Blog - The Basic Art of Italian Cooking

Picasso, Paella, and a Tube of Tomato Paste | How To Make Paella Classica allo Picasso

By maria September 17, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), RecipesNo Comments

I have discovered a magic flavor in a tube..no its’ not toothpaste..it’s tomato concentrate. Imagine a concentrated flavor of a sweet fruit (tomatoes are classified as a fruit)..the flavor is…

Where to Find the Best Granita in Sicily | How To Make Granita

By maria September 15, 2011Drink Recipes, How To's, Italy, Recipes, Restaurant Recommendations, TravelNo Comments

The intense heat makes for the perfect way to enjoy the end of the summer and squeeze every last drop out.. A summer Below Zero with an authentic granita.…

How To Make Fresh Giardinera in Your Own Kitchen | Savoring Summer Come Fall

By maria September 12, 2011How To's, Recipes, Summer RecipesNo Comments

Soft Amaretti (Amaretti Morbidi) | Tranquility in the Sant'Anatolia Mountains

By maria September 11, 2011Baking, Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Italy, La Dolce Vita (Dessert Recipes), RecipesNo Comments

Today became an unexpected trip to veritable tranquility….with a trip to Sant’Anatolia in the mountains of Lazio..not far from Abruzzo. This Medieval town today boasts 384 inhabitants and lots of…

Gelato & Cappuccino – The Perfect Marriage | How To Make Smoky Cappuccino

By maria September 8, 2011Drink Recipes, Food Facts, History of Foods, How To's, RecipesNo Comments

Even gelato has a literary past..the first gelato is said to have been invented by a Sicilian- Francesco Procopio, who in 1684 went to Paris to open a coffee bar…

The History of Limoncello | From Lemon Grove to Global Sensation

By maria September 7, 2011Facts, Food Facts, History of Foods, Italian Culture, ItalyNo Comments

Garden Fresh Onion Frittata | A Taste of Home

By maria September 6, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Country Living, Frittata, Italian Culture, RecipesNo Comments

copyright Art of Living, PrimaMedia,Inc/Maria Liberati 2011 If home is where the heart is then it’s the details that count, the little things that make you feel comfortable…

La Dolce Vita | An Italian's Labor Day Weekend in Rome

By maria September 4, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Italian Culture, Italy, TravelNo Comments

Doing a bit of La Dolce Vita in the Eternal City for an Italian style Labor Day celebration… A weekend in Rome always seems to me as though…

Homemade Melon Prosecco | The Last Slice of Watermelon and the End of Summer

By maria September 1, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Drink Recipes, Recipes, WineNo Comments

Tonight, after dinner, I sadly cut the last slices of ‘cocomero’ (watermelon) that were left in the refrigerator. I knew this meant that the end of summer is here and…

Chocolate Ricotta Cheesecake Squares | Two Cheesecakes and a Spaghettata

By maria August 27, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Country Living, Entertaining, Italian Culture, La Dolce Vita (Dessert Recipes), Recipes2 Comments

Besides, my frequent trips to the internet to find out about the latest weather reports in the East Coast of the US, I was preoccupied with making 2 chocolate ricotta…

Summer Lemon Torta | Recipes from Sorrento, Italy

By maria August 24, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Country Living, Food Facts, History of Foods, Italy, La Dolce Vita (Dessert Recipes), RecipesNo Comments

Lemons have been used in many ways throughout history. During the European Renaissance, the fashionable ladies used lemons as a way to make their lips red and pronounced. In the…

Cantaloupe & Port | Pair Melon With Port Wine For A Sweet Summer Dessert

By maria August 20, 2011La Dolce Vita (Dessert Recipes), Recipes, Summer RecipesNo Comments

Summer desserts that are sweet, simple ,easy, no oven needed.. are my favorite types of desserts during the lazy, hazy last days of summer. If you need a quick dessert…

Buon Ferragosto | Eggplant Parmigiana on the Beach

By maria August 14, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Holidays, Italian Culture, Italy, RecipesNo Comments

If you have never spent an August 15th on the beach in Italy before, you need to at least once….there is no other day in the year that you experience…

How To Combat Terrible Airplane Food | Try My Frittata Panini

By maria August 14, 2011How To's, Life Hacks, RecipesNo Comments

Is it my imagination or is airplane food at its’ worst?? What little they serve you that is… Traveling to Italy recently, with a group of Italians, I knew the…

Sorbetto Colored Sunsets | Storybook Beaches

By maria August 6, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Country Living, Italian Culture, Italy, Travel2 Comments

copyright 2011, art of living, Prima Media,Inc./Maria Liberati Nestled amongst four seas, the grandiose beaches of Italy look like storybook paintings come to life with water infused sapphires and emeralds,…

Culinary Cruise to Sicily | Luscious Sicilian Biancomangiare Recipe

By maria August 2, 2011Events & Appearances, Italy, Mediterranean Culinary Cruise, RecipesNo Comments

It was so nice to meet all of those that came out to my appearance at Bally’s Casino in Atlantic City Gourmet Food & Wine Show this past weekend..so excited…

America's Biggest Italian Festival | My Time at Festa Italiana

By maria July 28, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Events & Appearances1 Comment

At WTMJ Studios Milwaukee Wisconsin At WTMJ TV Studios, Milwaukee with Marie Lieber, in charge of Cucina Showcase and my right hand assistant while at Festa, she was responsible…

Night at the La Scala Ballet | Jewels Paired with Moscato D'Asti

By maria July 19, 2011Art, Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Italy, Wine10 Comments

Editor: Lisa Zatulovsky Copyright 2011 Art of Living,PrimaMedia,Inc/Maria Liberati Romantic emeralds, flashy rubies and elegant diamonds sparkled in the light on the stage of the Teatro Alla Scala during…

Fiori di Fuoco Fireworks Championship in Italy and a Colorful Panforte to Match

By maria July 18, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Food Facts, History of Foods, Holidays, Italian Culture, ItalyNo Comments

Editor: Lisa Zatulovsky Although Fourth of July has passed and all of the celebratory fireworks displays and festivities have ended, the fireworks in Italy are just about to begin. Through…

4 Best Italian Eateries in America | Where to Eat When Traveling the USA

By maria July 16, 2011Restaurant Recommendations, TravelNo Comments

Editor: Karissa Martin While traveling (or living) in the Northeastern United States this summer, everyone needs to eat a little something to keep those hunger pangs at bay. One of…

Fast and Easy Flight Deals | Escapes.ca Can Save Your Vacation Money

By maria July 16, 2011Life Hacks, Sponsored Posts, TravelNo Comments

It’s hard to believe, but summer will be gone soon! If you are still looking for flight deals to get away you can find deals online. Europe is still within reach,and…

Frittata con Mentuccia | Frittata, Fresh Mint, and a Day at the Beach

By maria July 12, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Frittata, Italian Culture, RecipesNo Comments

Spaghetti al Fresco Riviera | Memories Along the Riviera & the Royal Wedding of Monaco

By maria July 9, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Pasta, RecipesNo Comments

4 Best Italian Eateries in the Midwest | Traveling to Festa Italiana

By maria July 9, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Restaurant Recommendations, TravelNo Comments

How I Book Flights | Tips for Travel

By maria July 8, 2011How To's, Life Hacks, Sponsored PostsNo Comments

Have you noticed prices for flights to Europe recently, they are going nowhere but up. But the nice thing is that there are flight deals you can find to go…

Royal Happenings & More in www.themortonreport.com

By maria July 6, 2011FeaturesNo Comments

You are all aware of the Royal visit to the US, and now Andrew Morton who has written a ton of articles on the Royal Family has an…

The Basic Art of Red, White, and Blue | Spaghetti Primavera for Fourth of July

By maria July 1, 2011Holidays, Pasta, RecipesNo Comments

In honor of Independence Day, a recipe that may have been influenced by Thomas Jefferson’s love for many Italian things- he was the first to bring over the maccheroni machine…

Blueberry Cream Frost a Frosty Coffee Drink

By maria June 26, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Coffee, Drink Recipes, Recipes, Summer RecipesNo Comments

A Country House and A Special Present | Happy Father's Day Memories

By maria June 19, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Country Living, HolidaysNo Comments

A Happy Father’s Day to all Father’s and a special one to my Father. A story from my The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions book is…

How To Fix Water Damage | The Steam Team to the Rescue

By maria June 16, 2011How To's, Life Hacks, Sponsored PostsNo Comments

What do you do when unexpected water damage hits your home or business? It’s a bit difficult to know just who can repair the damage that has already been done.…