Giotto and the Art of a Pumpkin Cake | Torta Alla Zucca

copyright 2-13 Maria Liberati/Art of Living, PrimaMedia,Inc
Take pleasure in your dreams, relish your principles and drape your purest feelings on the heart of a precious lover”
Giotto

A beautiful quote from a man who was also known for creating beautiful things. However, he,apparently had a sense of humor as well. In a fresco he was commissioned to paint in the Basilica of St Francis of Assisi , a faint figure of the devil was recently found in the middle of the clouds..possibly his way of getting back at one of the Popes who commissioned that painting…

Known for creating things of beauty, however his children were known to be very plain looking. When asked by the famous writer Bocaccio, how he could create such beautiful paintings but such plain children..Giotto responded “ I made them(my children) in the dark”.
Torta Alla Zucca (Pumpkin Cake)

(photo credits www.tortaalcioccolata.com)
( recipe excerpted from The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: DaVinci Style

16 ounces(500gr) pumpkin mashed
2 lbs (250 gr) peeled, shelled almonds
1 ½ cups(300 gr) flour
1 cup (200 gr) sugar
4 eggs
4 juicing oranges
1 tblsp honey
Chop almonds. Place almonds, pumpkin in bowl, add in honey, juice of oranges, egg yolks and sifted flour Blend. In a separate bowl, whip egg whites till firm and fold into pumpkin mixture. Place in buttered 12” pie pan. Bake in oven preheated to 375F (180C) degrees for 30 minutes/
See you at…
Longview Farm Market for a Holiday Open House and Book Signing. I will be doing farm to table sampling using the yummy local and fresh produce on hand. Join us for a festive fun Holiday event, come and sample.
This event will be held at Longview Farm Market, 3215 Stump Hall Rd, in Collegeville, Pa. from 10-3 on Saturday Dec. 7th
Recipes will be from the Gourmand World Holiday Book-The Basic Art of Italian Cooking : Holidays and Special Occasions-2nd edition

Quintessential Gourmet in Seattle, Washington (one of my favorite places to stop at when I am in Seattle) is now carrying some of The Basic Art of Italian Cooking books and Tuscan Picnic Spice Blends and Holiday Gift Baskets with The Basic Art of Italian Cooking books and spices. If you are in the Seattle Washington area you can visit or here is online info with address..ask for The Basic Art of Italian Cooking Products: