Recipe of the Week: Pumpkin Agnolotti

In the spirit of Halloween I’ve decided to post a pumpkin recipe this week, proving that pumpkins can be used for more than just carving ‘spooky’ faces!

In case you didn’t know, pumpkin is excellent for you. It has no cholesterol, low in fat and sodium and rich in vitamins, in particular beta carotene and vitamin A. On top of being good for your health, it tastes good too. That's why it is part of the diet in almost every country in the world. So try this delicious recipe for yourself.

Happy Halloween and Buon Appetito!

Pumpkin Agnolotti

Ingredients: 

·         1/2 cup canned pumpkin purée

·         1/4 cup grated Parmesan, plus more for sprinkling

·         1/8 teaspoon sugar

·         1/4 teaspoon lemon zest

·         Salt and pepper

·         18 round or square wonton wrappers

·         1 egg, lightly beaten

·         2 tablespoons butter

·         1/4 cup crème fraîche

·         Pumpkin seeds, toasted and shelled

METHOD

1.    Mash pumpkin purée, Parmesan, sugar, and lemon zest in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Arrange wonton wrappers on a work surface. Brush edges with lightly beaten egg. Place 1 tsp. filling on bottom half; fold top half over, gently pressing edges to seal. Boil ravioli in salted water until just tender, about 3 minutes.

2.    Melt butter with crème fraîche in a sauté pan. Add ravioli and 2 Tbsp. pasta cooking liquid; toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Top with grated Parmesan and pumpkin seeds (pepitas).

Travelista73: Renew Yourself in Jordan

Set like an oasis in the dramatic Middle East terrain, the eco-chic Evason Ma’In Resort & Spa is the destination of choice for those seeking the perfect haven to relax and be pampered whilst enjoying the therapeutic benefits of Ma’In hot spring waterfalls, in use since the time of King Herod.

Located near the Jordanian side of the Dead Sea, this breathtaking backdrop is the perfect base to explore important ruins, religious sites and desert landscapes while enjoying healing mineral and deep-sea therapies.  

Visit the pink-hued ruins at Petra, float among the minerals of the Dead Sea, ride a camel through Lawrence of Arabia’s old stomping ground—and even overnight in a bedouin tent.

Travelista73: Sleeping Up in a Tree House

Growing up I would spend hours sitting up in a pine tree on the property where we lived. It provided me with a bird’s eye view of the world. I would sit there staring up at the infinite sky wondering what my future would be like; imagining what I would do, where I would live, places I would visit, who would ask me to the dance and what I would wear. (Keep in mind I was a 10 year old).  Some days I would sit there alone and other times my best friends would join me, each of us sitting on our assigned branches, watching the sunset through the treetop. It was our secret hideaway!

Every now and then I think back to that time and remember that feeling of serenity up in that tree and the belief that ‘everything is possible’ when you look up to the sky.  This got me thinking; if it felt so good sitting up in that pine tree getting pricked and pocked with no earthly comforts, just imagine how amazing it would be to stay up in a luxurious tree house? How great would it be to relax in a hammock on your private tree top veranda looking down onto a rainforest, to watch the sunset over a mahogany forest in a bed made with crisp white linens, or to enjoy a glass of wine up above while spying on African beasts that come to quench their thirst and frolic?  So I began researching Tree House Hotels and I have to say that I was completely blown away by the possibilities. Each truly unique and beautiful, here are some of my favorite:

Recipe of the Week: Orecchiette with Sausage & Cherry Tomatoes

As the season gets colder and colder I crave the necessary pick me up that only a rich bowl of comfort food can provide. Foods like thick stews, warm minestrones and heavy pasta dishes. Orecchiette with sausage and cherry tomatoes is the kind of meal you’ll enjoy during a cold, rainy day, especially if you pair it with a bold, cherry-dense glass of Merlot!

A great alternative to using ground meat is to use sausage instead; it’s a good sauce shortcut because the meat is already seasoned. For a salty, creamy finish, stir in some shredded provolone cheese before serving.

Ingredients for 4 servings:

·         1 pound orecchiette pasta
·         1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
·         3/4 pound sweet or hot Italian sausage, casings removed
·         1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
·         1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
·         Salt
·         2 ounces aged provolone, shredded

METHOD

1.    In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving 3/4 cup of the cooking water.

2.    Meanwhile, in a large, deep skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil until shimmering. Add the sausage in 1-inch clumps and cook over moderately high heat, turning once, until browned and cooked through, about 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the sausage to a plate.

3.    Add 2 tablespoons of the olive oil to the skillet along with the tomatoes and crushed red pepper; cook over moderately high heat, pressing the tomatoes until slightly softened, about 4 minutes. Add the reserved pasta cooking water, season with salt and cook over moderate heat, scraping up any browned bits and crushing the tomatoes, until the liquid is reduced by half and the tomatoes are nearly broken down, about 5 minutes.

4.    Add the pasta to the skillet along with the sausage and the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and cook, stirring, until the pasta is evenly coated, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the provolone. Transfer to bowls and serve right away.

PAIRING SUGGESTION: Try a bold, cherry-dense Merlot from Napa Valley.

Most importantly, always remember to share your meals with someone who enjoys the pleasure of eating just as much as you ;)

My B&B Dream!

For as long as I can remember I have dreamed of owning a home in the Tuscan countryside; a place with history that I could restore to escape the stresses of life to find refuge in an oasis of calm. A place others could visit to share in this utopia of organic living. So universe, if you’re listening – help!

Lately that vision has slightly changed. I want to turn my haven into a small B&B, a place where people going through hardships can come to visit, courtesy of a not for profit organization, to stay in a place that will help nurture their spiritual and emotional growth. To provide my guests with a locale that is committed to sustainable and environmentally-sound practices where they can pick fresh herbs and vegetables from a garden to help me prepare our meals. A place they can enjoy bike rides along the countryside, picnic lunches and a glass of local wine, as well as other therapeutic activities like yoga, spa treatments, cooking classes, and excursions to local vineyards, villages and artisan shops.

You may ask yourself, why share a private paradise with other people? The answer is rather simple, because I believe there is no delight in owning something unshared. How great would it be to experience magical moments with people from all walks of life. To share our life stories, experiences and pleasures, and to one day write a book about these encounters in hopes that it will help others.    

My ultimate dream, to one day have B&B’s in Provence, Marrakesh, Seville and South Africa; a network of homes dedicated to providing tender love and care to those in need. Why away? Because sometimes people need to be removed from their environment in order to find clarity and peace of mind. To have that spark of excitement and adventure ignited by new sights and sounds. It’s amazing what a change of pace and space can do for someone’s morale, but not everyone has the resources to afford such a luxury. That’s where I step in… to offer them a place to stay. So this is my dream, my incentive, something to add to my life board, my wish to the universe.

Most importantly, I want to share this dream with someone special, with those I love, and with those in need. Maybe it won’t happen today, but God willing, one day it will and I hope you will be one of my guests!

Cheers to dreams and making them come true!

(These images are of Agrifuturismo and are from Marie Claire Maison Italy)



Recipe of the Week: Coq Au Riesling

I dedicate this 'Recipe of the Week' to one of my loyal followers who requested this delicious Alsatian meal. Hope you enjoy this with someone special...

COQ AU RIESLING (CHICKEN WITH RIESLING)

Various legends trace coq au vin to ancient Gaul and Julius Caesar. In Alsace, a beautiful region influenced by both French and German cuisines, a somewhat similar recipe, Coq au Riesling, is made with mostly the same components as coq au vin except the vin in the recipe is not red, but a fresh, mineral-rich Riesling.

I love the Alsatian version of coq au vin because it’s lighter, but still a classic French comfort food dish - the perfect recipe for fall! I like the creaminess of the sauce, spiked with bacon, mushrooms, shallots and parsley, poured over the traditional buttered Spätzle, a type of egg noodles that beautifully accompanies this dish.

INGREDIENTS FOR 6 SERVINGS:

·         1 chicken weighing (about 3 1/2 lbs)

·         3.5 tablespoons of butter

·         3 shallots

·         1 clove of garlic

·         2 tablespoons of cognac

·         1 & 3/4 cups of Riesling

·         3 cups of button mushrooms

·         1 cup cubed pancetta (Italian pancetta)

·         I cup of fresh cream, optional

·         salt and pepper

·         fresh parsley to garnish

METHOD

1.    Chop the chicken into portion-sized pieces. Brown them in a casserole dish for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, keep warm.  

2.    Add the pancetta, chopped shallots and garlic to the dish and flambee with cognac. Add the chicken. Deglaze with the Riesling. Add the button mushrooms. Check the seasoning. Leave to cook for 40 minutes on a gentle heat. 

3.    Remove the pieces of chicken and arrange them on a serving dish. Reduce the cooking liquid and add the cream while stirring. Pour the sauce over the chicken and serve immediately.

MY ADVICE: I really love to serve this dish alongside the traditional buttered Spätzle egg noddle. As the name of the recipe suggests, a dry Riesling makes for the ideal pairing to this dish. When possible, serve the same wine used to cook the coq, otherwise serve a Riesling with a slightly fuller body and good fruit to balance the cream in the sauce. A Pinot Gris will also work quite nicely. I really enjoyed these wines while in Alsace!

(Recipe from Alsatian Cuisine by Evelyne Sevrin)

Inspirational Picture

"Il Salviatino boasts a location that is truly one-of-a-kind: near the very center of one of the most historically pivotal and celebrated cities in the world, with a backdrop of the purest Italian countryside just behind it. Here, you literally straddle the best of Italy's urban and rural cultures!"

 

Travelista73: Le Sirenuse, Positano

One of my all-time favorite romantic comedies is Only You starring Marisa Tomei and Robert Downey Junior.

It is the story of Faith, a hopeless romantic, who believes that two soul-mates can be united if they find each other. She’s given the name of her missing half from the Ouija board, D-A-M-O-N B-R-A-D-L-E-Y. Later, at the carnival, the fortune teller sees the name Damon Bradley in the Crystal Ball and Faith is convinced he is her soul mate. She is told that "You make your own destiny...don't wait for it to come to you", but she is looking for Damon. 14 years later, she is engaged to a dull podiatrist and plans to marry until she gets a call from one of his classmates who is on his way to Venice, Italy. The classmate is Damon Bradley. Rushing to the airport to see her soul-mate, she misses him and the plane, but decides, then and there, to go after him. So Faith and her sister-in-law Kate both board the next plane for Italy hoping to find her Damon.

Here begins the adventure that sees Faith and Kate from Venice to Positano in search of her soul-mate. Along the way, they meet some interesting characters, and soon discover that love comes into your life when you least expect it.

The film’s locations are absolutely enchanting! While watching this film, I too fell in love... with ‘Le Sirenuse.’ A beautiful hotel located in Positano with amazing views of the Amalfi Coast. It is the perfect backdrop for a romantic stay with the person you love… enjoy!    

WOW Wednesday - Albergo Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita

At hotel Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita, guests get a true taste of Matera's history. Located in southern Italy, the village of Matera is famous for the houses carved into the volcanic hillsides, some of them dating back to Paleolithic times.

Literally cut into the volcanic tufa of the Matera hillside, the caves of hotel Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita were originally a stronghold for Italian peasants. Forcefully removed in the 1950s, many of the peasants came back against the government's wishes. Today, the area has become a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is attracting curious travelers to its snaking rooftop streets, rocky hillside drop offs, and stone cathedrals.

Here the hotel rooms occupy the 9,000 year-old Italian cave homes themselves — needless to say the look is not exactly frilly or delicate, but the Sassi di Matera is dedicated to its own version of luxury.

Restored with ultimate respect to local tradition and attention to detail, only the finest quality materials were used to create linens, handmade furniture, room fragrances, and even candles.

Albergo Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita is a place where one can escape the chaos of life and go back to a simpler time when a warm bath, great meal and good glass of wine were all the comforts they needed.

Enjoy!  

Travelista73: Jardins Secrets - A lover's secret paradise

If I were to escape and live in a small boutique hotel Jardins Secrets would be it. It’s a storehouse of diversions and pleasures, a maze of objects offering a thousand and one places for lovers to disappear together...

The ambience is cocoon-like and other-worldly. A tranquil oasis in Nîmes, Jardins Secrets is secluded and yet set in the heart of town.  Formerly an 18th-century Inn, this gorgeous little gem has been magnificently converted into a stunning hotel. The pretty garden pool is hidden away amongst the orange and olive trees. With red walls adorned with bougainvilliers guests would be forgiven for mistaking it for an Italian villa. There are 3 interconnecting sitting rooms allowing guests to mix or enjoy their own space.

From the song birds in the walled garden and the paraphernalia carefully placed in the communal areas, to the individual styling of the bedrooms, every detail of Jardins Secrets has been considered to create a romantic atmosphere. This is the place to fall in love all over again.

Travelista73: Southern Corsica, France

Travel with me to another side of France, to the southern areas of Corsica for some scenic relaxation. Run away with me.....

corsica from emeric on Vimeo.

Mont Saint-Michel, France!

Take a horse back ride along the beach of Mont Saint-Michel....
escape with me...

Marrakech, Morocco : Exotic, Sexy, Mysterious

Escape the ordinary...

Recipe of the Week: Scarole e Fagioli Minestra

Scarole e Fagioli
Escarole and Bean Soup

On this cold and rainy day, I can’t help but be reminded of when a special someone would prepare a nice bowl of scarole e fagioli soup for me! This delicious and hearty winter minestra (thick soup) is made with fresh escarole and beans from the garden or supermarket. It is one of my favourite ‘feel good’ meals that I enjoy eating with crispy Italian bread and a nice glass of Chianti. 

Typical of Calabrian minestre, this soup is thick, not brothy, with just enough liquid to bathe the beans and vegetables. The escarole should be very soft, offering no resistance. My mom would leave the whole hot peppers in the soup and enjoy them in small bites. Simply delicious and nutritious!

INGREDIENTS FOR 6 SERVINGS:   

·         About 3 cups of cooked cannellini beans or borlotti beans

·         Kosher salt

·         2 pounds escarole, both ribs and leaves

·         4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

·         2 to 3 small dried hot red peppers, tops removed and slit

·         3 cloves garlic, halved

METHOD

You begin, as always, with a soffritto by frying some garlic in olive oil until lightly browned, then add a small head of escarole, sliced into very fine ribbons. Cover and allow the escarole to reduce, mixing from time to time so they absorb the flavor of the soffritto. Then add boiled or canned cannellini or borlotti beans along with enough water or broth to cover the ingredients. Cover and allow to simmer until the escarole and beans are quite soft, about 15-20 minutes. If, like me, you like a thick soup, then along the way crush some of the beans with a wooden spoon against the side of the pot. Place slices of day old bread, either toasted or fried in olive oil if you like, in the bottom of your soup bowls, then pour the soup over. Drizzle with un filo d'olio, top with a generous grinding of black pepper and serve. That's all there is to it.

MY ADVICE: Add some red peppers or pepper flakes, as well as Italian pancetta and 4 anchioves to the soffritto. Allow the anchioves to melt into the hot oil. It's simply delicious and enhances all the flavors. - Enjoy!