Blog - The Basic Art of Italian Cooking

Simplicity as an Art Form | Spaghetti Alle Erbette (Spaghetti with Herbs)

By maria May 8, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Holidays, Pasta, RecipesNo Comments

The most beautiful things are the simplest, call me frugal or thrifty or anything in between..but my favorite things are those that are the simplest.. or maybe I am just infatuated…

Colorful Spring Flowers and Sigmund Freud | Torte all’Ananas (Pineapple Torte)

By maria May 6, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), La Dolce Vita (Dessert Recipes), RecipesNo Comments

A Night of Opera | Spaghetti Norma

By maria April 27, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Italian Culture, Pasta, RecipesNo Comments

Pasquetta to the Rescue | How To Halt That After-Easter Letdown

By maria April 25, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Country Living, Holidays, How To's, Italian CultureNo Comments

If you are having some type of letdown after Easter, consider celebrating ‘Pasquetta’ or Little Easter as they do in Italy. Always celebrated on Easter Monday and it’s also like…

The Pan Makes the Pizza | Chef's Guide to Finding the Perfect Pan

By maria April 22, 2011Cooking TIps, How To's, Life HacksNo Comments

There is an old saying “Pants make the man” and accordingly one of the secrets to making a great pizza is using high quality pizza pans because “the pan makes…

Make a Statement with Fair Trade | Premcrest Fair Trade Wholesale

By maria April 22, 2011Life Hacks, Sponsored PostsNo Comments

You can do more with your choice of food than just satisfy your hunger. You can also help farmers in developing countries by looking for products that are designated as…

Traditional Italian Easter Bread | How To Make Pane di Pasqua all’Uova

By maria April 21, 2011Baking, Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Country Living, Holidays, How To's, RecipesNo Comments

Easter Egg Bread (Pane di Pasqua all’Uova) copyright 2011 art of living, PrimaMedia,Inc/Maria Liberati While most children were awakened on Easter morning with thoughts of seeing an Easter basket filled…

Where is Mantua and How to Make Sbrisolana

By maria April 16, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Italian Culture, Italy, Spring Recipes3 Comments

ACheapSeat.com | Your Ticket To an Affordable Concert

By maria April 7, 2011Life Hacks, Sponsored PostsNo Comments

What a better way to enjoy a weekend that a concert, a great way to see BonJovi when they are back in the US and not in Italy is to…

Raffaello and Recipes from LeMarche | Lattarol Al Caffe (Coffee Cake)

By maria April 7, 2011Art, Coffee, Italian Culture, RecipesNo Comments

“When one is painting one does not think” Raffaelo April 6th was the birthday of the Renaissance artist and architect –known by one name only Raffaello. …..he so intensely concentrated…

Cipolle Ripene (Stuffed Onions) | How To Make Traditional Tuscan Fare

By maria April 5, 2011How To's, Italy, RecipesNo Comments

Minestra Bolognese | How To Warm Up On Chilly Spring Nights

By maria April 2, 2011How To's, Recipes, Soups, Spring RecipesNo Comments

Hard to believe it is Spring and still a chill in the air. One way to combat those chilly Spring nights is with a hot bowl of soup for dinner.…

Why Your Restaurant Should Accept Credit Cards

By maria April 2, 2011Life HacksNo Comments

Weekends some times find me catching up with friends and what better way to catch up than-over food-. So last night we went to one of our little local ,but…

Van Gogh's Colorful Cooking | Spaghetti with Herbed Tomatoes

By maria March 29, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Pasta, RecipesNo Comments

Bianco da Mangiare and the First Tastes of Spring | A Gentle Kiss of Lemon, Vanilla, Cinnamon

By maria March 24, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), La Dolce Vita (Dessert Recipes), RecipesNo Comments

copyright 2011 art of living,PrimaMedia,Inc/Maria Liberati My eyes open, awakened by that inspiring aroma of freshly ground coffee beans..my night stand full of books, 2 notebooks-one for dreams and one…

A Recipe From DaVinci's Cookbook | Charlotte Alla Milanese

By maria March 19, 2011Facts, Food Facts, History of Foods, RecipesNo Comments

From the elegant city of Milan comes this elegant, yet simple dessert..Charlotte Alla Milanese.... it’s a great way to make use of day old crusty bread and an elegantly simple…

Saint Patrick Was Not Irish and Other Historical Facts | Filet of Sole with Cabbage & Potatoes

By maria March 17, 2011Holidays, Italian Culture, Recipes1 Comment

Happy" top o' the mornin to ya"...for Saint Patrick's Day. Today the Irish claim him as their own, but did you know that even the Italians claim him as one…

Ricotta Maccheroni Romana | A Meal Fit for an Emperor

By maria March 15, 2011Italian Culture, Italy, Pasta, RecipesNo Comments

Lasagna Con Beschamel e Spinaci (Lasagne with Beschamel & Spinach) | Celebrating Gratitude and A Sunday Dinner

By maria March 12, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Pasta, RecipesNo Comments

A Chef's Guide to Selecting Restaurant Equipment

By maria March 9, 2011Cooking TIps, Life HacksNo Comments

If you have a restaurant or are planning to open one, spend some dedicated time selecting cooking equipment. When I consult with novices looking to open a restaurant I always…

A Recipe for Chiacchiare & The Gondoliers | Carnevale Across Italy

By maria March 7, 2011Holidays, Italian Culture, Italy, RecipesNo Comments

Carnevale..the feast that marks the 40 days filled with other Holidays approaching Easter.. Venice is one of the most famous cities in the world for its' illustrious Carnevale..the colors, the…

Happy Birthday Vivaldi | Waiting for Spring With Farfalle con Tonno – Farfalle Pasta With Tuna

By maria March 4, 2011Art, Italian Culture, Italy, RecipesNo Comments

copyright 2011 art of living, PrimaMedia,Inc/Maria Liberati Wishful thinking or the anticipation of Spring's arrival. Listen to the Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi and you will quickly remember what Spring sounds…

The Art of Getting Comfortable | Recliners and Comfort Go Together

By maria March 2, 2011Interior Design, Life HacksNo Comments

Comfort is the optimum word when choosing chairs for your humble abode. What could epitomize the comfortable chair more than recliners? I begin to feel lazy and relaxed just at…

Where To Buy Patio Furniture | How To Complete Your Backyard Makeover

By maria March 2, 2011Home Improvement, How To's, Interior Design, Life HacksNo Comments

Spring is in the air and wishful thinking turns our thoughts to patio furniture. What will it be this year to give your outdoor space that definitive, welcoming look? And…

Find Your Ideal Design | Sofas & Sectionals at Everysofa.com

By maria March 2, 2011Interior Design, Life Hacks, Sponsored PostsNo Comments

A sofa can be an important focal part of the room it inhabits. So it is an important choice and one that requires thought with all the decisions about not only…

Spuma Allo Zenzero (Potato Puree with Ginger ) | Finding Mozart in Mantua

By maria March 1, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Italian Culture, Italy, RecipesNo Comments

Travel Smart | South Carolina Travel Suggestions

By maria February 27, 2011Life Hacks, Sponsored PostsNo Comments

The City of Charleston South Carolina brings memories of great food, beautiful grandeur of the South and Charleston homes are just as splendid. But whether you are looking to move…

Coffee and Chocolate – the Perfect Match | How To Make Caffe al Cioccolato

By maria February 25, 2011Coffee, Drink Recipes, RecipesNo Comments

What is it about coffee and chocolate together that make such an inebriating, hypnotic blend of flavors..the two flavors make the perfect match ( better than Napooleon & Josephine or…

Coffee Is An Art

By maria February 25, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), CoffeeNo Comments

If you approach many things as an art, you begin to really appreciate and learn to enjoy in the highest form what it is you are excited about. My favorite…

How To Celebrate Terminalia With an Orange & Sage Sorbetto

By maria February 22, 2011Drink Recipes, Holidays, RecipesNo Comments

Once upon a time in Ancient Rome, Terminalia, was celebrated on February 23rd to honor the God Terminus. According to Ancient Roman mythology, Terminus, was the ancient God who protected…