FOOD TO BE INSPIRED BY

You can tell it’s summer when you’ve got basil coming out your ears and you can’t use it up fast enough. Here is a pesto recipe from Once Upon A Chef I recently made for my family using basil from one of my four plants. A little tip for those of you who haven’t made it before: use the freshest, healthiest basil you can find, it will make a difference in the appearance and taste. Traditional pesto recipes call for pine nuts (which are very expensive), I find that walnuts work just as well and really, I can’t tell the difference in taste! Another idea for pesto, make a big batch and freeze it in an ice-cube tray, pop out the cute little cubes once frozen and put into a container in the freezer. These can be added to soups, pasta, whatever your little heart desires. I hope you try this recipe, it will make your summer even better.

 

A DAY IN ITALY

I recently took a trip to Europe, namely Italy. Spending just one day in this country makes you want to live there forever. Around every corner is something beautiful, be it architectural wonders, a flower stall, leather shops or some wonderful ristorante displaying their food wares.

All scenes of Florence: Duomo (Cathedral) and my home away from home at Via San Gallo, #86.

I wanted to buy one of every kind at this flower shoppe in Greve, Italy in the Chianti  countryside!

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1. My first meal in Florence, a caper and anchovy pizza.
2. Tortellini with a walnut, creme sauce.
3. Calzone with fresh basil.
4. And this “worm-shaped” delicious dish I had in Siena that I can’t remember the name of!

Anyway, they were all to die for! I’m convinced their food is made very fresh, more so than here in the States. All in all, a wonderful experience and a wonderful place to visit. I could easily live there. The people are friendly, they enjoy life, eat very well, the countryside looks like a painting, and they appreciate their architecture, art and sculpture. What’s not to love?!