Author: Yvette

Pita Bread Pizza

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You know those days when you have a list of things to do, and in the end you get it all done…but oh no what’s for dinner? Tonight was one of those nights… Pita bread pizza’s…Quick,easy and delicious… Pita breads are so versatile…Place pita bread on ovenproof paper,sprinkle a little olive oil and place under grill.When that side is cooked,flip pita and start putting on your favourite toppings.Fresh tomato,red pepper,sliced turkey, mozzarella cheese,sun dried tomatoes,oregano,and chilli flakes. A few minutes under the grill,until cheese has melted and wow! dinner is ready,serve with a fresh green salad Enjoy!

After the Storm

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The early hours of this morning we were awoken by rain,hailstones and violent winds.No electricity,alarms,sirens and an eerie,scary view from our windows.Yesterday,with scorching temperatures,obviously it was natures way of cooling things down. We were lucky in one respect only one tree fell due to these forceful winds,we were amazed that there wasn’t more damage, the vineyard survived.! One of our friends lost his whole crop with damage from hailstones. This is the tree that fell on the roadside in front of our house. After harvesting this was the first Sunday morning home in a long time for Silvano, but had to work just the same… We’ve had grey skies all day, as the hour of sun set approaches however the suns rays are dazzling and playing shadows within the garden. Oak tree and acorns…. The photo above…plant unknown   The vineyard…these are table grapes,which we’ve grafted onto one vine…   These are Pinot Grigio…   A Sunday full of daydreams,writing and reading…quality time for me and with my man… My friends,I hope you had a …

Whistle Stop Cafè –no fried green tomatoes!

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I’m sure everyone thinks of the Whistle Stop Cafè and Fanny Flagg in her country overalls making famous -  fried green tomatoes. But I’m not frying green tomatoes today instead conserving them under oil. One of my Nonna’s recipes. An image comes to mind of when I was little…helping my Nonna pick green tomatoes ready for conserving under oil…I remember how I use to sit at the farms laminated kitchen table and watch my Nonna prepare jars and jars of green tomatoes.I instantly think of this image every year when the gardens full of tomato bushes with their plentiful supply of juicy plump tomatoes. So sneaking out to grab a few green tomatoes, I’m on the run to get them pickled and undercover before anyone notices…   Recipe: Preserved Green Tomatoes 1 kg of green firm tomatoes 1 cup white vinegar 1 cup of water fine table salt estimated guess 300ml of olive oil depending on jar size. 1 garlic clove oregano and fennel seeds   Slice the green tomatoes into thin slices,layering and salting …

Rose Petal Pink

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Pink is part of my world. You won’t find any pink in my wardrobe apart from a newly purchased pair of pink pearl earrings…on the good advise from a friend. You’ll however find pink, not lollipop pink more like antique rose pink in my house… rose frosted glassware,freshly cut pink roses,scatted pink rose petals, rose colored champagne, rose cake tins and the list goes on. However,my childhood memories are lollipop pink. The strawberry pink milkshakes and ice creams, marshmallows and hundreds and thousands. Going to the local fair hand in hand with my Nonno (grandfather) to buy pink fairy floss and maybe you remember those dollies on sticks, antique looking with plastic painted hair,wanting to choose first, the one in the pink dress. I remember my mother dressing me in a Sundays best pink crochet dress and funny enough my 21st birthday party was all pink with hand painted rose invitations, so yes pink is part of my world. Why all this talk about pink…Today I received a lovely pink  award…it’s pretty and pink…and a …

The vineyard…water

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On the land this week. With the ever increasing temperatures,it’s time to irrigate the vineyard. It was an early start…5.30am to be exact. The view from my window,a soft spray of water… Depending on the weather,and the supply of water from the canals which run along side our property, we may irrigate three more times.After a few hours, the vineyard is finished,we move all the steel tubes to another area where we irrigate corn crops. Our wheel of agriculture keeps turning!

Wednesdays Word

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Tramezzini –plural It’s an Italian sandwich. The difference is in the bread. Pre sliced, no crusts.White and plain.But the fillings are way beyond boring. Tramezzini are packed with flavour. The filling combinations are never-ending with new flavours popping up everywhere on bar chalkboard specials. From chic char grilled vegetables, prosciutto,cheese and fig jam to the classics of mozzarella,roast beef and pesto. The fillings are usually an overload on mayonnaise, however making them at home, mayonnaise can easily be substituted with light cream cheese , ricotta or fresh goats cheese.Tramezzini can be found in bars everywhere available for a mid morning snack or lunchtime break. Two of my favourites are bresaola – (dried,salted beef thinly sliced), rocket and parmesan,or prosciutto,goats cheese and cherry tomatoes with freshly ground black pepper. So my friends,this is Wednesdays word,one to remember when in Italy and ordering your lunch. Tramezzini.

Iced Centerpiece

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This centerpiece is just fabulous to jazz up your fresh fruit an ice-cream platter.Made from a silicone cake mould,its very simple to make. There are so many designs nowadays available in silicone, your choice is unlimited.Here’s how to prepare your centerpiece. I used this one,a flower and bow design,also as wreath design it has a hole in the middle to serve ice-cream,cream or yoghurt. Fill the mould with water or fruit juice,add fresh small fruits  such as blueberries,strawberries,or pieces of chopped fruit and mint leaves,place on tray and leave overnight in the freezer. When frozen your iced shape is easily removed from the silicone. Fill the platter with assorted fresh fruit,place scooped ice-cream in the center and wow! Easy Entertaining, and a fun Summer Dessert. It’s also a great way to keep your Summer punch iced. Just place the iced mould into you punch bowl and it keeps it cool and iced for the rest of your serving time. Enjoy my friends, and happy entertaining!

Italian Summer Food Fairs

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In our Summer months, there’s always a local sagra –fair to visit. It’s a celebration of food, and family entertainment.If you visit Italy during this time of the year, it’s a great opportunity to support local groups,volunteer “cooks” with a passion for food, eat cheaply, trying traditional dishes and enjoy live entertainment.There’s fairs of food like asparagus, rice, chicken,tripe, and even larger fairs with an event like a music/singing contest,a bicycle race, a water craft boat regatta , country line dance contest and rodeo, to name a few. We had the opportunity to visit the “Festa dea Sardea” meaning Festival of Sardines in Silea,Treviso,Italy. Sardines at this fair are available grilled,crumbed, and traditional venice style with sweet/sour onions. Sardines are rich in numerous nutrients that have been found to support cardiovascular health. An excellent source of Vitamin B12 and concentrated in Vitamin D, packed with protein. Sardines are best eaten fresh,and as I don’t prepare them often at home,we decided to venture out to this fair, with a grand surprise of how many people were …

Tea for me and Tea for you….Tea for Two

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Make a cup of tea and stay with me for a few minutes, relax and enjoy. Sometimes a cup of tea, just does the trick. A soothing cup of tea relaxing with a book, or these days in front of the computer,with fellow blogging friends.Or finishing off an evening combined with five minutes of solitude. A winter warmer, a summer iced treat. A fragrant favorite of mine is “Tisana Meditazione” – Meditation Tea. It’s a combination of mint, cinnamon, sunflower petals, rose petals,chamomile and lavender. The fragrance of lavender is known to relax and soothe the mind and body. Lavender  tea is known to ease insomnia, help calm nervousness and anxiety. Alleviate colds ,coughs,bronchitis and similar respiratory problems. Fatigue and headaches. Funny enough two of my favourite teas both have lavender in them. Meditation Tea is very fragrant, sweet and soothing if you can find this combination I recommend trying it. Another favourite is “Tisana Dolce Sonno” meaning Sweet Dreams or Sleep, so I guess the title says it all. It’s ingredients are passionfruit leaves, …

Pasta Salad

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With the harvesting of wheat at the moment, I should be doing a feature bread section, but my friends , no bread baker challenge for this hot weekend So I turn to Pasta… A great Pasta Salad. Recipe: Pasta Salad – cavatelli with rocket pesto.  Cavatelli is a pasta originally from the region Puglia, Italy.It’s hand made, forming a hollow rod shape about 3cm long with curved edges. This hollow form is great for capturing sauces,it can be purchased fresh or in dry form.As I’ve used for this recipe. Ingredients for 4 serves 350 grams dried form cavatelli pasta 100 grams cherry tomatoes 100 grams smoked ricotta (grated) 100 grams parmesan (grated) 100 grams fresh rocket 3 tablespoons pine nuts 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 garlic clove, (optional) 1 jar pitted kalamata olives Prepare the pasta, as directed on package, this pasta in dry form, usually takes 9 minutes to cook, drain and wash with cold water immediately to stop the cooking process, leave aside. Prepare the tomatoes. Slice long ways,cleaning out the centre,this takes …