Easy gourmet recipes - The Basic Art of Italian Cooking

Sformata di Fagiolini | Fresh String Bean Casserole

By maria September 18, 2012Recipes1 Comment

“The discovery of a new dish confers more happiness on humanity than the discovery of a new star” Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin copyright Art of Living, PrimaMedia,inc/Maria Liberati ohh so true!!…

Ricotta Chocolate Turnovers

By maria August 20, 2012Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), La Dolce Vita (Dessert Recipes), RecipesNo Comments

Yesterday felt like a Turnover kind of day..the ones that are filled with fresh ricotta and dark chocolate..a pinch of hot red pepper, cinnamon and sugar…a great supper for a…

Torta Rustica with Zucchini and Fresh Mint

By maria August 16, 2012Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Country Living, Recipes, Summer RecipesNo Comments

“The world is like a little marsh filled with mint and white hawthorn”. Mary MacLane A warm summer day calls for easy, breezy type recipes..except for picking the fresh mint…

Summer Plum Pudding | Fresh Summer Memories

By maria August 4, 2012Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Country Living, Italian Culture, La Dolce Vita (Dessert Recipes), RecipesNo Comments

Starved for Culture | Shakespeare's The Tempest and Dreamy Ricotta Pudding

By maria July 8, 2012Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Italian Culture, La Dolce Vita (Dessert Recipes), RecipesNo Comments

(photo credits: The Morning Call) Copyright 2012 Art of Living,PrimaMedia,Inc/Maria Liberati Brightened up my weekend yesterday by catching a spectacular performance of Shakespeare’s The Tempest at the Pennsylvania Shakespeare…

Mrs. Lovett's Ricotta Pie | Sweeney Todd Inspired Dessert

By maria July 1, 2012Art, Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Events & Appearances, La Dolce Vita (Dessert Recipes), RecipesNo Comments

Somehow I will never think of pies in the same way or at least British style meat pies….after seeing the production of Sweeney Todd with the incredible voice of William…

4 Refreshing Italian Drinks To Kick Off Summer

By maria June 15, 2012Drink Recipes, Entertaining, RecipesNo Comments

June Celebrations | Peach Torte

By maria June 13, 2012Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Holidays, Italian Culture, La Dolce Vita (Dessert Recipes), RecipesNo Comments

(Photo Credit: http://www.siliconvalleyandbeyond.com) Memorial Day has come and gone and the unofficial start to summer is here in the USA, Italy celebrates their independence holiday in the summer. Festa della…

Crespelle with Asparagus (Crepes With Asparagus) | Spring Holiday Food Memories

By maria March 1, 2012Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Holidays, Recipes2 Comments

Spring Holidays are upon us and with Holidays come food memories. Traditional Holiday foods always bring back remembrances of Holidays past when dishes decorate the Holiday table. It’s always fun…

Why Sunsets Upset Me | Tomato & Mozzarella Appetizer

By maria February 26, 2012Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Movie & Recipe Pairings, RecipesNo Comments

How To Make Al Capone's Dandelion Soup

By maria February 13, 2012Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Country Living, Food Facts, Recipes, slow food, Soups, the Mediterranean diet, Uncategorized, Vegetarian1 Comment

Walnut, Pomegranate ,Roquefort Salad | Combining Italian with French in Food and Art

By maria February 10, 2012Culinary Art, Recipes, Salads, VegetarianNo Comments

French and Italian combinations work marvelously in food-just think of beschamel sauce, onion soup, crepes. recipes created in the kitchens of Caterina DeMedici with her private chefs,while living in France-…

How to Make The Feast of the Seven Fishes |Tips From An Italian Chef

By maria December 8, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Cooking TIps, Holidays, How To'sNo Comments

Christmas Memories of Rome & Mushroom Tarts

By maria November 29, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Christmas, Holidays, RecipesNo Comments

To Celebrate the Holidays I will be posting excerpts from The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions-2nd edition winner of the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards and was…

Thanksgiving in Tuscany..Siena.. Thanksgiving Dessert

By maria November 11, 2011Entertaining, Holidays, La Dolce Vita (Dessert Recipes), RecipesNo Comments

I have been receiving requests from the media asking for recipes that are unique for Thanksgiving dinner. This dessert that comes form Siena, Italy, is an interesting cross between a…

Cranberry Sorbetto | Colors of the Season

By maria October 29, 2011Holidays, La Dolce Vita (Dessert Recipes), RecipesNo Comments

copyright 2011 Art of Living, PrimaMedia,inc/Maria Liberati(except sorbet photo) Cranberries are here..and these health filled beautiful red berries can be used in so many ways.... to dress up a meal,…

Cantucci Biscotti.. Find Your Tranquility With Tuscan Therapy

By maria September 28, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Country Living, Italy, Recipes, TravelNo Comments

I understand what DaVinci saw in the quiet, tranquility of Tuscany. Any time I need a break from my hectic life, I sit down and watch a snippet of a…

Garden Fresh Onion Frittata | A Taste of Home

By maria September 6, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Country Living, Frittata, Italian Culture, RecipesNo Comments

copyright Art of Living, PrimaMedia,Inc/Maria Liberati 2011 If home is where the heart is then it’s the details that count, the little things that make you feel comfortable…

Summer Lemon Torta | Recipes from Sorrento, Italy

By maria August 24, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Country Living, Food Facts, History of Foods, Italy, La Dolce Vita (Dessert Recipes), RecipesNo Comments

Lemons have been used in many ways throughout history. During the European Renaissance, the fashionable ladies used lemons as a way to make their lips red and pronounced. In the…

Culinary Cruise to Sicily | Luscious Sicilian Biancomangiare Recipe

By maria August 2, 2011Events & Appearances, Italy, Mediterranean Culinary Cruise, RecipesNo Comments

It was so nice to meet all of those that came out to my appearance at Bally’s Casino in Atlantic City Gourmet Food & Wine Show this past weekend..so excited…

Fiori di Fuoco Fireworks Championship in Italy and a Colorful Panforte to Match

By maria July 18, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Food Facts, History of Foods, Holidays, Italian Culture, ItalyNo Comments

Editor: Lisa Zatulovsky Although Fourth of July has passed and all of the celebratory fireworks displays and festivities have ended, the fireworks in Italy are just about to begin. Through…

Spaghetti al Fresco Riviera | Memories Along the Riviera & the Royal Wedding of Monaco

By maria July 9, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Pasta, RecipesNo Comments

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…

Blueberry Cream Frost a Frosty Coffee Drink

By maria June 26, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Coffee, Drink Recipes, Recipes, Summer RecipesNo Comments

Summer's Fashionable Produce | How To Incorporate Color in Cuisine

By maria June 9, 2011Cooking TIps, Gardening, How To's, RecipesNo Comments

Editor: Lisa Zatulovsky copyright 2011, Art of Living,PrimaMedia,Inc/Maria Liberati Saturated hues and bold color blocking are a dominant fashion trend for summer 2011. Fashion is celebrating the vibrancy that the…

The Soul of a 5 lb Can of Tomatoes | Spaghetti with Red Clam Sauce

By maria June 4, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Country Living, Pasta, Recipes2 Comments

A Roman Holiday | Fresh Tomatoes and Tramezzini

By maria May 30, 2011Movie & Recipe Pairings, RecipesNo Comments

Editor: Karissa Martin copyright 2011 Art of Living, PrimaMedia, Inc./Maria Liberati The official start to the unofficial beginning of summer is finally here..."as tasty as summer's first peach" m yfavorite…

Florentine Torta Di Farro ( Farro Pound Cake) | La Gioconda and Victor Hugo

By maria May 28, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Events & Appearances, Recipes1 Comment

Lavender & Fusilli Pasta | Tastes of Summer

By maria May 17, 2011Caro Diario. (Dear diary...), Pasta, Recipes, Summer Recipes, VegetarianNo Comments

copyright 2011 art of living,PrimaMedia,Inc/Maria Liberati Editor: Caroline Walsh Lavender, my favorite summer ingredient, has quite a literary and culinary past (and present) Hot lavender, mints, savory, marjoram; The marigold,…

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…