{"id":1440,"date":"2009-11-17T09:33:10","date_gmt":"2009-11-17T16:33:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/marialiberati.com\/?p=1440"},"modified":"2009-11-17T09:33:10","modified_gmt":"2009-11-17T16:33:10","slug":"special-gifts-a-sunset-in-rome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marialiberati.com\/freshsite\/2009\/11\/17\/special-gifts-a-sunset-in-rome\/","title":{"rendered":"Special Gifts & A Sunset in Rome"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\ncopyright 2009, art of living,PrimaMedia,Inc, Maria Liberati
\nSpecial gifts are sometimes the simplest things… At\u00a0The Basic Art of Italian<\/a>Cooking\u00a0 by Maria Liberati tm we are getting ready to release our Holiday Guide of 2009 with some fantastic gift ideas.
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\nI\u00a0do \u00a0enjoy\u00a0material gifts, but \u00a0I am so enamored with gifts that can’t be wrapped up in a package.. There are so many special gifts that come to mind that I could never put a price on and everyone has those gifts that are not appreciated enough for those are the gifts that are the real treasures..the gifts that we are not thankful enough for..Think about it…
\nIn one of my online\u00a0chats with my significant other yesterday\u00a0\u00a0 evening…while he was in Rome, he emailed \u00a0me a photo of a colorful sunset in Rome he\u00a0experienced that day\u00a0and he told me how much he wished I was there to see it.. and I wished I was there so much to see it as well. But the photo really brightened up my evening..just imagining myself \u00a0being in Rome to see another beautiful sunset there..with this photo..if only for a minute I could take myself there.. this photo and thought was my favorite gift of\u00a0 the day… I have included it here to share with you.
\nA purchased gift is a nice thought as well, but remember all the gifts you have all throughout the day.
\nAs we are getting ready for the Holiday\u00a0 Gift Guide we have gotten to work with many an exceptional olive oil in The Basic Art of Italian Cooking kitchen. Here is a recipe\u00a0 that put the olive oil to good use:
\n\"shrimp<\/p>\n

ORZO e GAMBERETTI <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>(orzo pasta<\/a> and shrimp)
\n(from The Basic Art of Italian Cooking:Holidays &Special Occasions<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00bd lb orzo pasta<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1\/2 lb broccoli-cleaned, cut into florets and steamed<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00bd lb shrimp<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1 pouch of saffron<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2 scallions<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

3\u00a0tablespoons extra virgin olive oil<\/a>, cold pressed<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Vegetable broth<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1\/2 \u00a0cup dry white wine<\/a> or sparkling white like Franciacorta<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Fresh parsley<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Place 2 tablespoons olive oil in saut\u00e9 pan Chop scallions finely. Heat oil and place in scallions. Saute till they begin to turn golden. Add in \u00bd of teamed broccoli, uncooked orzo pasta to toast, stir with wooden spoon<\/a>Pour in white wine let liquid evaporate. Then add in 1 cup vegetable broth and stir with wooden spoon. Uisng the same technique as cooking risotto<\/a>, add in \u00bd cup of vegetable broth when liquid evaporates and repeat until orzo is al \u2018dente\u2019 (following cooking time directions on orzo package). Five minutes before cooking time is up- add in remaining steamed broccoli, steamed, cleaned shrimp, packet of saffron. Stir until saffron is well blended in.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

When finished cooking, remove from heat. Place 1 tsp butter<\/a> on top, stir in. Sprinkle with finely chopped parsley. Stir. Let sit one minute before serving. For serving idea, serve in small glasses. Top with one whole shrimp and a broccoli floret for decoration<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Serve with Franciacorta white wine.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Get your copy of\u00a0The Basic Art of Italian Cooking : Holidys & Special Occasions <\/a>just in time for the Holidays with over 140 recipes ,wine pairing tips, menus and more.<\/p>\n

Hope to see you at my upcoming book events\/ cooking demos\/ tastings at:
\nDecember 9th-Girls Night Out- Chestnut Hill Business Association, Chestnut Hill, Pa<\/p>\n

December 12th- Franklin Twp Library, Franklin Twp, NJ at 2 PM<\/p>\n

To schedule a cooking class ,\u00a0wine pairing event\u00a0or\u00a0 a culinary tour\u00a0 in the US or Italy with The Basic Art of Italian Cooking\u00a0 by Maria Liberati tm\u00a0 email us at events@marialiberati.com<\/a><\/p>\n

For more appearances and upcoming events go to http:\/\/marialiberati.com<\/a><\/p>\n

“L’appetito vien mangiando”<\/p>\n

Maria<\/p>\n

http:\/\/twitter.com\/Marialiberati<\/a><\/p>\n

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