All posts tagged: mozzarella

Zucchini Flowers

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The gift of a flower has so many emotions attached to it. In gratitude,in happiness, in sorrow, in friendship, in Love. I remember one cold day in Winter, December 28 to be precise, I had spent the day working outside, harvesting radicchio ready for market. As I didn’t have time to get anything for my husband as it’s the day of his birthday, I picked a bunch of  red rosettes of radicchio and set the dinner table. It looked and meant much more to me than ruffled radicchio leaves, this vegetable that survives our cold winter weather, had created a whole new warm atmosphere to my dinner table. Red rosettes of my affection. Passing the vegetable patch earlier this week, my sister in law did the same thing. On her way to give me well wishes for another passing birthday, she picked three zucchini flowers in full bloom. She then added her recipe for stuffed zucchini flowers. Even after putting them in a vase of water, without sunlight they close straight away…so it was obvious …

Eggplant Flowers

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In a mad lunchtime rush I was able to visit the fresh fruit and vegetable market yesterday. With the start of Summer upon us the range of seasonal produce at the moment is at a high, from green leafy salads, green beans, broad beans, peas, zucchini, the plump reds of tomatoes , peppers and cherries and the “Black Beauty” of the bunch the dark shiny, glossy purple  of Eggplant (melanzane).  Eggplant is one of those vegetables used a lot in Italian cuisine. The best known recipe I think you would know is ratatouille. But there are many recipes I’ve learnt since experimenting with many Italian dishes. Italian food is simple, each recipe using two or three main seasonal products. That ‘s the key, quality produce and what’s in season.  Italian food is also regional, what you may find as the main dish of Veneto – Treviso isn’t the same as you would find in Rome, Sicily or Naples.  Recipe:Eggplant Flowers * i “fiori” di melanzane, is one of my favourite eggplant dishes.  Ingredients for 4 persons  2 eggplants ( long type)  …