Surprisingly Fabulous Tuna Pasta (and Hand Gestures You Shouldn’t Make in Italy)...

Aug 27, 2010 by

Surprisingly Fabulous Tuna Pasta (and Hand Gestures You Shouldn’t Make in Italy)

I just have to come out and say it--this pasta may not look fabulous, and it may not sound fabulous, but it is surprisingly super duper fabulous...even though it's made with canned tuna. When Guido pulled out the canned tuna to try out this recipe one evening, I had my doubts. So did he, which is why when I came in to the kitchen to help cook, he jokingly referred to his dish as "la cena del cornuto." La corna In southern Italy one of the worst things you can call a man is a cornuto, and don't you dare think about making the sign of the horns (la corna) by extending your index and pinkie finger...unless you're looking for a fight. Calling a man a cornuto is the same as telling him he's...

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Prociutto Salad with Apple, Walnut, and Parmigiano...

Aug 27, 2010 by

Prociutto Salad with Apple, Walnut, and Parmigiano

While traveling in California introducing Guido to my family, we impressed my Santa Barbara relatives with a simple prosciutto salad. This version is a more embellished version, but you can simplify it by cutting the extra ingredients. Ah...Proscuitto di Parma. Sigh... There are few things in Italian cuisine that I love as much as prosciutto crudo, a thinly sliced salt-cured ham produced in central and northern Italy, most famously in Parma. It's slightly ironic that I love it so much, since I hadn't eaten pork products for almost 15 years before I started coming to Italy in 2010. One evening Guido set some prosciutto on the table along with a few slices of bread, some parmigiano (parmesan), and a little wine. I took a bite, hesitant...I don't really like to eat mammals. But once...

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Watermelon, Yogurt and Mint Smoothie...

Jul 24, 2010 by

Watermelon, Yogurt and Mint Smoothie

Okay, I must confess once more: This is NOT Italian. But, it's super tasty and I made it for my Italian boyfriend on his birthday (in Italy, no less!), so...excuses, excuses, I know. But let's get over it already and delight in the yummy goodness of this smoothie: It's fresh, it's tasty, it's unique, and it's a great way to use up the rest of your watermelon on a hot summer day. One warning: The yogurt makes this smoothie very filling; you could easily have this for breakfast and be satisfied for the rest of the morning. Servings: 2 generous portions Ingredients: 2 cups of seeded watermelon chunks 1 T. mint (or more, if you're nuts for mint, like me) 1 cup plain or lemon yogurt Optional: 1 T. honey G-Spot Ingredient: A dash...

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Coffee Granita–it deserves its own post!...

Jul 14, 2010 by

Coffee Granita–it deserves its own post!

Sorry to be repetitive with the recipes here, but Guido and I had THE most amazing treat yesterday--coffee granita. If you love coffee and would like a summertime pick-me-up, you have got to try this.  I know I blogged about lemon granita below, but this was so good, it deserved its own blog! Servings: 2 to 4 people, depending on how much coffee you can handle, and your level of restraint. Prep time: Including making the coffee and time to let things cool, about 15 to 20 minutes. Ingredients: 8 oz. or 1 cup of espresso or coffee (250 ml) **Not filtered coffee, unless it's crazy strong 4 oz. or 1/2 cup of water (100 ml) 1/2 cup of sugar (100 g)--maybe start with a little less and sweeten to taste. G-spot ingredient: Whipped...

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Granita: The perfect summer treat...

Jul 11, 2010 by

Granita: The perfect summer treat

Guido and I went to Rome recently, and while reacquainting myself with the city I saw so many years ago as a teenager, he decided to take me to the famous Piazza Navona, sight of the Tre Fontane (The Three Fountains). I went to Piazza Novana sixteen years ago on a tour in high school, and vaguely remembered savoring a delicious gelato while sitting next to one of the Tre Fontane at night. Well, it wasn't night this time; it was the hottest part of the day. Guido and I were wilting in the heat, so much so that we stuck our feet in one of the fountains (like everyone else, in our defense) and ended up getting yelled at by the carabinieri (the police). We finally managed to drag our sweaty selves to...

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Zucchini, Yogurt, and Mint Soup (Zuppa Fredda di Zucchine e Menta)...

Jul 7, 2010 by

Zucchini, Yogurt, and Mint Soup (Zuppa Fredda di Zucchine e Menta)

Looking to make a yummy cold soup for dinner on a hot July night, I stumbled onto this zucchini, mint, and yogurt soup recipe. It was in a couple Italian food blogs, but Guido seemed a bit mystified that it was an Italian recipe. We discovered that it's considered a "modern Italian creation," as yogurt is not a very integral part of Italian cuisine. Regardless, it's creamy, delicate, and easy to make...and (supposedly) Italian. Prep time: This should take about 20 minutes, but let it chill in the fridge for a bit before serving. Serve with: We had this with sautéed chicken and a simple salad. Ingredients (for 2): 2 Zucchini (keep the peels) approx. 1 to 2 cups of yogurt (I recommend that you use one with a medium-thick consistency--I used half thin...

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