A New Year...Un Nuovo Anno...

 I always love that feeling that the New Year brings.  Putting away Christmas and refreshing the decor.  Our weather is such that almost immediately in the New Year,  I am thinking of springtime... Gardening a lot more and cooking lighter foods.  When most of the country is thick in the middle of winter,  I am planting sweet peas... so fortunate for this weather...but I often wish we had four seasons... we have one!  On this lovely rainy day however,  I enjoyed cooking hearty foods,  and I was in the kitchen all day... I didn't have time to make a Panettone before Christmas,  but I did it anyway.  I also made a Savory Butternut and sage Tart,  Corzetti Pasta,  and an Olive and Herb Fougasse.  In the Kitchen... happy as can be!

Piaceri Autunnali... Autumn Pleasures..

It's that time of year... everyone thinking of Pumpkins and Squashes,  Colorful Leaves,   and cool breezes.  Here we can only dream of cool breezes and brightly hued trees... it has been a very hot early Fall,  but happily,  it cooled of just in time for Halloween. I'm in full Autumn mode in the kitchen,  making old favorites,  and thinking up new seasonal recipes...

Ciao Autunno...Hello Fall...

My yearly tradition of baking a Pie on the first day of Autumn continues... Sometimes Apple,  sometimes Pumpkin... This time it's Pumpkin...

In Cucina... In The Kitchen...

 Being in the kitchen makes me happy.   Making old recipes,  family recipes,  and creating new recipes...  I had not made Tarallini Pugliesi before,  but after  my last trip to Italy I knew that I would be making them soon.  Nobody in the family seems to make them because all they have to do is go to the nearest Panificio and buy a bag full... I do not have that luxury.  I have tried a few different recipes ,  the last one is pretty good... still searching,  but in the meantime,  these were fun to make.   I've especially enjoyed making more  Laminated Doughs lately,  Homemade Brioche and Puff Pastry made into delicious dessert,  breakfast treats,  or savory appetizers makes those items even better.  

In Cucina... In The Kitchen...

My kitchen is so much smaller than my previous one... but it's OK.  The main obstacle is only having one oven,  so timing is so important if I am baking an entree,  and bread or focaccia... It doesn't stop me from doing what I love most ,  and I have been doing a lot of cooking and baking.   Whether for a special get together,  a special request from Priscilla (Beef Wellington) or just because...