Pasticceria... Pastry...

Spending time in the kitchen is always a favorite pastime,  and making Pastry tops my list of favorite things to bake.  So flaky and decadent,  I love it so much,  Pie's Tarts, Cookies, Breads and Biscuits,  sweet or savory,   all of them... so good.

Piaceri Invernali... Winter Pleasures...

No mater how happy I may be to start fresh in the New Year... there is always that little bit of wondering... what to do now.  Now,  during this time of not much going on.  We have had an amazing amount of rain,  which is fantastic,  but in between storms,  it feels a little  like springtime.  A little gardening is always in order and just a little crafting too... and always ,  cooking and baking.  I loved my little Christmas Wreaths on my mirrors so much that I decided to keep them,  but take the Christmas look away... so,  I ended up with little green wreaths,  with a  little bit  of purple,  as that is my color of choice this "winter" ( using that term lightly).  Sparkly Succulents in favorite tea cups add a little garden to my kitchen window.  Priscilla's favorite  Double Chocolate Bark turned into a tart,  a  Lovely Strawberry,  Mascarpone Tart with Chocolate Ganache Drizzle and a Buttery Cookie Crust,  and some adorable Teeny-Weenie sugar cookies... Focaccia,  a regular part of my cooking repertoire along with a Marinated Eggplant and Mozzarella Salad with a fresh Baguette...That should keep the winter doldrums away...

 

Dolci... Sweets...

Remembering Christmas seasons past... when Mom and Dad would spend a very long day at the restaurant making Cartellate for sharing with friends and family.  They got going early in the day ready to make tons of the very traditional treats ... it wouldn't have been Christmas without this tradition.  Anna and I decided a few years ago that the tradition,  which pretty much ended when Dad passed away,  should  continue.  We've only made them for three years,  and although we saw them being made for many years,  we are not quite as good at the process as Mom was.  Practice will make perfect,  if that is what we're after,  although simply making these lovely pastries,  and remembering Mom and Dad makes for a happy day,  and very special memories...

Dolci Invernali… Winter Treats…

It's  been feeling a bit like springtime around here… but it isn't,   so making treats like  Homemade Marshmallows to float in cups of hot, dark chocolate and Gingerbread Cheesecake still feel like the right thing to do…

Ricetta Per Un Dolce Preferito Per Priscilla….Recipe For One Of Priscilla's Favorite Sweets…

Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Bark… one of Priscilla's favorite treats.  Rich,  decadent, and irresistible … glad it's gone !

1 pound plus  2 ounces good, imported white chocolate,  finely chopped

1 1/2 cups chunky peanut butter

8 ounces bittersweet or semisweet  chocolate,  finely chopped

There are just a couple ingredients in this recipe so it's important to use best quality…
Line a 15x10 inch sheet  pan with parchment paper.  Melt 1 pound white chocolate with peanut butter in a large bowl set over a bain marie stirring occasionally until chocolate is melted and smooth.
Meanwhile ,  melt bittersweet chocolate in bowl over bain marie stirring occasionally until chocolate is melted and smooth. Melt remaining 2 ounces of white chocolate in small bowl over bain marie .
Pour peanut butter chocolate  mixture onto prepared pan,  spreading to cover surface completely.  Using  a  spoon, drizzle melted bittersweet chocolate in lines over peanut butter mixture. Draw tip of a small sharp knife through drizzled chocolate  mixture… drizzle white chocolate on top of all,  then run knife through to marbleize.  Allow to set in refrigerator.  When set,  using a large sharp knife,  cut into triangles .  Store in fridge.