My friend Arantza’s motto in life – and in the kitchen – is “back to basics”. Sometimes this way of life is a must, like when you are cooking with limited ingredients or are on a strict budget, but at other times it’s just a good reminder that when it comes to regular, every-day, nutritious food, much ado will not always result in better food. Seeing my friend’s approach to food has been an inspirational reminder that while food is sustenance, nutrition, and key to our health, it does not always have to take center-stage and take over your life. Come and cook with us! Continue reading “Let’s Keep Things Simple, Shall We?”
Month: August 2013
Add some Chives to your Lives
Since returning to California this past week, I spent a considerable amount of time thinking about our trip back to Italy. Whether enjoying time with family, hiking in my beloved mountains or catching up with friends, it feels a little like turning the clock back to my happy childhood. Of the many exciting things we did, our annual ritual visit to our “back-to-basics” hut high up at 7,000 feet was among the best. A wooden stove, a few pots and pans and the most majestic view are enough to turn every day into a unique and memorable experience. Apart from milk and butter provided by three cows who graze the steep hills surrounding the neighboring farmer’s hut, we have to carry up everything we need for nourishment. That is how we learn to make the most with what little we have. One of our most successful menu items, apart from crêpes and buckwheat riebel, are the impossibly simple but unbelievably delicious butter and chive sandwiches. Come and cook with us! Continue reading “Add some Chives to your Lives”
Buon Ferragosto!
Today, on August 15th, Italians are celebrating the middle of summer so: “Buon Ferragosto a tutti”.
After spending the last few weeks re-living the memories of my happy childhood back home in this small town in the Dolomites, we are ready to return to Northern California.
Bags are packed and my inspiration is running at an all-time high with plenty of new and easy recipes to share with you. Fall will be here before we know it and we’re looking forward to celebrating it with you!
Enjoy the last weeks of summer!
PS: This isn’t my picture, but the mountains on it are from my town! Come and climb with us!
On Yogurt…
On the list of staples that I keep in my kitchen, plain yogurt ranks near the top. With its creamy texture, the plain or natural version tastes great on its own, and also works well as a versatile cooking ingredient. I use yogurt to accompany sweet and savoury dishes. Continue reading “On Yogurt…”
Let’s Have a Farinata at My House!
Variety is the spice of life. That’s at least the mantra I try to follow when choosing recipes that use lesser known grains or even legumes to broaden the nutritional palette of my family’s diet. Sure, we all have our go-to dishes that are 100% fool-proof and always work, particularly when you are in a pinch. But it’s the new and unknown ones that are fun to experiment with, even more so, if your family is prepared to join you in this adventurous culinary journey. And that is how I came to try garbanzo bean flour. I knew green and dried chickpeas and had plenty of ideas on what to do with them, but stone ground chickpea flour? Cooking with that was news to me. Come and cook with us! Continue reading “Let’s Have a Farinata at My House!”
Come and Cook with Us 