Eating is An Experience!

copyright 2009, Art of Living, PrimaMedia,Inc., Maria Liberati

Today as I finished up a panel discussion at the Chestnut Hill Book Festival in Chestnut Hill, Pa on writing your own cookbook (with noted cookbook writers), someone in the audience came up to thank me for noting that cookbook writing and cooking should be a passion. But he also put it more succinctly… that cooking and eating a meal should be more than just putting ingredients together..it should be an experience no matter how simple!
Think of eating a meal as an experience..an experience to try a new food or a new flavor combination. It can be a simple dish, bruschetta with fresh tomatoes, fresh basil, fresh mozzarella, a truly delicious experience of  true flavors! An fun experience to lift up your spirits, to give you something to look forward to at the end of the day!
Here are some great recipes to experience:
Zucchini Parmigiana Frittata
*6 eggs
*2 small zucchini, chopped
*4 tblsps of olive oil
*4 tblsps of parmigiana-reggiano cheese grated
*handful of fresh parsley finely chopped
*salt and pepper to taste
Heat olive oil in saute pan. Place in chopped zucchini. Saute for 5 minutes. Break eggs in a bowl. whisk with a wire whisk, place in chopped parsley, grated parmigiana-reggiano cheese whisk together. Add in salt and pepper to taste. Place in saute pan with zucchini. When all sides are dry and top does not have runny liquid, flip over with a plate on top and place back in sauce pan. Brown on that side, take out of pan and slice and serve.
Panzanella (Tuscan bread salad)
*4 slices of thick crusty bread
*1/2 cup  extra virgin olive oil
*4 plum tomatoes chopped
*1 cucumber peeled and chopped
*1/2 red onion peeled and chopped
*handful of fresh basil leaves chopped
Tear bread slices and place in bowl with chopped cucumber and chopped onion. In small bowl whisk together olive oil and red wine vinegar. Pour over bread and salad and let marinade for 30 minutes.
Then place in tomatoes, and toss, top with chopped basil leaves and serve.
Hope to see you at the upcoming The Basic Art of Italian Cooking events at:
July 16th- Annapolis, MD– Whole Foods Market, Annapolis Culinary Center, 7 PM- A Tuscan Picnic cooking demo and book signing. Call store for info or email events@marialiberati.com
July 18th- Fair Lakes/Fairfax, Va., Whole Foods Market, A Tuscan Picnic and Wine Pairing, 1PM. Call store for info or email:events@marialiberati.com
July 31st-August 2nd ,Atlantic City Wine and Food Festival. Email:events@marialiberati.com
Mangia Bene, Vivi Bene,
Maria
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