2011 October | FOODalogue

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What’s for Lunch? Warm Mozzarella Bruschetta with Sauteed Mushrooms

October 28, 2011
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If you have bread (preferably a good quality Italian or artisanal variety) and some leftovers, you have lunch!

Shrimp with Basil Pesto + Tomato Aioli: Wordless Wednesday

October 26, 2011
| 12 Comments

Rosemary-skewered grilled shrimp, basil pesto, dollop of tomato aioli*; finished with freshly ground black pepper and a little feta cheese.

*fresh tomatoes emulsified with olive oil and garlic.

You didn’t think I was going to eat this without pasta, did you?

Pasta with Chestnuts, Porcinis + Baby Bella Mushrooms

October 22, 2011
| 16 Comments

I was still in a Tuscan state-of-mind a couple of days after my return. And I was missing my daily dose of p.a.s.t.a! Carb withdrawal is not easy (not that I’ve ever really withdrawn). I rummaged around and found a package of chestnuts and some dried porcini in the pantry. This seemed very Tuscan…so I marched forward, so to speak.

Mind you, I’d never used chestnuts with pasta and I don’t generally make a butter-based sauce (calories!), but what the heck? They do a lot of that in Tuscany and everyone looks great.

A Taste of Tuscany

October 19, 2011
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While returning to Montecatini from a trip to Pisa, I had time to reflect on my travels in Italy. I realized that over the years I’ve visited close to 25 cities — and about three-quarters of them more than once (Florence 3x, Rome 3x, Venice 2x, Montecatini 2x, Pisa 2x, Lucca 2x, etc.) You get the idea. Amazing, isn’t it?

And, while I probably won’t go back again next year, I am in no way done with Italy. Continue Reading

Fennel + Rapini Ribollita

October 17, 2011
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I came home from a trip to Tuscany with a yen for ribollita. It was there on many menus, but I never ordered it (even I could only eat the proverbial ‘so much’)…although I did get a taste when someone at the table ordered it. But that’s just not as satisfying as having a whole bowl (or 2) all to yourself.

So, once I got home, it didn’t take me long to make some. Heck, I wasn’t even home 2 days – truth be told, I hadn’t even finished unpacking, but I had an irresistible urge to make a pot of ribollita and that takes precedence. Right? Continue Reading