Autunno... Autumn...

As Fall rapidly approaches,  I find myself with  thoughts of Autumn favorites coming from my kitchen... and Autumn colors warming our home.  I am easing in  touches of orange and gold to bring in the season and adding pumpkins all around.  If my pumpkin plants let me down ( again) I will just have to buy them...or get them from Paul and Edy's gorgeous garden,  Quail Rock Farms... fine by me...

Preparando Per Pasqua… Getting Ready For Easter…

There is something so sweet about Easter… The bunnies, the flowers,  the pastel colors… adorable,    they all inspire me to make something sweet and lovely.  I haven't been decorating for holidays as much as I used to like to,  but,  definitely enough to be in the spirit of things.  Egg decorating,  always a must for Easter,   and  always a little different each year.  Making cookies with Giu Giu has been fun… This year I am enjoying garden shades for my eggs,  and decor…along with some pastels… of course…

Un Piccolo Scambio Di Biscotti… A Little Cookie Exchange…

The Holiday Baking has begun.  Cookies… for Tami's Annual Cookie Exchange Party.  This year I decided on  Orange Scented, Snowflake Stamped Shortbread ,  with a little Edible Glitter ( of course),
 and Coconut Jam Thumbprints.  Two favorites… And as a Hostess Gift,  a few Firelighters… Couldn't take a decent picture today ,  oh well , the cookies are good…

Panna Cotta E Biscotti... Panna Cotta And Shortbread...

Lately i've enjoyed the flavor,  and fragrance of Orange, Vanilla, and  Rosemary...  simmering  those things together to make the house smell good.  I decided to put that flavor into Panna Cotta.
I simmered Orange slices with Vanilla Bean and freshly cut Rosemary in water and sugar to make a syrup,  reduced it ,  then added that to the cream,   to infuse as the cream heated.  Cooled it, strained it and proceeded with making the Panna Cotta.  The flavor was subtle,   but definitely there.  I topped it with grated Dark Chocolate.  Another favorite flavor right now is  Honey Vanilla Camomile Tea. Using a mortar and pestle I finely ground the tea,  scraped a vanilla pod,  and added both to the butter for my shortbread.  That worked well... I will try that with my other favorite tea,  Earl Grey.

Cose Dolci Dalla Cucina E Dal Giardino... Sweet Things From The Kitchen And The Garden...

Loving all of the sweet things that come from the Kitchen,  like sweet , buttery little Butterfly Cookies, and,  Cream Cheese  Peach Tart with shortbread Crust and Chantilly Cream...  and from the Garden... Sweet herb Flowers,  delicate Hydrangea, intricate Roses,  and Anna Apples...