dinner - The Basic Art of Italian Cooking

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…

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…

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…

2010 Holiday Guide & Twelve Days of Christmas

By maria December 11, 2010Abruzzo, Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Christkindlmarkts, Christmas, Country Living, Cucina, cucina povere, Entertaining, Features, Holiday Gift Guide, Holidays, Le Marche, Recipes, Rome, slow food, Special Occasions, the Mediterranean diet, UncategorizedNo Comments

copyright 2010 art of living,PrimaMedia,Inc. Here it is..just in time for the 12 Days of Christmas..our 2010 Annual Holiday Guide...filled with extra special 'foodie'products 'discovered' by our team of Editors…

First Beverage, Ringraziamento & Penne with Beer

By maria November 22, 2010Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Country Living, Cucina, cucina povere, Entertaining, Holidays, Recipes, slow food, Special Occasions, the Mediterranean diet, Uncategorized, Upcoming Appearances1 Comment

It was George Bernard Shaw who once said “There is no sincerer love than the love of food “ Thanksgiving day is a day that is uniquely American ..a…

Early & Easy Holiday Recipes & the NBC TV !10 Show

By maria October 21, 2010Abruzzo, Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Cucina, cucina povere, Entertaining, Events & Appearances, La Dolce Vita, Recipes, Uncategorized2 Comments

An Apricot Mousse & Chocolate Crumble…

By maria August 24, 2010Abruzzo, Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Coffee, Country Living, Cucina, cucina povere, Entertaining, La Dolce Vita, Recipes, UncategorizedNo Comments

Life here in this ' little town' never fails to keep me entertained .. from the town priest that is an Elvis impersonator ..to the dogs that insist on taking their walks in the…

The Night of the Shooting Stars & A Fresh Veggie Tartare

By maria August 10, 2010UncategorizedNo Comments

A Mid Mountain Trip & Local Flavors of Rapino

By maria August 4, 2010UncategorizedNo Comments

copyright 2010 Maria Liberati/art of living,PrimaMedia,Inc Continuing my ‘Gastraonaut’ travels in Italy..in Pescara to experience some of the artisan foods, but also to view the new pedestrian bridge that…

Roasted Parsley Potatoes & Gossip in the Piazza

By maria August 2, 2010Abruzzo, Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Country Living, Cucina, cucina povere, Entertaining, L'Aquila, La Dolce Vita, Recipes, Rome, slow food, Tagliacozzo, the Mediterranean diet, Travel & customs, Uncategorized, WineNo Comments

It pays to listen to gossip and conversation in the town piazza at night..some more than others..from overheard conversations last night was a variety of talk about family riffs…

To Market ,To Market…

By maria July 31, 2010Abruzzo, Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Country Living, Cucina, cucina povere, Events & Appearances, La Dolce Vita, Recipes, slow food, the Mediterranean diet, Travel & customs, UncategorizedNo Comments

Saturday has always been one of my favorite days..it is market day..and I always am too excited to sleep the night before anticipating an early cappuccino and cornetto (Italian…

Cold Spaghetti..Warm Heart..

By maria June 24, 2010Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Cucina, cucina povere, Entertaining, Events & Appearances, La Dolce Vita, Recipes, slow food, the Mediterranean diet, UncategorizedNo Comments

"No man is lonely eating spaghetti; it requires so much attention". ~Christopher Morley copyright 2010, art of living,PrimaMedia,Inc/Maria Liberati Cold Spaghetti..to warm the heart for a summer evening meal or…

Create Moments to Remember in Your Kitchen….

By maria June 19, 2010Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Cucina, cucina povere, Entertaining, Holidays, La Dolce Vita, Recipes, Risotto, slow food, Special Occasions, the Mediterranean diet, Uncategorized, WineNo Comments

copyright 2010 art of living,PrimaMedia,Inc/Maria Liberati “We do not remember days, we remember moments” once said Cesare Pavese-Italian author/novelist… so create a special moment for Father’s Day..a meal ..a brunch …

Dinner, Pasta and Fellini

By maria April 8, 2010Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Cucina, cucina povere, Entertaining, La Dolce Vita, Recipes, Rome, slow food, the Mediterranean diet, Uncategorized, WineNo Comments

LOVE is the Secret Ingredient & Lasagne Melanzane

By maria January 11, 2010Abruzzo, Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Cucina, cucina povere, Entertaining, La Dolce Vita, Recipes2 Comments

Copyright, 2010, Maria Liberati "A torta (cake) made with love always bakes perfect and delicious!”...that was the conversation at a dinner we hosted. An acquaintance of ours recounted how she…

Tuscan Roasted Chicken and Savory Herb Bread Pudding

By maria December 8, 2009Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Cucina, cucina povere, Entertaining, Events & Appearances, Holiday Gift Guide, Holidays, Recipes, slow food, the Mediterranean diet, Upcoming AppearancesNo Comments

When the Ordinary Becomes the Extraordinary..

By maria August 20, 2009Abruzzo, Cucina, cucina povere, Entertaining, Recipes, slow food, the Mediterranean diet, WineNo Comments

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…

Have a Kitchen Party!

By maria June 1, 2009Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Cucina, cucina povere, Entertaining, Events & Appearances, slow food, the Mediterranean diet, Travel & customs, Upcoming AppearancesNo Comments

Bruschetta for Mother's Day Brunch

By maria May 9, 2009Abruzzo, Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Cucina, cucina povere, Entertaining, Features, Holidays, La Dolce Vita, Recipes, slow food, Special Occasions, the Mediterranean diet, Tuscan, Upcoming AppearancesNo Comments

White Wines Perfect for Spring Meals

By maria May 5, 2009Abruzzo, Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Cucina, Entertaining, Facts, Features, La Dolce Vita, Recipes, Rome, the Mediterranean dietNo Comments

That Magical Nectar Called..Wine..

By maria February 4, 2009Holidays, Recipes, Special Occasions, WineNo Comments

Well San Valentino or Saint Valentine's Day is fast approaching...the nectar of choice for the perfect Valentine's Day dinner is ...wine. It has been said that wine has magical powers...the…

Buon Capo D'anno (Happy New Year)

By maria December 30, 2008Abruzzo, Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Cucina, Entertaining, Facts, Features, Holidays, La Dolce Vita, Recipes, Special Occasions, Trivia, Umbria, WineNo Comments

The Feast of the Seven Fishes-Real or Myth?

By maria December 25, 2008Abruzzo, Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Cucina, Entertaining, Facts, Features, History of Foods, Holidays, TriviaNo Comments

Buon Natale as I am writing here from my office high in the mountains of Abruzzo. Yesterday was a whirlwind of Christmas celebrations-from Rome to Umbria and Abruzzo. The culinary…

The Feast of the Seven Fishes

By maria December 14, 2008Holidays, Recipes, Special Occasions, UncategorizedNo Comments

One of my favorite nights of the year is Christmas Eve because of special memories from Christmas Eve dinners of the past. Most Italians have the Feast of the Seven…

Weddings, L'Aquila, and Fritte Miste

By maria September 9, 2008Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Cucina, Entertaining, Weddings in ItalyNo Comments

fritte miste San Silvestro Weddings in Italy..you can only think of one thing when you hear those words-'never ending food' or endless buffet, and this was no exception... This past weekend I…

Un Amore de Vino..

By maria February 25, 2008Entertaining, Recipes, WineNo Comments

copyright, 2008 Maria Liberati Its delicate perfume, similar to the delicate aroma of a rose... Its delicate sweetness... In its' gently effervescent sweetness also lies a hint of strawberries. But it…