Pizza...

I love making Pizza ,  although around here , it's never just one Pizza...  more like ten Pizzas,  when the  family or friends are over .  I long for a Wood Fired Pizza Oven like my sister has,  but my hubby says I don't need it,  because he LOVES the way I make mine,   right on the grill ( whatever!)  They are fantastic that way,  but I still wish I had the oven...  Tonight it was just Jim n me so I only made three... ha ha (only)...

 Simple,  with olives and herbs...

Artichoke hearts & yellow peppers...

Roasted butternut squash...

Una cena semplice... A simple dinner...

One of my husbands favorite pasta dishes is Pasta with Green Beans... it's very simple,  very traditional,  and makes him happy.  Add a nice bottle of wine (standard for us),  some delicious  Mortadella from Little Italy along with some Oil Cured Olives,  a freshly baked loaf of  Artisan Bread... and that's as simple as it gets... Fantastico

Un po di pioggia... A little rain

We had a little rain during the night,  but now it's just a little gloomy.  The kind of  gray that makes you wish it would  just rain.  We are pretty spoiled here in San Diego,  so when the sun isn't shining brightly,  we usually are complaining about it.  So it may be gray outside,  but inside there is plenty of sunshine by way of fresh flowers and a little sparkle...

La dispensa... The pantry...

Spring is in the air ,  and with that comes spring cleaning.... and organizing...  I love reorganizing,  and rearranging things,  seems I do it constantly.  The pantry  gets a lot of use with all the cooking that goes on here.  Obviously,  keeping it neat and tidy makes finding my tools & ingredients easier,   which  makes the job of cooking more efficient...  and always fun!

The Pantry...

Pasta Corzetti... Home for the weekend 2... Corzetti Pasta

 Pasta is always on the menu when Priscilla comes home for the weekend... This time it was hand stamped pasta called "Corzetti".  I made the dough ,  rolled it into a thin sheet,  cut it ,  and then stamped it with my wooden Corzetti stamp...  one by one.  This is a labor of love for sure,  but  always appreciated by family and friends...

My stamp has two designs,  olive branches and grape clusters...  bellissimo...

  

The sauce I made for this dish was a simple Pine Nut and Herb sauce... delizioso...

Fiori, fiori, e fiori... Flowers, flowers, flowers...

La bellezza dei  fiori mi incanta...

I love everything about spring time... the longer days,  the way things in the garden seem to grow over night... and the flowers...  and how about the way the rain droplets settle on the petals.  The beauty in nature is so incredible.  When I look at the details of a flower,  and see the way it's petals unfurl,  exposing  layers of color and beauty... it just never ceases to amaze me...

Crostata al Cioccolato... Chocolate Tart...

Made this delicious little tart for Priscilla... Caramel pecan filling,  chocolate ganache,  sweet cookie crust,  white chocolate flower... enough said...

               
                                                 

Pane artigianale... Artisan bread...

A chi non piace il pane?...  Who doesn't like bread?...

I love making bread... Mixing & kneading the dough,  waiting for it to rise,  then baking it... and the aroma coming from the oven... mmmm....

The rustic golden brown loaves are beautiful ,  just sitting,  waiting to be eaten,  which usually 

happens pretty quickly!