Hi dear friends, how are you? I hope spring is treating you well wherever you happen to be. Spring is in full swing here in Umbria and more gorgeous than ever. As for myself, these are the first quiet days after half a year of excitement and travels. I can hardly believe we were in… Continue reading Umbrian-style braised sausage with fresh fennel (and my travels)
My hometown Perugia is well protected from evil. We have 3 patron Saints to look out for us: San Lorenzo, Sant’Ercolano and San Costanzo. Nationwide, San Lorenzo is the most popular. One of the Seven Deacons of Rome, and therefore among the first to have been subjected to martyrdom, he is the patron of over… Continue reading Torcolo di San Costanzo, a medieval sweet bread from Umbria
looking for a dessert idea for the holidays? how about tiramisu with pears, a wine syrup and lots of spices for a delightful seasonal treat? Of all the recipes which I have painstakingly collected in my cookbook, this is has been a favorite this year at Alla Madonna del Piatto cooking classes, that’s why I… Continue reading PEAR-AMISU
This is a very rustic and ancient recipe from my hometown Perugia. Not too sweet, egg-free, gluten-free, robust, Brustengolo makes for a substantial snack full of healthy goodness. It’s basically a baked polenta enriched with dried fruits and nuts and flavored with the classic Umbrian combination of anise, fennel and orange. You can cook the… Continue reading brustengolo, an ancient Umbrian olive oil and polenta fruitcake
As you probably know Italians have a long tradition of eating vegan food. You didn’t know it? Well, think about it: spaghetti with aglio, olio and peperoncino is vegan. Minestrone is also vegan. Eating fruit at the end of a meal instead of a dessert is the norm here. And, in addition we have a variety… Continue reading garbanzo bean farinata with caramelized onions and rosemary
Now it’s time to start writing about food again. This is one of those recipe I make during cooking classes when we want to explore how to transform simple ingredients into a sumptuous meal. Admittedly truffle is not “simple” but you might still have a jar from your holidays in Umbria or Tuscany. If not, omit and the results will be delightful nevertheless.
Do you already make spinach pie? If you don’t, you must hurry as this is the simplest one-dish dinner you can make besides a plate of pasta. I learned the original Serbian recipe from my artist friend Natasa Karanovic when we were living the bohemian life in the country of windmills and houseboats. Ah, the… Continue reading hot-water pastry spinach pie
