Blog - The Basic Art of Italian Cooking

The Postman, Procida and Ciambelline al Vino | How To Make White Wine Biscotti

By maria February 19, 2011How To's, Italian Culture, La Dolce Vita (Dessert Recipes), Recipes, Wine5 Comments

Today, Feb 19th is the birthday of one of my famous Italian actors, gone too quickly, but never forgotten..Massimo Troisi. I remember him most for his last movie role in…

Madame Butterfly & Farfalle Pasta with Spring Peas

By maria February 16, 2011Art, Italian Culture, Pasta, Recipes, Spring RecipesNo Comments

Heart Shaped Pizza | Taste the Love this Valentine's Day

By maria February 12, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Holidays, RecipesNo Comments

Food as a Love Language | Strawberry Chocolate & Creme Fondue

By maria February 10, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Italian Culture, La Dolce Vita (Dessert Recipes), Recipes2 Comments

Almonds, Romance and Gluten Free

By maria February 9, 2011Gluten Free & Delicious, Italian Culture, Italy, La Dolce Vita (Dessert Recipes), RecipesNo Comments

How To Preserve Cauliflower | Cavolfiori Sott'Aceto | Pickled Cauliflower

By maria February 8, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Country Living, How To's, Life Hacks, RecipesNo Comments

"Training is everything. The peach was once a bitter almond; the cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education" Mark Twain (copyright 2011 art of living,PrimaMedia,Inc/Maria Liberati) One of my…

How To Make Any Day An Occasion… With Chocolate | Valentines Day Tips

By maria February 7, 2011Holidays, How To'sNo Comments

“Forget love, I'd rather fall in chocolate” or so the saying goes and what better gift for a romantic Valentine's Day than chocolate. And now you can shop conveniently for…

Shakespeare, 'Rome'ance & Linguini with Salmone e Mandarini | Linguini with Salmon & Mandarin Oranges

By maria February 7, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Holidays, Italian Culture, Italy, RecipesNo Comments

copyright 2011 art of living,PrimaMedia,Inc/Maria Liberati "Journeys end in lovers meeting"..William Shakespeare Who but Shakespeare could put it so eloquently..a message for the 'coming soon' Valentine's Day..and the perfect Valentine's…

To Be Or Not to Be.. Who Was William Shakespeare? and How To Make a Sicilan Cannoli

By maria February 2, 2011Art, Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Italy, La Dolce Vita (Dessert Recipes), Recipes1 Comment

copyright 2021 art of living,PrimaMedia,Inc/Maria Liberati"All the world's a stage and all the men and women merely players" William Shakespeare in "As You Like It" Hmm..maybe Shakespeare knew something we didn't…

Chef Confessions | Using Professional Cookware

By maria February 2, 2011Cooking TIps, Life HacksNo Comments

One secret that most chefs know is that the success of a dish depends not only on the quality of the ingredients but also on the quality of the cookware.…

Gluten Free (GF) Frittata on the Beach & Menu for a (Much Needed) Staycation

By maria January 31, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Country Living, Frittata, Gluten Free & Delicious, RecipesNo Comments

An Afternoon in the Ancient City of Alba Fucens | Gluten Free (GF) Coconut Dessert

By maria January 28, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Italian Culture, Italy, La Dolce Vita (Dessert Recipes), Recipes, TravelNo Comments

Why Mozart Loved Venice | Putting Venice on Your Bucket List

By maria January 27, 2011Italian Culture, ItalyNo Comments

Today, January 27 is the birthday of Amadeus Wolfgang Mozart..a rock star in his own time. In honor of Mozart's birthday a recipe for a Venetian favorite..although not from Venice,…

Coffee Tasting and Savoring Your Sips | How To Make Caffe Principessa

By maria January 25, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Coffee, Drink Recipes, Food Facts, How To's, RecipesNo Comments

copyright 2011 art of living,PrimaMedia,Inc/Maria Liberati Romantic, inviting, inebriating, coffee is the beverage of choice of millions of people around the world. Come to think about it, coffee plays an…

Ricotta Amaretto Cheesecake and a Warm Home

By maria January 20, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), La Dolce Vita (Dessert Recipes), RecipesNo Comments

Gluten Free (GF) Asparagi in Giallo: Asparagus in Sunshine | A Roman Holiday

By maria January 19, 2011Gluten Free & Delicious, RecipesNo Comments

copyright 2011 art of living,PrimaMedia,Inc/Maria Liberati Out and about on my own version of a Roman Holiday this week...soaking up the sights, sounds, flavors..will be posting more shortly..my visit today…

Torta Pane e Cioccolata (Bread & Chocolate Cake) | The Basic Art of Simplicity

By maria January 17, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Country Living, Cucina, cucina povere, Entertaining, La Dolce Vita, Recipes, slow food, the Mediterranean dietNo Comments

'Scarpe' Diem and a Chocolate Orange Torte

By maria January 14, 2011Abruzzo, Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Cucina, cucina povere, Entertaining, Recipes, slow food, Special Occasions, the Mediterranean diet, Travel & customsNo Comments

The Art of the Roman Banquet

By maria January 13, 2011Abruzzo, Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Cucina, cucina povere, Entertaining, History of Foods, La Dolce Vita, Recipes, Rome, slow food, the Mediterranean diet, Travel & customsNo Comments

What a fitting place for a Roman banquet, at the top of the Spanish Steps in the heart of Rome, the same site where the 'art of the banquet 'was…

A Gluten Free Vanilla Cream Pudding

By maria January 12, 2011Abruzzo, Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Country Living, Cucina, cucina povere, Entertaining, La Dolce Vita, Recipes, slow food, the Mediterranean diet, Travel & customsNo Comments

copyright 2011 art of living,PrimaMedia,Inc/Maria Liberati Much to my surprise many people in Italy also have celiac disease. While entertaining at the country house and wanting to be the perfect hostess for many of…

Chianti, Cantucci & Cornflakes?

By maria January 11, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Chianti, Country Living, Cucina, cucina povere, La Dolce Vita, Recipes, slow food, the Mediterranean diet, Tuscan2 Comments

A Peaceful Quiet, Mountain Climbing, Risotto della Volpe

By maria January 9, 2011Abruzzo, Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Country Living, Cucina, cucina povere, Entertaining, La Dolce Vita, Recipes, Risotto, the Mediterranean dietNo Comments

Today was filled with peace and quiet..a walk in the serene mountains of Abruzzo...my Tibet..I know when I have reached the top the moment I see my favorite sign..La…

Lord Byron, Lobster & Champagne

By maria January 8, 2011Abruzzo, aperitifs, Country Living, Cucina, cucina povere, Entertaining, La Dolce Vita, Recipes, slow food, Special Occasions, the Mediterranean diet, Travel & customsNo Comments

Post Holiday Cocktails & Finger Foods

By maria January 7, 2011Abruzzo, Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Country Living, Cucina, cucina povere, Entertaining, Holidays, La Dolce Vita, Recipes, Rome, slow food, Special Occasions, the Mediterranean diet, Travel & customs1 Comment

Holiday Decorations began coming down, today, at the country house.. the 6th of January is the official end of the Holidays here...our tree was 'stripped' of its' tinsel and home…

Happy La Befana & A Royal Recipe

By maria January 6, 2011Abruzzo, Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Christmas, Country Living, Cucina, cucina povere, Entertaining, Holidays, La Dolce Vita, Recipes, Special Occasions, the Mediterranean diet, Travel & customs, UncategorizedNo Comments

coyright 2010 art of living, PrimaMedia,Inc/Maria Liberati La Befana is almost here or as tradition goes she should be 'flying' by on her broomstick sometime before dawn tomorrow morning, the…

Happy Birthday Isaac Newtown & Apple Biscotti

By maria January 4, 2011Abruzzo, Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Country Living, Cucina, cucina povere, Entertaining, Holidays, La Dolce Vita, Recipes, slow food, Special Occasions, the Mediterranean diet, Travel & customsNo Comments

Limoncini with Creamy Tuna for a Holiday Lunch

By maria January 2, 2011Abruzzo, Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Christmas, Country Living, Cucina, cucina povere, Holidays, La Dolce Vita, Recipes, slow food, the Mediterranean diet, Travel & customs, WineNo Comments

A New Year's Day Dinner & Keywords to Avoid

By maria January 1, 2011Abruzzo, Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Christmas, Country Living, Cucina, cucina povere, Entertaining, Holidays, La Dolce Vita, Recipes, slow food, Special Occasions, the Mediterranean diet, Travel & customsNo Comments

copyright 2010 art of living,PrimaMedia,Inc/Maria Liberati New Year's Day Lunch/ Dinner was a meal filled ( of course) with great food. and conversation...but also with keywords to avoid.. words like-potatoes.. biscotti....…

A Last Minute 'Capodanno' Celebration

By maria December 30, 2010Abruzzo, aperitifs, Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Cucina, cucina povere, Entertaining, Holidays, La Dolce Vita, Recipes, slow food, the Mediterranean dietNo Comments

A day spent looking for' funghi' (mushrooms) for a dish of hot polenta on a cold winter day.....a fun day to look for mushrooms because I encountered so many friends…

Cassola..A Traditional Jewish-Italian Dessert

By maria December 29, 2010Abruzzo, Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Christkindlmarkts, Christmas, Coffee, Country Living, Cucina, cucina povere, Holidays, La Dolce Vita, RecipesNo Comments

copyright 2010 art of living, PrimaMedia,Inc/Maria Liberati Cassola is traditionally a Jewish dessert, but because the main ingredient is fresh ricotta cheese it is also a traditional cheesecake served…