~ The Love Apple ~ (Heirloom Tomato, Onion, Basil and Mint Tart Recipe) When the tomato was first introduced to Italy from South America – yes, the tomato is not indigenous to Italy – it was thought to be poisonous. Its odd, sometimes ugly shape and varying color really made people nervous. Eventually, as it …
It’s Child’s Play~
Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe On my most recent trip to Italy I stayed with the Stefanis (the family in my book) and learned a new and very simple recipe ~ Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe. This recipe is one of the hundreds of classic Italian dishes were you prepare the sauce for the pasta in the …
Pizza ~ Pizza
Hmm, Rome had a Caesar, too ~ Pizza – so much for starting the year off on the healthy side, right? Hmm, well, it may not be as bad as you think. If I were to ask you, “What is your favorite Italian food?” I have a feeling I could place a sure bet that …
A New Year ~ A New Diet
Got Fruit? With the ever increasing popularity of my book Beyond the Pasta, I have been getting a lot of response from people wanting to know about the Italian diet. Am I a dietitian? Nope, not by a long shot. But having just returned from Italy, where I spent more time with the Stefani family, …
Back to the Future ~ Viterbo bound
~ Returning to my now Italian home ~ Writing a book about real people and the real time you spent with them can be stressful – especially when you wrote it without them ever pre-reading a single syllable. Add to that the fact that there is a language barrier between everyone involved and you might …
New Year’s Greetings from Viterbo, Italy~
Start off the New Year reducing your waist ~ Italian-Style As an American I think we sometimes have the false idea that every Italian meal involves large volumes of food – nothing could be farther from the truth. Yes, Italians do eat multiple courses, but the portion size of each of those courses is rather …
La Parola del Giorno ~ Tavolo
The Word of the Day ~ Table I am sure you are thinking, “What is so special about the word “table”?” Being American, maybe that word doesn’t resonate for you, doesn’t strike a chord. I can understand that. However, in Italy, the word “table” has two meanings. Your Italian lesson: Tavolo is the Italian word …
A Sunday in Italy ~ almost
My life lately has been all about Italy – the book is out, I have started doing interviews where I speak about my time living in Italy, and recently I sent the book to the family in Italy (they received them today). This past Sunday, a dear friend here in town invited me over for …
La Macchina di Santa Rosa~ una grande festa!
There was a huge festival in Viterbo, Italy, last night (Sept 3) … La Macchina di Santa Rosa (literally translated: Saint Rosa’s machine). Mere words will not do it justice. You may be wondering how a patron saint can have a “machine” and — “What in the world is it?” The “machine” is an over …
Behind the magic door~
See and download the full gallery on posterous “And behind door number 3…” Often we imagine how grand it must be to sit in a piazza eating gelato, while enjoying the rushing sound of water as it cascades down an enormous carved horse, water nymph, or sea god. But those sights are for the …