Blog - The Basic Art of Italian Cooking

3 Haunted Destinations in Italy | Celebrating Halloween with Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Cake

By maria October 27, 2013Holidays, Italian Culture, La Dolce Vita (Dessert Recipes), Recipes, TravelNo Comments

I love Holidays that give us an excuse to create a dessert for the occasion and Halloween is one of those days..healthy delicious pumpkin is a seasonal ingredient and makes…

Orecchiette Pasta with Cauliflower and Pecorino | Healthy and Delicious

By maria October 25, 2013Pasta, RecipesNo Comments

“Cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education” Mark Twain A special thanks to everyone that stopped by to see my onstage appearance at the Philly Gourmet Food and…

Anginetti Cookies | Italian Comfort Food

By maria October 18, 2013Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), La Dolce Vita (Dessert Recipes), RecipesNo Comments

Healthy Halloween Pumpkin Muffins

By maria October 13, 2013Baking, Holidays, RecipesNo Comments

A Pane Cotto | Flavors of Autumn

By maria October 9, 2013Fall Recipes, Recipes, SoupsNo Comments

Autumn Risotto with Gorgonzola | My Sunny Fall Day at the Farmers Market

By maria October 6, 2013Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Fall Recipes, RecipesNo Comments

“Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns”. - George Eliot I…

The Evolution of Italian Cuisine | Bruschetta Filanti Recipe

By maria October 4, 2013Food Facts, History of Foods, Italian Culture, Italy, RecipesNo Comments

copyright 2013 Maria Liberati/Art of Living, PrimaMedia,Inc When thinking of Italian cuisine, most assume it is all about spaghetti, meatballs and pizza, ... but potatoes, tomatoes, bell peppers, and maize,…

Homemade Herbed Salt | How to Use Herbs Like an Italian Chef

By maria October 1, 2013Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Cooking TIps, How To's, RecipesNo Comments

How To Save Money On Halloween Candy

By maria September 30, 2013Food Facts, Holidays, Life HacksNo Comments

There are all kinds of wonderful excuses for stocking up on Halloween candy. The best reason for buying more than you anticipate needing is that you can keep some of…

Lemon Susamielli Recipe (Lemon Cookies) | Festa Italiana Seattle

By maria September 24, 2013Baking, Events & Appearances, La Dolce Vita (Dessert Recipes), RecipesNo Comments

How To Make Apple Butter

By maria September 22, 2013How To's, RecipesNo Comments

Apricot Cornetti | Italian Mornings

By maria September 18, 2013Food Facts, RecipesNo Comments

Eggplant Manicotti Parmigiana with Provolone Cheese | A Few Of My Favorite Things

By maria September 17, 2013Art, Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), RecipesNo Comments

"The art of dining well is no slight art, the pleasure no slight pleasure." Michel Eyquem de Montaigne, French essayist (1533-1592) 'Essays' copyright 2013 Maria Liberati/Art of Living, PrimaMedia,Inc…

How To Make A Plum Crostata | The Plum Diaries

By maria September 11, 2013Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Gardening, How To's, RecipesNo Comments

A Slice of Italian Musical History | Making Sapore di Mare al Pesto (Seafood with Pesto)

By maria September 6, 2013Italian Culture, RecipesNo Comments

A slice of History..Italian musical history…I made a stop in Celano a few days ago for some great food, unbelievable scenery and had the pleasure of meeting Red Canzian.. part …

Summer Plum Tiramisu | Unexpected Banquet in the Mountains of Abruzzo

By maria September 3, 2013Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Italian Culture, La Dolce Vita (Dessert Recipes), RecipesNo Comments

copyright 2013 Maria Liberati/Art of Living,PrimaMedia,Inc. A family event always turns into a banquet..kisses and hugs coming from every direction..when one arrives ..when one leaves…not sure if they are all…

Food for Thought | Tomatoes of Francavilla, Poetry for the Palate, and Recipes From the Beach

By maria September 2, 2013Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Summer Recipes, TravelNo Comments

copyright 2013 Maria Liberati/Art of Living,PrimaMedia,Inc food is poetry..food brings life to the day..it accompanies us throughout the day..mixing flavors and aromas... sensations that touch the heart and…

Memories of Lecce Make a Focaccia Pugliese Recipe

By maria August 26, 2013Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), RecipesNo Comments

A few summers ago my visit to this city of Baroque beauty and I can still remember the taste of Focaccia Pugliese..so simple in its ingredients yet bursting with so…

Cozze e Pecorino (Mussels and Pecorino) | A Great Pairing

By maria August 23, 2013Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), RecipesNo Comments

How To Make Plum Marmalade | The Plum Diaries

By maria August 21, 2013Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Gardening, How To's, RecipesNo Comments

copyrigh 2013 t Maria Liberati/Art of Living,PrimaMedia,Inc Nothing is quite as relaxing as a spending a day plucking plums from their respective trees…as the weather has been filled with a…

Ciambella al Vino and a Bag of Fennel Seeds

By maria August 19, 2013Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), La Dolce Vita (Dessert Recipes), RecipesNo Comments

My Ferragosto Staycation | Freshly Made Tagliatelle con Polpette di Pesce (Tagliatelle with Seafood Meatballs)

By maria August 16, 2013Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Holidays, Italian Culture, RecipesNo Comments

Ghiaccioli – Homemade Fresh Fruit Popsicles | The Natural Way to Stay Cool

By maria August 14, 2013La Dolce Vita (Dessert Recipes), Recipes, Summer RecipesNo Comments

copyright 2013 Art of LIving,PrimaMedia,Inc/Maria Liberati Ghiaccioli (popsicles) are a necessary accessory for walking outside in the sweltering heat..but no need to buy ones made only with chemicals, make…

Panzanella Salad & How to Use Leftover Bread and Ripe Tomatoes

By maria August 12, 2013Holidays, How To's, Recipes, SaladsNo Comments

Cool Melon Carpaccio | A Lazy August

By maria August 10, 2013Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Recipes, Summer RecipesNo Comments

A Visit, A Gift, A Pizza | Using Madre Lievito

By maria August 9, 2013Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Food Facts, Italian CultureNo Comments

A surprise visit to a local baker in town and her family just to say hi and give hugs and kisses …. and our visit ends up being about food…a…

A Sack of Potatoes to Make Lunch | Cold Tuna and Potato Salad

By maria August 9, 2013Recipes, Summer RecipesNo Comments

Fresh Susine and a Plum Torte

By maria August 8, 2013Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), La Dolce Vita (Dessert Recipes), RecipesNo Comments

My Wednesday Morning | 9 AM Appointment with a Loaf of Venafro Bread

By maria August 6, 2013Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Italian Culture, ItalyNo Comments

Wednesday morning..have an appointment for a loaf of bread..but not just any bread …the day of the week that I can get a traditional bread from my grandmother’s village…Venafro..it is…

Cold Zucchini Carrot Basmati Rice Salad & Catching a Fresh Zucchini

By maria August 6, 2013Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Recipes, SaladsNo Comments

“Hurry up I must catch a zucchini!” The first words uttered as I woke up this morning..the effects of the time change or ‘fuso d’orario’ as it is referred to…