Sorry to miss you last week. It was my birthday and I decided to spend it doing as little as possible. Back in action this week. However, it’s almost too hot to eat which is rather disappointing given the bounty of the season. Fat, shiny aubergines, plump courgettes with pristine flowers attached, tart and juicy tomatoes,…
Asparagus: the joy of springtime
Asparagus wrapped in prosciutto is the perfect dish at this time of year. Fat, juicy spears of asparagus wrapped in salty prosciutto and cooked until crunchy. If the weather is lovely, pop these on the grill to crisp them up. The smell will make everyone go wild. These cloaked spears are a perfect finger food…
Piselli al prosciutto (peas with prosciutto) – Lazio
Piselli al prosciutto (peas with prosciutto) – Lazio Print Prep time 15 mins Cook time 25 mins Total time 40 mins Categories: Kids, Dairy-free*substitute olive oil for the butter, Gluten free, Healthy, Vegetarian*eliminate the prosciutto This is the perfect spring time side dish. Children particularly love it tossed with plain pasta, particularly farfalle…
What makes Parma ham (prosciutto di Parma) so special? And what is even better?
Prosciutto from Parma is the most famous cured ham in the world but what makes it so special? Also, do you know a very similar product to prosciutto di Parma (Parma ham) which is considered even more prized? Is it its historical importance? Prosciutto is an ancient food whose name means “dried” (from perexsuctum in Latin). It has been…
What to cook when it’s hot hot hot
Love food but don’t want to turn your home into a furnace during the summer? Looking for quick and easy, healthy ideas for a picnic or dining outdoors with friends? Here are three recipes I created based on dishes I ate in Italy last summer. The first recipe is a summer take on everyone’s favourite…
Top 8 reasons to visit a forgotten corner of Italy: Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Friuli-Venezia Giulia is an exotic part of Italy with a distinctive Slavic flair. The cuisine is unique in its extensive interweaving of sweet, savoury and spices such as gnocchi di susine (sweet plum dumplings) which are served as a first course, the same as pasta. The geography varies from crystal blue Alpine lakes and the…
Taste the real Sardegna: Gastronomic adventures
Many people flock to Sardegna for the perfect blue skies and spectacular coastline, opting for seafood in the Mediterranean heat but I think this is a mistake. They are overlooking the tradition of this pastoral island and the unique culture of the Sardinians. We stayed at a farm hotel (agriturismo) near Alghero called Sa Mandra,…
Have any grasshopper sauce in your cupboard?
I often have an internal disagreement between my head, which tells me it makes most sense to buy local products which are fresh and support my local community, and my stomach, which wants to eat a different cuisine for every meal. This week, I may have met someone who can help me achieve the twin…
