text and images britt-arnhild
Since I started to travel to Italy regularly, about 10 years ago, Italian cooking has influenced my kitchen. Olive oil, pasta, garlic, arugula, balsamico, a million different types of spaghetti, half a million different types of beans........
The most important things I have learned are:
- make it simple
- use fresh ingredients......always
- paint with a bright palette
Many of the best cooking tips have been learned by following Italian chefs in their home kitchen. (Italian chefs read ordinary Italians.)
Two friendly kitchens in Roma, Annamaria and Sheri
Feasting on Francesco´s asparagus
Making soups in a Tuscany farm kitchen (I can´t believe I never actually blogged about it......)
The making of an Easter cake in Terracina
I could go on, and on, and on........
Another way of learning is cookbook. Like the one I got in the mail a couple of weeks ago - The Tuscan Sun Cookbook by Frances Mayes.
I have loved Frances Mayes´books ever since Under The Tuscan Sun came, many, many years ago. Then Bella Tuscany, A Year in the Worldand the Every Day in Tuscany. I have one set at the cabin, one set at home.......and often eat a few pages while cooking.....woops, read, not eat of course. Though I read them like other people eat chocolate, craving, licking up every bit, can´t stop and so on.......
Yesterday, the day I opened The Greenhouse, and planted the first flowers out in the garden (too early for planting, I know, but I couldn´t wait any more) it was time for some Italian Sun in The house in the Woods. Flipping though The Tuscan Sun Cookbook my mouth started to water when I came to Ann Cornelisen´s PASTA with ARUGULA and PANCETTA. No pancetta, so bacon had to do.
And it did! The bacon I mean.
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Ingrid and Marius could smell my cooking from where they live, and came, so we were five around the table......licking up some Tuscan Sun
The recipe? Easy! Simple!Perfect!
