Pappardelle casalinghe...

...Handmade Pappardelle with Walnut Pesto Sauce...

I am not keen on Pasta (not a good Italian, am I? ) and I don't make it often, even if I should, as I know my husband like it much...

However, today, having some fresh duck eggs and needing some more practice for the final exam of the course for cook, I decided to prepare the dough and make some Pappardelle...

In the fridge, there was still some of the Pesto Sauce I'd made with fresh basil and walnuts (without Parmigiano) and few cherry tomatoes to garnish...

It's been a real surprise for my husband coming from work at lunch time... He's enjoyed the Pappardelle so much...!!!

Infact, they were good: the right thickness, right cooking time, right flavour and a good marriage with the Pesto Sauce and cherry tomatoes...

I must do it often, I even enjoyed making it ...

Traditional Meat Balls

...floured and fried...cooked in tomatoe sauce...

Alternatively, rolled in bread crumbs and fried...

Parmigiana in mould...

...with Pesto Sauce decorations...

Quiche Lorraine

...the original recipe...


...using very good quality bacon, the one my father-in-law makes himself...

Pea Soup...

served lukewarm with crunchy cubes of carrots and onions, Pesto sauce and Parmigiano Tuilles (Sprinkled with Coconut rapè) to garnish...

is a lovely light lunch choice on a hot summer day!

Basket of Bread

It is always pleasing for a customer being welcome with a little present...a lovely basket of bread...while it's looking at the menù...

This is just an idea of different kinds of bread you can delight with people coming to your restaurant...

Triangles of Onion Focaccia (dough aromatized with rosmarine and sage), Walnut chip Twists (same aromatized dough), Poppy seed Knots made from milk bread with lemon zest and Fennel seed Croissants from the same dough...

Bomboloni...

direttamente dal surgelatore....

Ne avevo preparati molti un giorno, (troppi!), così decisi di surgelarne alcuni, pronti per essere fritti dopo un ulteriore lievitazione...

Risultato...

Coconut Muffins...

Improved Recipe!!!

Coconut Muffins...

...made for my dear friend Roxy as a present for her birthday together with a marvellous whole organic Pecorino Cheese..., these are the kind of present we like giving each other on special occasions and often...

Waffle Liegi

...prima prova con risultato davvero soddisfacente...

Tozzetti con Nocciole

Very Savoury Muffins

...una versione di muffins salati, con pecorino sardo spalmabile, prosciutto di casa nostra e timo per aromatizzare... Morbidissimi, ma molto molto saporiti...un po' troppo per i miei gusti... 

Gelato alla Vaniglia con Mirtilli Sciroppati...

...su cestino croccante allo Zenzero...

Continuo a cucinare con la sola mano sinistra...

Black Muffins

...wonderfully tender and moist muffins...

with a double dose of chocolate, one from cocoa powder and the other from chocolate chips...

Gelato ai Fichi...

...Cannella e schegge di Cioccolato..

...senza l'uso della gelatiera...ed addirittura con una sola mano, la sinistra, dato che ho la destra immobilizzata a causa di una frattura...

Ma non rinuncio alle mie cucine, quando ho un altro braccio da sfruttare...

 

Broken Shoulder Pizza

...although I've got the right shoulder broken and a very annoying sling, I don't give up make my Saturday Pizza, only by the left arm (that is getting stronger in this conditions) and...
...look at this...



...figs, green tomatoes, Speck, Stracchino cheese (fichi, pomodori verdi, Speck, un po' di Stracchino) and lots of Passion...YAMMY YAMMY!

Seasonal Fruit&Yogurt Pudding

Fruit is one of the most important ingredient in this dessert. Essential is having 1 kg of fresh and ripe fruit, whatever kind you prefer...

I've used pears from my garden, so sweet and juicy!... leaving the skin on as it's thin and  absolutely free of pesticides...

Natural yogurt in the batter is also important for the texture... Ground cinnamon and some plain chocolate give this pudding personality...

I liked to serve it with whipped cream and my home made custard...

You may want to know more details, so, please, ask me...

Desert Roses

Don't they look like beautiful flowers growing on the desert sand...?

Infact, they are lovely little cakes, made with simple ingredients and enriched with some raisins and chopped walnuts. They're friable and nicely fragrant inside and have a crunchy corn flake coat... good with the morning caffelatte or a cup of tea...

Pear&Nutella Tart

...where my homemade pastry is the scenery for the perfect marriage between the juicy and sweet pears of our garden and the Nutella (Italy favourite)...

Ingredients: h.m. pastry made with 200 gr all purpose flour, 100 gr softened butter, 1 egg+1egg yolk, pinch of salt, grated lemon zest; 500-600 gr pears (sliced), 5 tblsp Nutella,

sour cream(and yogurt) sauce made with 200 gr sour cream (or 100 gr s.c.+ 100 gr yogurt), 2eggs, 3 tblsp sugar, vanilla aroma.

Make the pastry: beat butter until soft, add sugar and mix. Add eggs, salt, some grated lemon zest. Finally, add flour and make a stiff dough. Knead lightly. Refrigerate for 30 mins at least.

Place sliced pears in a bowl with a tblsp of sugar and few drops of lemon juice.

Prepare the sauce, beating eggs with sugar. Add aroma, salt and sour cream or s.cream+yogurt mixture.

Now, line a 24 cm flan tip with the pastry. Spread Nutella on the base. Arrange pears on top, in a layer. Pour the sauce. Sprinkle some Demerara sugar and graund cinnamon. Bake for 35 mins in hot oven, until the pastry is golden brown.

Once made this Tart, I had spare sliced pears and sauce, though any Nutella left... So, I made a black pastry for another similar Tart with only a layer of pears and the sour cream+yogurt sauce on top...

The ingredients for the black pastry:

200 gr all purpose flour, 100 gr butter, 70 gr sugar, 1 egg+1 egg yolk, 15 gr cocoa powder, pinch of salt

M&D PIZZA...

Making Pizza last Saturday, I had the idea of a different topping, as if  Margery &Dennis would have come along for dinner...

I virtually offer you a slice of the Pizza, dear Family!...

...with Mozzarella and Stracchino cheese, slices of grilled aubergines and fresh tomatoes, Bresaola and stripes of melon (added after baked)...

for You, my Dear Ones!!!