WISH I WERE HERE RIGHT NOW!

 

Drinking a crisp Pinot Grigio and contemplating what to have for lunch...this photo takes me back three years to that wonderful day in Amalfi...and I would love to visit the Amalfi Coast soon.....very soon!

When life hands you lemons....make limoncello cheesecake!

A friend came over yesterday and said I miss your blog, and I said, I have nothing to write about anymore, which really isn't true. I started this blog to explore my creativity, to connect with like souls, to share some delicious recipes I have tried, and to add some humor on occasion............

I have lost a lot of readers, and I have stopped consistently reading other blogs, not because I don't enjoy them..I do very much.

I guess the starting of the business is like starting the blog over two years ago, I have become consumed with it, trying out new recipes for the farmers market, meeting new people every Sunday, from 10AM to 2PM, figuring out what will sell and what won't. I have learned that from week to week you never know what customers will end up buying. I started with the limoncello cheesecakes, and I realize that is the draw, when I say would you like to sample some limoncello cheesecake, they stop, think for a second and say OF COURSE!! I have added goat cheese, tomato and onion tarts, mini orange ricotta cheesecakes, pesto some weeks, focaccia with tomato bruscetta some other weeks, pasta salad, cous cous salad, and nutella brownies.

I run into my neighbors, friends, friends of friends and have "regular" customers now
and it is Fun! I get to know other vendors, the woman who sells organic honey, the man with the amazing Indian food, the gal who trades nutella crepes for my nutella brownies. My husband comes with me to set up my canopy and then he comes back at the end of the day...and whatever is left over, we enjoy on Sunday nights!

The ultimate fantasy would be for one of the local Italian restaurants to start selling my limoncello or nutella cheesecakes....so I am putting it out into the universe....and we will see what happens...wish me luck!

IN OUR OWN BACKYARD! (well sort of)

Every day brings an opportunity to learn something new-yesterday my husband and I visited a vineyard in Ramona... Chinook Vineyards and then lunch at Salerno Winery, also in Ramona. First, We were educated by Elaine and Norm on how they planted two thousand vines of Petite Syrah and Zinfandel grapes only 4 years ago, and all the hard work that goes into it...it was truly eye opening! I really had no idea how much work it takes to make sure your precious plants thrive and produce, despite the gophers, rabbits, wind and fires that may come your way....Much success to them. We had a delightful lunch at Salerno Winery owned by Herman and Rose Salerno...he is originally from Calabria, Italy and she from New York...tours were given and then we were treated to a lunch of sausage of peppers, pasta, mixed greens with balsamic dressing AND then Delicious homemade pizzas made by Herman himself in their outdoor brick oven...and of course a few glasses of their award winning wine. There was an Italian singer serenading us, and then Herman burst out in song...he used to be an opera singer! Who needs to go to Italy when only 40 minutes from my home I get to enjoy lovely Italian food, music and drink amazing Petite Syrah...

OK, I need to go to Italy, but this was a great substitute!

Sedona IS a sacred place....

And a beautiful place to spend a few days of our Easter vacation....there is a serenity and spirituality in the air-amazing red rock views everywhere you look...great Italian food...had to mention that...a rugged and very bumpy tour up in the hills in a Hummer, some good wine and cheese, and then a trip to the Grand Canyon, where the temperature dropped to 38 degrees-my capris and jean jacket did not cut it...more photos to follow.

You know those throw away cameras don't take a bad picture!

RISOTTO WITH SPRING VEGETABLES

Obviously, being Italian, I have enjoyed cooking and eating pasta dishes my whole life, but there is something so comforting about stirring a pot of risotto for 25 minutes, then adding lots of fresh vegetables in season to brighten it up. I found this recipe in the May issue of Cooking Light..

2 cups shelled fava beans
1/2 cup fresh green peas
4 cups chicken stock
2 T. extra virgin olive oil
1 cup chopped shallots
1/2 cup chopped carrot
1 cup uncooked aborio or carnaroli rice
1/8 t. saffron threads, crushed (I didn't have any)
1 cup grated Parmigiano-Rggiano cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 t. salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1. Cook beans in boiling water, 2 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water, drain. Remove tough outer skins from beans, discard. Cook peas in boiling water 2 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Drain well.
2. Bring chicken stock to a summer in a small saucepan(do not boil). Keep warm over low heat.
3. Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add shallots and carrot to pan. Cook for 4 minutes or until tender., stirring occasionally. Addd rice and saffron, cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in wine, cook 30 seconds or until liquid is absorbed, stirring constantly. Add 1 cup stock, cook 4 minutes or until liquid is nearly absorbed, stirring constantly. Add remaining stock, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring until each portion of stock is absorbed before adding next (about 25 minutes).
4. Stir in fava beans, peas and asparagus with last addition of stock. Remove from heat. Stir in cheese, parsley, salt and pepper.

Believe it or not, I used to be afraid to make risotto! The photo is not from my camera, still working on that little problem!!

AM I TOO LATE FOR THE PARTY?

I just finished reading "A Homemade Life", by Molly Wizenberg, the creator of the amazing food blog - Orangette! What a delightful book, and so easy to read...You have all probably read it, especially you food bloggers, so you know what I mean...it contains her cherished recipes, stories about her father and her extended family, her love of food, Paris and how she met the love of her life - through her blog!! There are so many interesting recipes to try and the first one I will definitely make is called "The Winning Hearts and Mind" cake, which ended up being her wedding cake...whenever I get that darn camera fixed you might actually see a photo! Oh, the cake is chocolate, so it has to be good.

In other news, my blog is two years old, hard to believe - I just wish that I made more time to post. I am sure you all have times in your lives when other "stuff" is occupying your thoughts, and this for me is one of those times...enough said!

EASTER "EYE" CANDY

Spring break is almost here - we are off for an adventure in Arizona...heading to Tuscon to spend Easter with my brother, then Sedona to enjoy the red rocks and then a quick peak over the Grand Canyon..since my camera is broken I won't be getting any great pics to share...hope everyone has a very Happy Easter!