Italy

In the Cucina

imageHow I spent my vacation in Italy…in the kitchen!  I’m the woman who gets excited over receiving a kitchen appliance for Christmas. Wrap a big bow on a Viking range and I will kiss you all over.   Remodel my kitchen to look like this…with everything included, and I will love you forever.

imageToday I had double the cooking classes. Beginning at 10 am for Traditional Cooking Class 3 followed by Dessert Making Class 4. My second class of desserts was just Chef Raffaele and me.  Lauren from Cooking Vacations came by to give an informal discussion on Italian Renaissance women who shaped Italy’s food, fashion, art and literati scene.  This I loved as I have always been fascinated by the history of food.

For this post I will just leave you a teaser of the foods we made and ate as I had a very full day…

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As we arrived, Chef served us Chocolate Almond Flour Cake with coffee, just in case we were a bit hungry before we got started.  Aprons on, hands washed, ready to cook….

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Arancini Di Riso (rice balls)

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Ravioli Capresi

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Spigola All ‘Acqua Pazza (Sea Bass in Crazy Water)

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Crostata Di Frutti (Apple Tart layered with jam, custard, lady fingers and apples)

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Semifriddo Al Croccantino (Caramelized Hazelnut Ice Cream Cake)

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Wine Biscuits

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Layered Limoncello Sponge Cake and Custard

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As if this wasn’t enough, after my dessert class, Chef Raffaele prepared me a dish of freshly made pasta with pesto for dinner.

I’m happily exhausted and deliciously satisfied.

Ciao  xxox

I love being in the kitchen. Early mornings, soft music, a hot espresso. Easing into the preparation of delicious meals. Glancing through cookbooks, gathering inspiration and planning my day. I look forward to the cycles of the seasons, the pleasures of tasting and savoring and sharing this with those dear to me. Weekends are special to me as my week days are often rushed, but still I create the ambiance, light the candles, set the table and uncork the wine.

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