copyright 2011, art of living, Prima Media,Inc./Maria Liberati

Nestled amongst four seas, the grandiose beaches of Italy look like storybook paintings come to life with water infused sapphires and emeralds, amidst imposing mountains and sorbetto colored sunsets. Artfully sprinkled with natural rock formations and crashing waves, Italy’s breathtaking beaches look as though a hypnotic mermaid might sit atop a rock at any moment, waiting for her next sailor to enchant.

Aside from having some of the most popular historical sights in Europe, Italy presents some of the worlds most incredible beaches, frequently populated during peak summer season. Visiting one of Italy’s beaches not only has unreal picturesque sights, but light, appetizing and healthy Mediterranean cuisine. Fresh fish, colorful salads and delectable fruits and vegetables are everywhere you turn. The idyllic serenity of Italy’s coastlines is perfectly reflected in the Mediterranean cuisine. Take notes from the healthful Mediterranean diet and let it play a starring role in your cooking this summer.

Visit the Island of Capri and you may feel like an extra on the set of the  “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie series. Located off of Southern Italy’s Amalfi Coast, tourists flood Capri every summer taking in all that this magical Island has to offer. From white sand beaches to mild 70-degree temperatures, the Island of Capri has remained one of Italy’s most popular beach destinations. Seaside restaurants line the edges of the island, with locals and tourists enjoying the island’s delicacies, while swirls of salt-kissed breezes gracefully dance through the air. Order from one of Capri’s many restaurants and try authentic stuffed Calamari with a Caprese salad. Taking advantage of the bountiful amounts of fish, chefs will often times serve you fish caught a few hours beforehand. The pairing of Calamari stuffed with mushrooms, garlic and creamy cheese with a light Caprese salad made with whole slices of tomato, mozzarella, and basil, drizzled with olive oil completely embody the flavors of Capri.

Even further south, the island of Sicily has an overwhelming selection of beaches to choose from. From fine white sand to black sand volcanic beaches, small fishing towns to glamorous resorts, this large island rich in tradition has a personality all its own. Like Capri, Sicily uses many of the islands amazing fruits, vegetables and fish into their diet. However, Sicilian cuisine also merge’s hints of neighboring countries and Middle Eastern spices, nuts and fruits into a cuisine all their own. To soak up the special flavors of Sicily, try pasta with prawns and pistachio pesto. This dish incorporates Arabic influences with rich pistachios, a hint of Spanish spice and the heartiness of prawns. Cooked with penne and a garlic tomato sauce with white whine and olive oil, this Sicilian pasta dish represents the variety of flavors and distinct tastes of the island.

Whether you bask in the sun at your neighborhood pool, float down a lazy river in an inner tube, or have a chance to experience Italy’s many beaches for yourself, incorporating a Mediterranean diet into your summer meals is a healthful and fresh way to celebrate a season full of life, warmth and sun. From a Caprese salad to Sicilian pasta, dishes inspired by the plentiful resources off of Italy’s coasts can be easily transported from the Mediterranean Sea to your kitchen.

Join me to visit these places on a luxury culinary cruise to the Mediterranean on May 3, 2012! it is truly a trip of a lifetime and everything and anything you can think of is included in the price…you only have to bring your clothes! Already included in the price is airfare, tips, food, excursions, culinary events, beautiful luxury rooms! and don’t forget the stop to a vineyard in Sicily is included also!  Call Rosenbluth Travel to book this once in a lifetime adventure..places are limited and only a few places remain..call now  1-800-257-8279 or email:   events@marialiberati.com

Editor: Lisa  Zatulovsky

Copyright 2011  Art of Living,PrimaMedia,Inc/Maria Liberati

Romantic emeralds, flashy rubies and elegant diamonds sparkled in the light on the stage of the Teatro Alla Scala during a three-week engagement of the ballet Jewels. Milan’s La Scala Ballet recently performed multiple performances of George Balanchine’s acclaimed Jewels this May. Balanchine captures the beauty of “Emeralds,” “Rubies,” and “Diamonds,” translating them into distinctive ballet sequences. The grandeur of the theatre framing the dancers of La Scala enhances the opulence of this dazzling ballet, like a menagerie of rare gems in a jewelry box, garnished with bracelets, necklaces and rings. Deep scarlet seats emblazoned with gold and delicate crystal chandeliers, paired with exquisite dancing are all ingredients for a magical recipe.

As the lights dim and the composer carefully waves his baton for “Emeralds”, dancers in deep-green velvet bodices with lithe tulle skirts adorned with emerald accents and magnificent jeweled crowns decorate the stage. A dreamy melody by Gabriel Faure brings the dancers to life, harmoniously chaining the movements together like the links of a delicate gold bracelet.

As the curtains re-open, the next section, “Rubies,” is introduced. Igor Stravinsky’s staccato, alluring and jazzy score starkly contrasts with the previous movement. Dancers in short red costumes with encrusted scarlet stones ooze sensuous appeal. Extreme extensions, angular movements and dazzling turns are front and center in this playful sequence. Like a bold-statement necklace with layers of rubies set in gold, this section demands attention.

The last section begins, presenting “Diamonds,” the culmination of Jewels. Paying homage to the great Russian composer Tchaikovsky, Balanchine creates a magnificent and sophisticated conclusion. Corps dancers in mid-length white tulle tutus ornament the stage like a set of small diamonds decorating a silver engagement ring. As the leading couple starts to dance, a princely cavalier presents a majestic, long-limbed ballerina looking as though she were the central princess cut diamond of the engagement ring.

For an appetizer, inspired by ‘Jewels’ start with Bruschetta al Pesto. Reminiscent of the ballet’s green color, the understated deep emerald pesto sauce made with garlic, basil, olive oil and pine nuts, brushed onto a thin slice of crusty bread is an ideal antipasto.

Let your main course take a front and center role much like Rubies by presenting a show stopping Lasagna . Bold and hearty, Lasagna made with layers of tomato sauce, beef, al dente Lasagna sheets and creamy ricotta, shredded mozzarella and Parmigiano-Reggiano will demand your attention with every bight.

For the grand finale of your meal, finish off with a sparkling Italian dessert white wine, suggestive of the cold finesse of a clear-cut diamond. For one last ovation, make your meal sparkle like a radiant diamond by enjoying sips of the sweet notes of Moscato d’Asti, as the last traces of radiance catch the light before the curtain closes one last time.

For recipes get your copy of the Gourmand World Award Winning Book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions-2nd edition

Ju;y 21- 24, Festa Italiana- the USA’s largest Italian Festival in Milwaukee Wisconsin- See you there at Cucina Showcase. The Basic Art of Italian Cooking by Maria Liberati tm will be doing on stage events every day and book signings by Maria Liberati throughout. For more info email: Info@marialiberati.com

July 29=31 Gourmet Food and Wine Show, Bally’s Atlantic City, Maria Liberati will be doing on stage cooking demos and book signings

  copyright 2011 art of living,PrimaMedia,Inc/Maria Liberati

Scarpediem…has become one of my favorite new stores in the center of town here..okay,it has nothing to do with food or the kitchen but is a play on words for the Italian word for shoes-scarpe and the Latin Phrase Carpe Diem (Seize the Day)..all of the Italian designer shoes in one place makes you want to ‘seize the day’ and purchase all the shoes or better yet ‘seize the shoes’….

Italian have an artistic penchant for creating new words to express clearly an idea like

*Capri Diem-(instead of Carpe Diem) expressing love of enjoying the island of Capri

*Cinepanettone ( Combining cine for cinema or movie and panettone-the traditional Holiday bread at Christmas time) to describe films that are released for Christmas.

*Decembrini-to discuss things that are’ December-ish’..for instance a fruit that is not totally mature yet in December can be described as Decembrini or the weather that is typical for December,

*Settembrini-something that may come out in September or is ‘September-ish’. For instance fig trees bear fruit in August  and September..those figs of September  can be described as Settembrini or even the change of the weather or coolness that usually begins in the air to describe the weather as Settembrini.

and there are many others…

 Today I am preparing a chocolate-orange cake..my own version of a Sacher Torte for a dinner on Sunday. The Austrians combine apricot with chocolate in their traditional cake. But Italians love the combination of chocolate and orange..and if you taste them together you will quickly understand why..

Here’s the recipe

Torte di Cioccalata all’Arancia (Chocolate and Orange Cake)

from The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions-2nd edition 

*8 ounces baking chocolate with at least 60% cocoa content

*3 tblsps milk

*3/4 cup butter

*3/4 cup sugar

*5 eggs

*1 tsp baking powder

*grated zest of 1 orange

*1 cup flour

Filling:
*1 ½ cups orange marmelade

*1 tsp brandy

Topping:

*8 ounces baking chocolate (at least 60% cocoa)
* 1 cup powdered sugar

*1 cup whipping cream

In a double boiler, melt chocolate with milk, stirring with a wooden spoon. When melted remove from heat and cool. Place softened butter in a bowl and whip with electric beater till creamy mousse consistency. Add in sugar and beat it until you get a creamy blend. Add in cooled, melted chocolate, and flour and baking powder a spoonful at a time. Mix till well blended. Add in eggs, one at a time. Blend well after adding each one. Then add in orange peel. Butter and flour an 8 inch pan. Bake for 25 minutes in an oven preheated to350 degrees. Place toothpick in center to be sure cake is done. Remove from oven. Remove cake from pan and let cool. When cool, slice cake in center in half so as to get tow layers.

Warm orange marmelade with brandy. Remove from heat. Spread mixture on one half of cake. Top with other half., Spread orange mixture on top of cake. Let sit.

In double boiler melt chocolate for topping, add in powdered sugar and a few spoons of water. Mix with wooden spoon. Remove from heat. Let cool to warm. Spread on top of marmelade on top of cake and cover sides and entire cake with chocolate mixture. Let cool and chocolate harden. Whip whipping cream and serve each slice with a spoonful of whipped cream

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

The book was selected as Best Italian Cuisine Book in the USA by Gourmand World Cookbook Awards

A day spent looking for’ funghi’ (mushrooms) for a dish of hot polenta on a cold winter day…..a fun day to look for mushrooms because I encountered so many friends and family in town while searching for the perfect mushroom..The 30^th of the year and everyone wishing “tanti auguri” (good wishes) and sharing their plans for a ‘capodanno’ (New Year’s Eve). Most spending a night at home with friends and family..others going to free concert in the Coliseum in the center of Rome..to a night in the discoteca and a grand ‘cenone’ (Dinner) in many different locations. But no one had definite plans yet. After all it is only the 30th and procrastination seems to be ‘de rigeur’ here when it comes to making final decisions.

 But my splendid day was ended with a cup of hot chocolate at a ‘chocolateria’ with friends..discussing plans..my mind was distracted by the thick, so chocolatey taste of this hot chocolate made with 90% cocoa..all chocolate..nothing else..as my mind wandered in and out of consciousness from the splendid taste to the plans..I seemed to lose track of the conversation…how can you concentrate on anything else?

One thing is for sure, tomorrow, December 31^st, Lentil soup will be the first course, 12 grapes will be eaten  and a bottle of Braccheto will pop open at the stroke of Midnight….that seems to be all you can count on in this little town where plans are always made at the last minute…but that’s okay..I like to be surprised!

Here’s a recipe for a quick appetizer for your New Year’s Eve party..I will fill you in on my menu as soon as it is figured out..that may be 10 minutes before the stroke of midnight..

This recipe makes a colorful dish and is an easy one as well. Here is a quick way to make use of leftover bread, or quickly put together a meal with things commonly found in the household pantry. An economical recipe that doesn’t taste economical. This recipe is for 4 people. The peppers can be used as a main course or as a side dish, or served with a salad. Serve with a dry white wine for a special added touch. You can even serve these stuffed peppers as an appetizer. These are great as leftovers too, so don’t hesitate to take these for lunch to work the next day, Place in a covered container and eat cold with a slice of bread or crakers or alone.

 Stuffed Peppers

 (excerpted/copyright 2010 The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions-2^nd edition)

*2 red peppers

*2 yellow peppers

*1 tsp capers,drained

*10 ounces of day old crusty Italian bread -cut into cubes

*1-16 ounce can tuna packed in olive oil

*1 cup milk

*4 garlic cloves

*salt

Wash and dry the peppers, cut off the tops and leave the stems on, set aside. Place bread cubes and milk in separate bowl,then add in tuna, capers and a pinch of salt. Mix together. Divide the mixture amongst all 4 peppers and stuff each one. Place a whole garlic clove on top of stuffing and then top with top of pepper that was cut off. Place in a baking pan and drizzle olive oil on top of peppers. Bake in oven preheated to to 450 degrees for 30 minutes.

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

And the week continues on as one long Festa..today is Santo Stefano ( Saint Stephen).. this day has been a national Holiday here in Italy since 1946. But this is also non-officially known as the ‘day of leftovers’ and a day to relax from all the ’madness’ in the kitchen… besides everyone is usually ‘cooked out’ after Christmas….

And that is just fine with me..there is nothing better than leftover lasagna..and as I looked in the fridge this morning attempting to piece together a coordinated menu from all the leftovers (one never knows what one will find still in fridge with so many overnight guests at home)

Ahh… I am pleasantly surprised to find  3/4 pan of one lasagna .. sardines..fresh tomatoes..fresh arugula..fresh mushrooms..parmigiana-reggiano..locally made Pecorino from Abruzzo and a loaf of bread ( in the bread cupboard) from our local ‘forno’..

Menu:
*Lasagne

*Baked Mushrooms

*sardines

*Pecorino cheese

*Fresh arugula, tomato, salad topped with shaved parmigiana-reggiano cheese and drizzeld with extra virgin olive oil

*An opened, but half full, bottle of Prosecco (perfect to accompany the second course and side dishes)

Unlike my Christmas meals this one will come together quickly.. and I will still be able to get to the Santo Stefano Christmas Mercato (Market) in the piazza for a stroll,,,, but don’t forget the fresh fruit, Panettone and torrone for dessert..and the ever obligatory game of Tombola (Bingo) ..but Panettone always takes a central place on the table nop matter what is going on during these festive days..

copyright 2010 art of living,PrimaMedia,Inc.

Here it is..just in time  for the 12 Days of Christmas..our 2010 Annual Holiday Guide…filled with extra special ‘foodie’products ‘discovered’ by our  team of Editors (and me too!) while scouting for gifts. The Madame Alexander doll can be found at www.madamealexander.com

 We are hard at work already for the Spring Holiday Gift Guide, so if you have any gift or product suggestions email to us at editor@marialiberati.com If your product suggestion is selected you will receive a free ebook version of ‘ How to Make the Perfect Pizza’

and it’s not too early to plan your Feast of the Seven Fishes (for Christmas Eve)dinner..

Let us know what will be on your menu ..and tell us where you will be spending your Christams Eve or Holiday dinner,send jpegs as well..we will be selecting Holiday photos   to place on the blog. I’ll be spending my Christmas Eve in the mountains of Abruzzo and polsting photos and recipes as well!

Here’s a recipe from my Feast of the Seven Fishes menu…

Cod (Merluzzo) in AcquaPazza (Crazy Water) (for 2 people)

*Codfish  (fresh or fresh frozen) 1/2 pound divided into 2-3 pieces

*4 (fresh, red, ripe) medium size plum tomatoes or canned San Marzano  tomatoes (3 or 4 without the tomato juice) 

*2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

*2 garlic cloves

*1/2 t o3/4 cup dry white wine (or water) ‘

*3 tablespoons fresh chopped or torn parsley pinch of red hot

pepperoncino (red pepper )-optional

*2 thick slices of crusty bread-place under broiler till golden

Place in saute pan- olive oil, garlic saute for 1 minute, then tomatoes > fish, parsley and wine. Then cook 10-15 minutes or until fish is cooked.  Serve cod on top of bread slices and pour sauce on top. Garnish with  fresh parsley on side.

Don’t forget to enjoy  this year’s Annual Holiday Guide

Get more recipes for your Feast of the Seven Fishes Dinner  in the Award Winning Holiday Book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions-2nd edition

Mangia Bene, Vivi Bene,

Maria

It was George Bernard Shaw who once said “There is no sincerer love than the love of food “

Thanksgiving day is a day that is uniquely American ..a day we can truly call our own..and a day that fascinates many others around the world..In Italy it is called Festa del Ringraziamento and known as ‘the  Holiday that causes  Americans  to behave like Italians’-sit around the table eating all day with friends and family

The beverage of the first Thanksgiving and the Mayflower was beer..it wasn’t safe to drink the water.so beer was served..

In Honor of the First Thanksgiving beverage and the Italian American  Thanksgiving tradition of   serving a pasta dish before the turkey

Penne Pasta with Beer

1 pound penne pasta

1 glass beer

4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 clove garlic

1 yellow pepper

6 red ripe tomatoes

10 pitted green olives

1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped

1 tablespoon capers

1 tablespoon marjoram chopped

1/4 cup parmigiano-reggiano grated

salt to taste

Cut peppers into small cubes, cut tomatoes into strips, chop garlic. Place extra virgin olive oil in saute pan, place in peppers, tomatoes, and chopped garlic. Saute for 2 minutes, then add in beer a little at a time. Saute for 15 minutes on low heat. Then add in chopped olives, capers, parsley and marjoram.

Cook over medium high heat for 10 minutes, salt and pepper to taste. Cook pasta till al dente. Drain. Add into sauce, toss. Serve with grated parmigiano reggiano cheese

Friday-November 26th- 1-3 PM Bloomingdale’s at The Shops at Riverside in Hackensack, NJ- Cooking demo, sampling, book signings of the Award winning book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions-2nd edition For info email: info@marialiberati.com

Favorite thing I enjoy  about  being on my book tour for my latest release The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions-2nd edition  is meeting so many ..and hearing of new little towns and places and traditions and foods..most Italian and some from other parts of the World..every culture in the World is somehow related to food.

At an event last weekend someone shared with me their Romanian grandmother’s recipe for a type of eggplant dip..A pizza maker,so proud of his pizza told me  a story of how he found out that one of his customers enjoyed his pizza with ketchup on it..so insulted he was that he told this customer he would never sell him pizza again…and on and on the food stories go…

My second favorite part is that I get to share my knowledge of wines and cooking with wine recipes and tips.. And when speaking about wines..my first suggestion is to read the label of the wine..just as if you would read a food label.. But I realized that many terms used on wine labels are in Italian and some terms are technical similar to  musical terms…you know Allegro…con vivace…con dolcezza…and not always easy  to decipher.

Here are some of my favorite wine terms you can find on bottles or  or you may over hear these terms at your next wine tasting:

Abboccato- lightly sweet

Amabile-semi sweet

Azienda Agricola or Vitivinicola-the farm or estate that produces all or most of the grapes for wine sold under its’ label

Cerasuolo- cherry-hued rose wine

Chiaretto-deep rose

Dolce- sweet

Consorzio-consortium of producers

Enologo-an enologist with a university degree

Fattoria-farm or estate

Invecchiato-aged

Frizzante-bubbly,sparkling

Imbottigliata- bottled

Passito or Passita-partially dried grapes and the strong sweet wines made from them

Rosso-red wine

Secco-dry

Spumante-sparkling dry or sweet wine

Uva-grape

Vino Novello- literally means new wine. But it is a wine that must be bottled and sold within the year of it’s harvest.

Vino da Tavola-table wine, not usually with a DOC or trademark. Most homemade wines are vino da tavola

Vendemmia- harvest

See you: 

November 13th at Borders Express in Woodbridge, NJ

December 3rd -Feast of the Seven Fishes Dinner and Book signing at Copper Fish Restaurant in Cape May, NJ

Peace, Love & Pasta,

Maria

Share the Joy! if you have a special Food Memory. This week Ginnie Bivona, author of The Seductive Chef: A Cookbook & More For Lovers  Shares the Joy! with her story:

How I wish I could go home for just one more Sunday. My fondest memories of holiday dinners were the family feasts at my Aunt Jo and Uncle Ed’s house. Everyone in the family, from the littlest kids to the family elders were all packed around the dinner table. All talking and laughing at the same time. Loud, I might add. We started with the antipasto, then platter after bowl after heaping tray passed around the table for hours. And of course, wine with every new offering. But my favorite part of the meal was not at the table (although it was there I learned to love Italian cooking) it was later in the day. When the meal was finally over, the boys went out to play, the girls and women cleaned up the dishes, the men went into the living room to drink port, smoke cigars and listen to scratchy Caruso records, weeping at the beauty of the Great Man’s voice. Then, finally, when the house was back in perfect order we all gathered around the piano, singing arias from opera and traditional songs from the old country. I never could carry a tune, but how I loved that singing. It day was full of great food, family love and beautiful Italian music. We sang till dark, leaving then in a flurry of hugs, kisses and pinched cheeks. Who wouldn’t want to go back one more time for a day like that?   

Ginnie Siena Bivona
www.ginniebivona.com

Get your copy of the book voted Best Italian Cuisine Book in the USA by Gourmand World Cookbook Awards-The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays &  Special Occasions-2nd edition

Visit OpenSky

Oct 29-31-See you at the Philly Gourmet Food & Wine Show at Valley Forge Convention Center this weekend at my culinary book signing

Nov 2nd- 7 PM-Book Signing, sampling at Fair Lakes Library, Fair Lakes, NJ

Nov 13-Borders Express- Woodbridge, NJ

Dec4-Borders, Mount Laurel, NJ

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

Simple ,delicious recipes that use mainly Mother Nature’s Ingredients are my favorite..frittata with mentuccia (mint)…it is a recipe from the days of cucina povere..but the flavor of the mint makes the frittata fragrant…they work so well together (eggs and mint)..it is hard to resist! 
And with a garden full of fresh mint..this was a great excuse to pick some mint…tonight’s frittata for a light dinner on a hot August night under the stars..watching the fireworks in the sky from  a nearby town celebrating a festa..

Simplicity is an art..and this recipe proves it..so simple yet so delicious

Enjoy,.serve with crusty bread and a glass of Trebbiano or Est!Est!Est! and you will

Frittata con Mentuccia (Egg frittata with mint)

(serves 4)

4 eggs

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

one handful of fresh mint leaves chopped or torn into small pieces

dash of salt

Break eggs into bowl and whip with a fork. Heat olive oil in saute pan. Pour in eggs, sprinkle on mint leaves, a dash of salt to taste.When one side is cooked turn frittata over. When frittata is firm on both sides place in serving dish and slice into 4 slices,serve warm or cold the next day..my favorite way to eat this is leftover.. the next day in a pannino…

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

winner of the Best Italian Cuisine Book in the USA by Gourmand World Cookbook Awards.

See you Sept 10 & 11 at the Hudson Valley Wine Fest in Rhinebeck, NY. I will be on center stage at 1-2 PM both  days..