Pizza & Poetry…
copyright 2009, Art of Living, PrimaMedia, Inc Someone once said that 'poetry is made up of memories and the act of recalling a special moment and without remembering or the…
Fresh Ricotta Cheesecake & a Picnic
The Basic Art of Italian Cooking kitchen here in Italy was busy with many recipes today, although still hot, hot, hot and no desire to use an oven or a…
Settembrini and September
copyright 2009, art of living, PrimaMedia,Inc September is now the month of the 'Settembrini' when everything has a September feel to it. The air now has a gentler heat…
A Dinner in Three Acts..
A dinner of freshly prepared seafood and linguine is always on the menu when I am at the beach and this weekend was no exception. Eating grilled fish and pasta…
September on the Beach & Pasta al Forno
copyright 2009, Maria Liberati As we approach September everything here becomes known as 'settembrini' (loosely translated to mean 'septemberish'): The figs that are ripening now are smaller than the ones…
Fresh Peppers & Grape Tomatoes & Vibrant Colors
copyright 2009, Maria Liberati The peppers are so vibrant in colors, I guess they don't want to be overshadowed by the vivid beauty of the Italian summer sun. A visit…
Watermelon..Il Sole Mio & Hot August Nights
copyright 2009, Maria Liberati Last night ended with the best refresher of all; a slice of locally produced watermelon. Not a fan of air conditioning and at home there is…
Linguine with Fresh, Local Tomatoes
Copyright 2009, Maria Liberati Aug/Sept 2009 issue of The Basic Art of Italian Cooking by Maria Liberati ezine now ready at http://tinyurl.com/pfo8xb Here is a recipe being prepared, as…
A Day with Moses & Michelangelo
Copyright 2009, Maria Liberati Sundays in Rome always turn into special days, and this weekend was no exception. A trip there for an event on Saturday for my latest book…
A House is A Home..with lots of food of course!
copyright 2009, Maria Liberati No matter how big or small or elegant or simple, a house-- and that is any house- -from a villa to an apartment- is not…
Preparing lunch….
Preparing lunch here in The Basic Art of Italian Cooking kitchen today from locally grown tomatoes and peppers, testing out some recipes to use and preparing for a large group…
When the Ordinary Becomes the Extraordinary..
copyright 2009, Maria Liberati I have always thought of Italian cooking as just that; always making something ordinary into something extraordinary! Day-old bread becomes an elegant appetizer with just a…
Torte Amore Mio
Trying to stay cool in 100 degree weather, in the mountains of Abruzzo, no relief from the heat in sight. In The Basic Art of Italian Kitchen this morning, we…
Torta Rustica..a recipe for a delicious summer lunch..
Lunch (per my previous post today) was a treat for the taste buds and the recipe for the Torta Rustica-which literally means- rustic pie. A few tips on Torta Rustica-this…
Today's Souvenirs from Italy-Torte
Be on the lookout for two recipes from The Basic Art of Italian Kitchen here in Italy. Today was all about the Torte. We made a Torte Rustica which will…
Ciambellone Classico in the Mountains of Abruzzo
copyright 2009, Maria Liberati Dessert for yesterday's August 15th Holiday picnic was delicious and is as easy to make as it is to eat. Had the picnic at home in the…
Old World Charm & Ultra Modern Kitchen Design
Here in Italy, there is such a contrast between old world charm and the ultra modern in design and architecture. My dilemma in selecting design for a The Basic Art…
Happy August 15th!
copyright 2009, Maria Liberati Stopped for a picnic today in the mountains of Abruzzo, after all it is the 15th of August, the biggest summer Holiday in all of Europe.…
La Valigia di Sogni (part 2)
copyright 2009, Maria Liberati Suitcase not unpacked yet, filled still with lots of dreams to follow, will be back soon from the visit to Pescara and nearby towns. Found a beautiful…
Una Valigia Di Sogni..(A Suitcase Full of Dreams..and Food)
Off to Pescara and some oil tasting ,of course a vineyard visit and I will be hosting a special wine dinner as well, but taking 'una valigia di sogni' (suitcase…
Waiting for Rome…Cornetto..cappuccino…
copyright 2009, Maria Liberati Counting down the hours here at the airport till my first authentic cappuccino and cornetto, 13 hours and counting, after all is has been about 8…
Atlantic City Food & Wine Show
As promised here are photos from the Atlantic City Food and Wine Show.. held recently at Bally's Casino.. was a paradise for foodies....great wines and foods..and many tastings going on all…
August in Atlantic City…..
copyright 2009, Maria Liberati Thanks for all those that came to my appearance at the Atlantic City Food & Wine Show at Bally's Casino this weekend. More photos and recipes…
Fresh Lemons & the Perfumes of Summer!
copyright 2009, Maria Liberati Buying fresh fruit in the summer is one of my favorite things to do, the aromas of the freshly picked fruits are so hypnotic (especially if…
Pinot Grigio..in Oregon??
copyright 2009, Maria Liberati Pinot Gris, has delighted the lips of wine-lovers for centuries. Its origins can be traced back to Burgundy, France (where it is called…
A New Type of Calendar
What's the best way to keep your customers informed of upcoming events and specials? I found the perfect product online; it's really unique it is a dry erase calendar. You…
On The Road Again..Enjoying Local Produce.
copyright 2009, Maria Liberati From locally produced zucchini and plumcots to heirloom tomatoes, my trip to Annapolis ,Maryland down to Fairfax Virginia...was a delicious one. Traveling by car (in the…
Taste & Tour from Philly to Virginia
Tasting & Traveling my way from Philly to Fairfax, Virginia! Heirloom tomatoes in Maryland are great for salads, pannini and insalata caprese!! Peanuts in Virginia, great for crumbling for top…
A Tuscan State of Mind
copyright 2009, Maria Liberati Having a Tuscan Picnic, whether I am in Tuscany or anywhere, is one of my favorite things to do whether I am eating alone or with…
How to Serve Wine..
copyright 2009, Maria Liberati Tonight, I finished up one of my wine education and wine pairing events at one of my favorite vineyards. Something that no one seemed to have…
