it’s one of those days where nothing in the house is calling my name…but these sure are!
…
sweet potato burger with avocado
.
chicken with coconut-lime peanut sauce!
.
Brownie ‘N’ Berries Dessert Pizza!
.
…i wish my budget, schedule, and figure allowed me to just cook and stuff my face all day.
you better believe i would!
love, whit
Italy is known for it’s food. Art, yes. History, yes. Fashion, yes. {now i’m only being reminded of how AMAZING Italy is}.. But the FOOD, oh the food! Cooking and food is a lifestyle and passion that forever lives on all over the country. Unlike the states, I saw very few “grocery stores.” In fact, I didn’t see any until we made it to our third city – Florence. Instead, you have fresh markets or little shops and stands specializing in a specific item (ie: bakeries, butcher shop, produce stand, etc). I even wondered if Italians ever ate frozen food like we Americans love so much (ick, why WOULD you with the alternative available??). My question was answered when we wandered into a tiny grocery store down the alley from our bed and breakfast…in the very back was one freezer with some frozen vegetables and cool whip. Ha!
Point in case: In Italy, food is about QUALITY, fresh, and in-season ingredients. Eating isn’t done on-the-go…maybe if you’re a student, in which case you would grab some “fast food”. Let me clarify that “fast food” for them is still a freshly put together panini, pizza, or salad that ranks better than Panera or Atlanta Bread Company. This is probably why overweight Italians are hard to come by. They eat well, and they get out and walk around town. …My kind of lifestyle!
I found an opportunity for us to take a private cooking class while in Florence and jumped on it! It was the best decision, and by far the most enjoyable day of our whole trip. Mom agrees.
Our 5 hour class began as we followed our local chef to the fresh market in Florence to buy our ingredients. There we were also educated on olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette…VERY fascinating and taste testing included!
Once we had everything we needed, our small group walked to the “ristorante” to learn how to be an Italiano in the kitchen!
That’s Andrea, our chef, turning on some background music to set the real Italian mood…
we put on our aprons and were ready to COOK!
we started off preparing our dessert – Tiramisu – all whipped and mixed by hand…
i was so PROUD of my accomplishment. after chilling in the refrigerator all afternoon, it tasted like heaven…
my pictures are a little out-of-order : Here Andrea was drizzling the bruschetta (pronounced Broo-Sket-Uh…he always corrected my calling it “broo-shet-uh”) we prepared with extra virgin olive oil.
Note: toast the bread and then rub it with a fresh whole garlic clove and always only use ONE herb for seasoning. More than one confuses the flavors. We chose fresh oregano (with a sprinkling of sea salt and pepper). My favorite bruschettas that I had were topped with zucchini and mozzarella, and the other with grilled porcini mushrooms. Tomatoes suit me though just as well. YUMMM!
Before making our homemade pasta, we prepared a Bolognese Sauce (with soft fresh sausage…none of that harder crap) and a Vegetarian Sauce…both with simple ingredients but more flavor than I can describe!
Andrea is a funny man, he liked to give me a hard time. Though he showed me the trick to chopping fast like the pros and not worrying about my fingers! I still need to practice.
While the sauces were a-simmering, we made the pasta! Eggs, a pinch of salt, a drizzle of olive oil, and “00″ Flour is required…such a pain that it’s not so easily found in the stores around Atlanta. Whole Foods let me down.
i rolled out my dough paper thin…folded it over…sliced it my desired thickness….and voi-la! Ready to cook!
I learned that after placing the fresh pasta in boiling water, you know it’s done when it floats to the top. (it only took not even a minute i don’t think)
cook, combine, and ready to eat! (am i the only one who loves that mini ponytail?! i bet he plays soccer, too. i forgot to ask.)
Believe it or not, this was the best meal i ate our entire trip! I had seconds. And then dessert. I don’t think I can ever eat boxed pasta again and find it tasty.
and yes, we graduated!
We’ve since re-created the entire meal for my dad….only I added caprese salad to the menu 
..of COURSE!
I am just a LITTLE italian food obsessed now. Or more, fresh food obsessed. I don’t think that’s a bad thing though. Just harder on the pocketbook.
love, whit
so, it’s PRACTICALLY february!
if you haven’t thought about Valentine’s Day…you should! i’m not sure why, but i enjoy this holiday very much. i don’t think i’ve ever had a romantic valentine’s day spent with a significant other…so i can’t say that’s why i like the day so much. however, i’m not one that scorns the 14th and dubs it “single awareness day”….come on people, that’s ridiculous!
i like it because it’s simple and full of LOVE…and a perfect excuse to give little thoughts and tokens of love to the people in your life. growing up, valentine’s day wasn’t a HUGE deal in my house, yet i looked forward to waking up and seeing splashes of pink and red on the kitchen table where my mom had set out little treats for each of us – usually candy and some valentine socks and a special note. since we’re all girls in my house, maybe a little bottle of pink or red nail polish or a lip gloss added. it was nothing flashy, but it was special. one year, my dad even gave me fresh flowers …(i’ll never forget it, because to this day, it’s the only time he’s done that…he just doesn’t do gifts – ever)
and i always looked forward to the valentine cookies!!! my mom only made them once a year…soft, cut into big hearts, and decorated beautifully with homemade pink frosting that melted in your mouth. oh i LOVEloveLOVED them.
do you remember making a “valentine box” every year for school?!! i DO! decorating my box and putting together a valentine with candy for each kid in my class was my favorite. then coming home at the end of the day with my box full of valentines from all my classmates waiting to be opened – it was the best. at least, to me.
so, today, i still love the holiday. i still love making homemade valentines to give. family…and many to send to my friends – hand crafted with silly poems i write on the inside. ha! it’s fun. and who doesn’t love mail?! valentine’s day is for any and all…not just romantic lovers. love has so many sides to it.
in my thoughts of spreading love this year, i already started getting ideas together. little things to be given to share the love:
i experimented with sugar cookies and raspberry jam…i think they turned out quite cute, no?! ( a little white chocolate drizzle for looks…aesthetics are important! )
my homemade peanut butter cups! very easy. way better than store bought…and i love that i can control the pb/choc ratio. (i’m not a BIG pb person)
so why not take your fav store bought candy and spruce ‘em up a bit?! i think it makes them extra special, and i can combine them with my other homemade treats in these little boxes (super cheap @ Hobby Lobby – just add some ribbon or something) ….
just some other simple little goodies for giving away that can be personalized….
i’m kind of obsessed with these little jars of my FAVVVY candy: dark chocolate covered almonds (dove)…mmmm….but look how cute! i would be so happy if i got this, so why wouldn’t anyone else?!?
yes, i am definitely in the spirit of the season…now it’s time for card making and more treats to prepare!
….maybe i’m just ridiculous. but it’s fun!
love, whit
