Category Archives: COOKING

Three generations of women learn the secrets of ricotta

Posted on June 9, 2012 by Heather Jarman

Yesterday I took three generations of women to Vitelina’s dairy to learn to make ricotta and then to Beatrice Salvi’s hotel for a lesson in baking a traditional Garfagnana ricotta pie. You can’t make ricotta unless you make cheese first, so … Continue reading →

Posted in cheese, COOKING, RICOTTA | 7 Comments

Seasonal Eating 2

Posted on May 5, 2012 by Heather Jarman

At the fruttivendola (fruit and veg shop) in La Villa, Bagni di Lucca, last week, I found the first signs of spring vegetables. Among them were carciofi mamme, or mamma’s artichokes. They’re bigger and more rotund than the pointy petite winter … Continue reading →

Posted in artichokes, carciofi, COOKING, SHOPPING, VEGETABLES | 10 Comments

Fritelle di San Giuseppe

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Heather Jarman

Today is Saint Joseph’s day and in northern and central Italy we traditionally eat rice fritters. I bought some this morning at the bar-pasticcieria in Ponte a Serraglio. I couldn’t resist taking a couple of bites before I got home … Continue reading →

Posted in COOKING, FESTAS | Leave a comment

At the butcher 2

Posted on October 11, 2009 by Heather Jarman

It was a rabbit. Renato cut it into pieces for cooking in umido (stewed) and showed me the little wedge of white tissue he removed from behind each knee. He smelled it. No scent, but when cooked it would give … Continue reading →

Posted in BUTCHER, COOKING, PORCINI, RABBIT | Leave a comment

Know your producer

Posted on October 5, 2009 by Heather Jarman

I’m planning the menu for dinner with a couple of friends tonight. When I went into the village shop this morning, there was a wooden crate showcasing several fresh porcini, collected by the daughter-in-law of the shop owners. Opportunistically I … Continue reading →

Posted in COOKING, NEPITELLA, PORCINI, RISOTTO, SEAFOOD, SHOPPING | 1 Comment