds

2 teaspoons of maraschino liqueur

juice of one fresh lemon

With an electric mixer, blend sugar with egg yolks till well blended,then add in first the chopped almonds and then liqueur and lemon juice.  In separate bowl,whip egg whites till firm with a pinch of salt. With a wooden spoon, blend in the egg whites to the egg yolk mixture,gently. When blended in, place batter  in pan lined with parchment paper. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove from oven and let cool and serve. Happy Passover! Happy Easter! and let me know about any other Spring Holiday we should be celebrating!

For more great recipes get your copy of:

  The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions  voted Best Italian Cuisine Book in America by Gourmand World Cookbook Awards.

Mangia Bene, Vivi Bene,

http://twitter.com/Marialiberati

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Innamorata

copyright, 2010, Maria Liberati

I am in love with the sun … it gives me warmth

I am in love with the wind… it caresses me

I am in love with life… it makes me laugh

I am in love with flowers.. they make my mind drunk with beauty

But chocolate..I am ‘innamorata‘ ( the Italian word meaning’ to be in love’) with because of infinite  reasons and those of you who have a passionate palate will agree that dark chocolate, hot,cold ,or any temperature.. (containing a minimum of 65% cocoa) is the ultimate in comfort food!

Use some of those winter pears for this Torta Di Pere, that mixes dark chocolate and fresh pears for a scrumptious taste experience!  One bite of this and you can not help but utter  the Italian word  ‘innamorata’ from your lips

Torta Di Pere

(from The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions 2009;art of living,PrimaMedia, Inc; winner of the Gourmand Cookbook Awards 2009)

2 fresh pears-peeled, cored and cut into small cubes

5 dried dates chopped

2 tablespoons of Cognac

2 tblsps of unsalted butter

1/3 cup sugar

1 -1/2 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

3 egg yolks

3 egg whites beaten or whisked till firm

16 ounces baking or dark chocolate (minimum 65 % cocoa)

For decoration

1 fresh pear ,peeled and sliced thinly

1 tablespoon butter melted

1 tablespoon sugar

2 tablespoons of pear or apple jelly

In a food processor place in the chopped dates and pears, and Cognac, blend well, do not liquify. In a bowl, place in  2 tablespoons of unsalted butter,sugar,flour, baking powder,egg yolks, fruit from food processor with liquid and whipped egg whites. Blend well. Butter and flour an 8 ” cake pan and pour in the mixture. Bake in an oven preheated to 350 degrees for 45 minutes. remove from oven and let cool

Melt baking or dark cocoa in double boiler and use this to  glaze  top of cake. Measure butter and melt, add in sugar. Dip thinly sliced pear in butter and sugar  and  then dip one side of pear slice  in pear jelly  and arrange as a  decoration on outside of cake with pear slices placed all around, stuck to border of cake. Place in fridge till chocolate  glaze is hardened and become……. innamorata …..

Get more recipes to make any day a Special Occasion in The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions

Visit me at OpenSky

Mangia Bene, Vivi Bene,

Maria

copyright 2010, Maria Liberati

I think we should make the ‘Day after Valentine’s Day’ a  Day to celebrate!! … boxes of chocolates are still there to be enjoyed.. half opened bottle of  Prosecco still in the fridge waiting to be finished..so there… you have  some of the makings for one special meal-Prosecco and chocolates.

So celebrate..the “Day after Valentines’ Day” ..as a special Occasion.. Tonight’s meal is Farfalle with Gorgonzola cheese served  with Prosecco (left over from last night’s dinner) and chocolates for dessert..and to keep things warm..and light- chocolate truffle coffee for an after dinner drink.

Farfalle (bow tie pasta) in Gorgonzola

Copyright 2009-2010 from The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions winner of the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards

4 ounces Gorgonzola cheese

1 tablespoon +  ½  tblsp butter

3 tablespoons cold milk

1 lb of farfalle (bow tie) pasta

4 tblsps of  pasta cooking water

Place gorgonzola in saucepan with butter and milk, melt over low to medium heat. Add in pasta cooking water to thin sauce. Cook farfalle till al dente. Toss pasta  in Gorgonzola sauce. Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley. Serve with a glass of  Santa Margherita Prosecco.

For more recipes and menus to make any day a Special Occasions

visit me at OpenSky

Mangia Bene, Vivi Bene,

Maria

.

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

Hope you enjoy our continuing posting of  yummy Holiday recipes. Share your favorite Holiday recipe with us here or email to us at editor@marialiberati.com

 Here is the perfect main course for one of your Holiday meals, thanks to Fred Cohen of J & A Culinary Arts School in Philadelphia, the recipes use   Sempre Sapori-Tuscan Picnic  Spice Blend,all natural spices with Tuscan flavors, that  I developed in Tuscany, you can still get them for the Holidays here    and enjoy our Holiday Gift Guide, products that were selected by our staff for their exceptional artisan quality and for the experience  they provide consumers. Find a special coupon offer for the open sky store on the last page!

Holiday Gift Guide 2009

Tuscan Roasted Chicken with Savory Herb Bread Pudding and Buttered Cauliflower

*Bread Pudding*:
Serves 6:
One large crusty loaf bread (crust removed)
1 t Sage leaves chiffonade
1 T chopped parsley
2 t chopped chive
1 egg yolk
3 oz chicken stock
1 oz heavy cream
1-2 oz milk
2 t Tuscan spice mix

*Tuscan Spiced Chicken*:
2 Cornish Hens, halved, serves  2 – 4:
2 oz butter
1 T Tuscan Spice Blend

*Procedure*:
-Remove the crust from the bread and cut into small dice. Place into a deep
dish container. Combine remaining ingredients to form a creamy batter. If
batter seems too thick, thin it down with a little bit of water, stock, or
milk to reach a creamy but not heavy consistency. Place mixture over the
bread and mix well. Allow to soak for 1 – 2 hours.
-In the mean time, pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees.
-Create a compound butter by mixing the spice mixture into raw butter. Smear
the mixture over and under the skin of the Cornish hens.
-Place the chicken onto a rack in a roasting pan and roast for 35 – 40
minutes.
-Pack the bread pudding into ramekins that have been lightly sprayed and
bake for 20 – 30 minutes, depending on how brown you want it to be.
-To plate, take the bread pudding out of the ramekin and center it in the
middle of the plate. Lay the chicken on the side and on the opposite side,
lay some buttered cauliflower. Drizzle some parsley oil (or any oil of your
choosing) onto the side of the plate.

UPCOMING EVENTS

See you on Saturday December 12th in Somerset NJ at the Franklin Township library at 2 PM.. Cooking demo and book signing will feature my latest relaese The Basic Art of  Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions- winner of The Best Italian Cuisine Book of 2009 from Gourmand World Cookbook Awards.

Mangia Bene, Vivi Bene,

Maria

http://twitter.com/Marialiberati

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

Special gifts are sometimes the simplest things… At The Basic Art of ItalianCooking  by Maria Liberati tm we are getting ready to release our Holiday Guide of 2009 with some fantastic gift ideas.

I do  enjoy material gifts, but  I am so enamored with gifts that can’t be wrapped up in a package.. There are so many special gifts that come to mind that I could never put a price on and everyone has those gifts that are not appreciated enough for those are the gifts that are the real treasures..the gifts that we are not thankful enough for..Think about it…

In one of my online chats with my significant other yesterday   evening…while he was in Rome, he emailed  me a photo of a colorful sunset in Rome he experienced that day and he told me how much he wished I was there to see it.. and I wished I was there so much to see it as well. But the photo really brightened up my evening..just imagining myself  being in Rome to see another beautiful sunset there..with this photo..if only for a minute I could take myself there.. this photo and thought was my favorite gift of  the day… I have included it here to share with you.

A purchased gift is a nice thought as well, but remember all the gifts you have all throughout the day.

As we are getting ready for the Holiday  Gift Guide we have gotten to work with many an exceptional olive oil in The Basic Art of Italian Cooking kitchen. Here is a recipe  that put the olive oil to good use:

ORZO e GAMBERETTI (orzo pasta and shrimp)
(from The Basic Art of Italian Cooking:Holidays &Special Occasions

½ lb orzo pasta

1/2 lb broccoli-cleaned, cut into florets and steamed

½ lb shrimp

1 pouch of saffron

2 scallions

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, cold pressed

Vegetable broth

1/2  cup dry white wine or sparkling white like Franciacorta

Fresh parsley

Place 2 tablespoons olive oil in sauté pan Chop scallions finely. Heat oil and place in scallions. Saute till they begin to turn golden. Add in ½ of teamed broccoli, uncooked orzo pasta to toast, stir with wooden spoonPour in white wine let liquid evaporate. Then add in 1 cup vegetable broth and stir with wooden spoon. Uisng the same technique as cooking risotto, add in ½ cup of vegetable broth when liquid evaporates and repeat until orzo is al ‘dente’ (following cooking time directions on orzo package). Five minutes before cooking time is up- add in remaining steamed broccoli, steamed, cleaned shrimp, packet of saffron. Stir until saffron is well blended in.

When finished cooking, remove from heat. Place 1 tsp butter on top, stir in. Sprinkle with finely chopped parsley. Stir. Let sit one minute before serving. For serving idea, serve in small glasses. Top with one whole shrimp and a broccoli floret for decoration

Serve with Franciacorta white wine.

Get your copy of The Basic Art of Italian Cooking : Holidys & Special Occasions just in time for the Holidays with over 140 recipes ,wine pairing tips, menus and more.

Hope to see you at my upcoming book events/ cooking demos/ tastings at:
December 9th-Girls Night Out- Chestnut Hill Business Association, Chestnut Hill, Pa

December 12th- Franklin Twp Library, Franklin Twp, NJ at 2 PM

To schedule a cooking class , wine pairing event or  a culinary tour  in the US or Italy with The Basic Art of Italian Cooking  by Maria Liberati tm  email us at events@marialiberati.com

For more appearances and upcoming events go to http://marialiberati.com

“L’appetito vien mangiando”

Maria

http://twitter.com/Marialiberati