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Pauline's Kitchen
Recipes
Nonna's Kitchen: Homemade Gnocchi
The one we are going to prepare today is the classic Potato Gnocchi recipe inherited from my grandmother, who every Sunday or, at every special event, gathers us around a laid table.Its preparation is more fun when shared, there are those who mash the potatoes, those who shape the gnocchi, and those who peek out from under the table to steal one! Cooking is always a game, a chance to get together, a declaration of love.
Recipes
Leslie's Kitchen: Sourdough baked Brie
Sourdough baked Brie is a delicious option if you want to prepare something other than the classic baked Brie.
Bake a Brie round inside a loaf of sourdough bread. Use a fork to scoop out the warm Brie!
Recipes
Sicilian Stuffed Artichokes - “Carciofi Ammudicati”
For this recipe we move to the southernmost point of Italy, Sicily! The original name of the recipe is "Carciofi Ammudicati," which in Sicilian dialect literally means artichokes "stuffed with breadcrumbs." Simple ingredients chosen with special care respecting the seasonality of the raw materials, make this simple country dish an extraordinary explosion of flavor..
The Passeggiata
The passeggiata perfectly embodies the art of Italian living; first and foremost, its sheer simplicity is the secret to its endurance. From their food to their culture to their daily chores, the country prides itself in shirking excess. The uncomplicated nature of the passeggiata is the result of its success. Secondly, it also ties into the value of community and quality time, as this daily event reinforces a sense of belonging which is deeply cherished.
Mediterranean Daydreaming
The Mediterranean comes home to you: A curated list of music, books and films that will transport you all over the Med. Summer is beginning to creep up on us and it seems we are all ready to shake off our winter coats in favour of the sun’s warm embraces....
Recipes
Homemade Pasta : Le Tagliatelle
Making homemade pasta dates back generations, and for Italians this word means home, family and tradition. The process of making fresh handmade pasta has been handed down from generation to generation, the procedures, though they have changed over the years, begin with precise actions....One begins by sifting the flour "a...
Recipes
Meatballs in tomato sauce-Polpette Al Sugo
Grandmothers make them for grandchildren and mothers for their children, their aroma inebriates the house and "stealing" them from the pot is almost a must! But what are we talking about? Meatballs, of course! "Polpette al sugo" represents an inevitable dish of Italian cuisine, they can be found on all...
Recipes
Tagliatelle al ragù by Nonna Liliana
If we had to think of a dish to associate with Sunday in Italy surely “tagliatelle al ragù” would come to mind, one of these recipes that best reflects Italian gastronomy. In Italy it is traditionally served with “tagliatelle all'uovo”, fresh egg pasta, as we will prepare it today, but...
Tuscany's Top 5 Hidden Gems
Tuscany is one of Italy’s most venerated and visited regions in Italy welcoming up to 50 million tourists on a yearly basis. Famous for its Chianti wine, its Renaissance art, its luxurious truffles, and spectacular towns, it is no wonder that travellers flock from far and wide to experience Tuscan delights first-hand. However, whilst Florence, Siena and Pisa are never missed on a Tuscany trip, there are a whole host of hidden gems which ought to be seen. Nestled into the landscapes are charming towns which lie in wait to be discovered. Here is a list of 5 locations in Tuscany which should be added to your bucket list.
Recipes
Pasta Recipes and their Italian Region
It is impossible to deny that pasta is one of the world’s most adored ingredients. Made with humble, uncomplicated ingredients (usually just flour, water and/or eggs), it can be twisted, twirled, rolled and moulded into endless varieties. Usually pasta is shaped in a certain manner so that it binds with...
Christmas traditions of the Mediterranean
Christmas is a unifying festivity for many countries around the world who celebrate it. However, different cultures will have traditions which distinguish them from others. These can be found in their Christmas food, drink, practices, and activities which are also deeply rooted in their individual identities. In the Mediterranean, where the wine is world-renowned, the food is exquisite, and the sense of community looms large, Christmas is a spectacular occasion which provides the perfect opportunity to celebrate these values with enhanced enthusiasm.
Il Dolce Far Niente
‘Il dolce far niente’ technically translates as ‘the sweetness of doing nothing.’ It encapsulates an Italian philosophy of delicious idleness. Its literal translation (‘the sweetness to do nothing’) is clunky and unpoetic but beyond the tricky grammatical interpretation, the act of doing nothing in itself is also untranslatable. In Italy, ‘Il dolce far niente’ is a conscious decision to remove oneself from the strife of daily existence. It is an instinctive act rather than one which needs to be earned or which is the last resort after reaching boiling point. Whilst many cultures have glorified and glamorized working overtime, pushing limits, and constantly keeping busy this has never been a sweeping peril in Italy.
The old and the new: Arancini/e
Arancini are a typical Sicilian street food whose flavours and textures are so inextricably bound to the island, that locals consider them to taste like home. They are balls of saffron-infused rice, traditionally filled with ragu (‘alla carne’) or a buttery, cheesy sauce (‘al burro’), encrusted in breadcrumbs and deep fried. They are renowned throughout the entire island but there is a divide in opinion between the east and the west on their shape and name.
The Italian outdoor-Market culture
After 3 years split between Naples and Rome, I have come to know the markets of my cities like the back of my hand. They have become a place of comfort, community, and not to mention a place to score some exceptionally good foods and keepsake items. Luckily for you all, you don’t just have to be passing by the Eternal City or bustling Naples to see what all the commotion of market life is about. Every city, town, village, and down to specific neighborhoods in Italy has a local market.