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

Love is the poetry of the senses      Honore de Balzac

and  so then is  food…here is a perfect  Valentine’s Day gift ,recipe and kitchen accessory….

Dolce by Beka- an elegant, yet simple foundue set,makes a beautiful addition to the kitchen, compact and easy to store as well. But you may want to keep this somewhere in the open as a decorative item. It is also dishwasher safe and comes with a candle to prevent the chocolate from scorching. Just the right size for a fondue for 4 and if you want to make a luscious fondue for Valentine’s Day, this recipe works perfectly in the Dolce  fondue set.

Chocolate & Creme Fondue

1’2 lb of fresh, plump strawberries

16 ounces of dark chocolate (minimum 60% cocoa)

3 tblsps Brandy

1/2 cup whipping cream

Gently hull strawberries, wash and dry gently with paper towels. Prepare the fondue by melting the chocolate in a double boiler. Then add in the cream and stirring constantly till the mixture is creamy. Add im Brandy. Blend well, do not boil.  Transfer into the fondue, be sure candle underneath the fondue has been lit. Skewer the strawberries and dip in fondue.

Get more recipes in the Award Winning Book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holdays & Special Occasions-2nd edition

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

“Journeys end in lovers meeting”..William Shakespeare

Who but Shakespeare could put it so eloquently..a message for the ‘coming soon’ Valentine’s Day..and the perfect Valentine’s Day journey could end at the Hassler Hotel or Il Palazzetto.. both in the center of Rome,Italy….on a recent visit I got to experience the beauty, the charm, the elegance of both. A romantic view from the Trinita dei Monti  atop  the Spanish Steps…in the center of Rome.. from just  the panoramic view  you experience the charm, the uniqueness, the romance, the beauty of Rome…apart from the elegance of each venue…

The Hassler, is one of Rome’s most luxurious,unique hotels..known not only for it’s elegance but design,style,it is truly an ‘artisan hote’l…and the 16th century  Il Palazetto, atop the ancient stones where the infamous banquets of Lucullus were once held is .. . filled with the elegance and unique style of the Hassler but more like your’home away from home’ in the center of Rome on the Trinita dei Monti.. from artisan cocktails to spas to cigar rooms and wine pairing events either venue  would be my choice for the perfect Valentine’s Day.   

My suggested recipe for the upgcoming ‘giornata di San Valentino’( in Italian) or Cupid’s Day in modern English is this one filled with mandarin oranges:

Linguini with Salmone e Mandarini (Salmon & mandarin oranges)

From The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions-2nd edition;copyright 2011  art of living,PrimaMedia,Inc/Maria Liberati)

(serves 4)

*1 lb of linguini pasta   

*2 ounces of smoked salmon

*2 mandarin oranges

*1/4 cup cream

*1 scallion

* small handful of celery leaves (found at top of celery stalks) 

*freshly ground black  pepper to taste

With a potato peeler peel 2 pieces of mandarin orange peel (take only orange peel, not white part) and cut pieces into thin strips. Place in boiling water for one minute and drain.

Use juicer to juice the mandarins and place juice in saucepan. Peel and cut scallion into thin slices, place into pan with  mandarin orange juice, place in cut orange peel and warm this on low heat. Stir and let cook till only approx 4 tblsps of liquid are remaining. Remove from heat and pour through a chesecloth. Discard everything except filtered juice.

Place filtered juice back in sauce pan and pour in the cream. Stir with wire whisk and cook over low heat just until boiling. Remove from heat before  mixture boils. Place pasta in salted water and cook till al dente. Drain.

Cut salmon into thin strips and add into sauce. If sauce has cooled warm a bit and stir with wire whisk, do not let boil. Place al dente pasta in serving bowl, pour sauce on top and garnish with chopped celery leaves, and ground black pepper. If possible, and for a special added  touch, serve on warmed plates

For more great recipes and Valentine’s Day suggestions get your copy of  The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions-2nd edition  selected as the Best Italian Cuisine Book in the USA by Gourmand World Cookbook Awards.

Also a special thanks to Roberto Wirth, President & General Manager of the Hotel Hassler and fifth generation of a famous Swiss dynasty of hoteliers, for the hospitality on my visits. Roberto stopped for a  minute on his busy day to tell me about both venues and  point out  the beautiful sculpture near front entrance of  the Hassler of Romulus and Remus-Rome’s eternal symbols.

Peace, Love & Pasta,

Maria   xoxo

One of my first loves is food..but I have been known to have a fondness for Fashion and when in the kitchen-a home one or a professional kitchen-I am perplexed with a dilemma..wanting to always look ‘smashing’ in the kitchen but wanting to make the food look and taste ‘smashing’ as well…not as easy to do as it looks on TV

The other day my better half  commented, as I was lovingly preparing the risotto  ‘a deux’ “La Befana, but Christmas is over” (La befana is the good Christmas witch)..I realized I was taking the comfort of my home kitchen too lightly..baggy sweater, baggy comfy pants..baggy apron..hair pulled back in a frizzed out ponytail…ahhhh!! what have I done….so today I set out to find a solution to the fashion in the kitchen problem..ambiance has everything to do with food..and the cook is part of the ambiance…

Just in time for Valentine’s Day..apron elegance has beautiful stylish aprons so you can add some  style to any kitchen..

How  to accomplish both?…after all you should look just as smashing as your food tastes..

With these aprons..I will never be mistaken for La Befana..but maybe cupid or well someone else that is sweet and sassy…

For recipes and menus for Valentines’s Day

Mangia Bene, Vivi Bene

Maria

visit me at OpenSky

My trip to Terni, Italy -(where Valentine’s Day gets it’s origin from St Valentine-who lived there) was not filled with decorations of hearts and flowers  as I had imagined. ..just a  simple town with signs that lead to the church once  led by St Valentine. So what would Valentine’s Day be without hearts and flowers and chocolates  and presents? just a day as it was originally intended -filled with love..

For Valentine’s Day gifts there are so many to choose from..well here is a recipe  to enjoy while opening those gifts..

This is  one of my favorite cocktails made with  Santa Margherita Prosecco and keep your Prosecco cool by using the VinoTemp champagne cooler. Nothing makes a meal more festive than a sparkling fabulous wine.

Valentine’s Day Cocktail

this cocktail is similar to a Bellini but the blood red orange juice gives it a Valentine’s Day twist.

3 ounces Santa margherita Prosecco

1 ounce of blood red orange juice

1 ounce of  regular orange juice

Blend juices together. Divide into two champagne fluted glasses. Pour in Prosecco and stir gently. Garnish with a slice of blood red orange.

Get more recipes for Valentine’s Day and Holidays in the Gourmand World Cookbook winner : The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions

Visit me at the open sky project

Thanks to everyone who watched and assisted  at my appearance on NBC the !10 show on February 2nd. A special thx to makeup person-Cathy Lee Carpenter & Hair Person- Kamilla Florczak and my assistants Patricia Bontempo and Frederick Cohen for your assistance in making the appearance a success!

Follow me on twitter for other recipes and traveling tips

Mangia Bene, Vivi Bene,

Maria

copyright 2009, Maria Liberati. The Basic Art of Italian Cooking 

ahhh..it is getting closer to Valentine’s Day..I can smell the roses and taste the chocolate..

Don’t forget the wine. My choice is Orvieto Classico..perfect for risotto or fish or chicken..My suggestion would be a risotto al mare.seafood risotto.

Well it contains clams and they are an aphrodisiac.

Here is the recipe and more on Orvieto Classico shortly.

Risotto al Mare

1 cup arborio rice

4 -5 cups vegetable broth

1/4 cup finely chopped parsley

4 pounds small fresh or fresh frozen clams

1 slice onion chopped finely

1 clove garlic

2 cups Orvieto Classico or dry white wine

1 tablespoon butter (unsalted)

5 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

salt & pepper to taste

Place 1 tablespoon of olive oil in saute pan and heat,place in clams and pour in 1 cup white wine. Saute til clams open. Take out any that do not open.  Set aside sauteed opened clams.

In another saute pan, place in 1 tablespoon olive oil, heat, place in chopped parsley and the juice from clams that have just cooked. Saute for 2 minutes.

 Place vegetable broth in soup pan, add in parsley mixture to broth. Stir and heat to boiling. In another saute pan, add in remaining olive oil chopped onion, garlic clove whole, and saute till onion begins to turn golden.Add in dry rice, pour in 1 cup white wine. When liquid is absorbed, add in 3/4 cup of broth and stir continuously, Repeat this process until rice is al dente (about 15-20 minutes).Add in cooked clams, stir. Place in butter, stir till melted, serve with Orvieto Classico

Join me on February 18th at 6PM at Whole Foods Market in Marlton NJ. Book signing & The Basic Art of Italian Cooking by Maria Liberati tm cooking school. Join us for a cooking class-Pasta & Their Sauces- after book signing.

To register call the store at 856-697-7191 or email events@marialiberati.com

Join me also on February 19th at Whole Foods Market, Philadelphia,Pa at 6 PM for a book signing and The Basic Art of Italian Cooking by Maria Liberati tm Cooking school. “Cooking on a Budget The Basic Art of Italian Cooking.Cook a 4 course authentic Italian meal on a budget from the best selling book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking. To register email us at events@marialiberati.com or call the store at 215-599-9735

Join me on February 26th at 7 PM at the Whole Foods  in Princeton, NJ-Book Signing and The Basic Art of Italian Cooking by Maria Liberati tm Cooking School. “Every Pasta Has Its’ Sauce” Cooking Class includes lesson on pairing pasta withtheir sauces, how to cook perfect pasta and making 4 separate pasta dishes. recipes,samples and lessons provided. To register call the store at 609-799-2919 or email events@marialiberati.com

Follow more at http://mariandco.blogspot.com

http://marialiberati.blogster.com

http://twitter.com/marialiberati

See Valentine’s day around the world

Mangia Bene Vivi Bene

Maria

 Have been blogging about  upcoming Carnevale and Venice in most of my posts in the past few weeks. But if you want to pick your wines for Valentines’ Day dinner- Venice also has some great wines to choose from.

Discover the wines of Venice here:

http://www.trifter.com/Europe/Italy/How-to-Discover-Wines-in-Venice-Italy.210287

Join Me Sunday, Febraury 8th at 2 PM at Jenkintown, WHole Foods Market at 2PM for a book singing and Cooking class. The class will be a 4 course authentic Italian Valentine’s Day Dinner. Recipes and samples will be included. To register for this event call the store at 215-481-0707

For your copy of the best selling book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking go to http://www.marialiberati.com

http://mariaandcom.blogspot.com

http://marialiberati.blogster.com

Mangia Bene, Vivi Bene,

Maria

copyright 2009, Maria Liberati, The Basic Art of Italian Cooking 

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and I am on this ‘kick’ for everything Valentine..my ‘better half’ has even  told me I am out of control …ever since he took me to visit the town of San Valentino..the cathedral of San Valentino..maybe his spirit is still with me..but it is such a beautiful story of how this day dates back to San Valentino and the romantic story of  how he married lovers even though it was forbidden and ultimately went to his death because of it..ahh amore…I can hear the words uttered in Italian.

When in Italy,always tell an Italian you are doing whatever you are doing for love…and they will utter the words..”ahh amore”..you will be so admired for yielding to love…

Oh well, let me snap out of my romantic banter and get back to the wine for Valentine’s Day dinner. The first wine  Iwould recommend is a wine that says it all and is great especially for soemone that you have just met but really want to get the message across..

Baciamisubito 2007 the name ‘baci mi subito’ means’ kiss me fast’ in Italian. Nothing is better to get the message across with this bottle of wine. It is a Barbera taht immediately leaves a sweet kiss of flavor on the lips. The hint of blackberry makes it a perfect pair for a dish with meat, or aged cheeses. It’s fruity taste is balanced and every taste is just  as good as the first.

More wines to come..

Join me this Sunday at 2 PM in Jenkintown, Pa at Whole Foods Market, 1575 Fairway fora book signing and to follow a Valentine’s Day 4 course authentic Italian cooking class from The Basic Art of Italian Cooking School in Orvieto, Italy. Book signing is open to the public. To register for the cooking class email us at events@marialiberati.com

or call the store at 215-481-0800

Join me at The Basic Art of Italian Cooking by Maria Liberati tm cooking school in Orvieto, Italy for a special 7 day program and stay that includes a stay at a villa, castle or farm resort in the hills of Umbria, right outside of Tuscany. Enjoy cooking classes using fresh local produce, tours of local vineyards and olive oil mills, sightseeing at some of the most unique spots in the area.. Dates are Sept 13-19. Places are limited. To register or for more info email us at events@marialiberati.com

For more great recipes, get your copy of the best selling book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking at http://www.marialiberati.com

Mangia Bene,Vivi Bene

Maria

Well San Valentino  or Saint Valentine’s Day is fast approaching…the nectar of choice for the perfect Valentine’s Day dinner is ..wine.

It has been said that wine has magical powers….the power to convey so much in it’s taste and bouquet..but wines from red wines, to white wines to sparkling wines all have their own personality expressed in their own taste, color and perfume.

Whether you select a red wine  like (some of my favorites) Amarone, Montepulciano D’Abruzzo, Chianti  or a white wine (my favorites) are Est!Est!Est!, Falenghina,Trebbiano, Pecorino and others or a sparkling wine like a Prosecco or Bracchetto D’Acqui or others be sure the wine is suited to the dinner  you are serving and the personality of your special guest.

You want to be sure that each glass of wine whispers one word…Love

Stay tuned for more posts about wines and recipes  for Valentine’s Day

Mangia Bene,Vivi Bene,

Maria