Archive for March, 2012

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Colomba di Pasqua

Posted March 29, 2012 By Adri

Easter Dove Bread

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Easter is almost here, and in my house that means it is time to bake Easter Dove Bread – Colomba di Pasqua. As Panettone is to Christmas, so this rich egg bread is to Easter. A traditional yeasted sweet bread, formed (more or less) in the shape of a dove, it is available in the days leading up to Holy Week.

History tells us this bread hails from Milan where, during the battle of Legnano in 1176, two doves alighted on the sacred Milanese carrocio (war chariot). The war chariot carried a massive crucifix dedicated to Saint George, patron saint of Milan, and the doves remained on the chariot until the armies of the Lombard League repulsed Federico Barbarossa, his knights and infantrymen. To honor the end of hostilities and the Treaty of Venice, the women of Milan baked this bread, and the tradition continues to this day. Read more… »

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Tomatomania! – The Rite of Spring

Posted March 23, 2012 By Adri

Home grown is greater than store bought

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Pick up your shovel and your hoe! Well, where the heck did winter go, and when did Spring arrive? The fever is rising. Spring is here, and that means time to prepare your soil and plan the garden. Bart and I performed our very own rite of Spring this morning when we went to Tomatomania!, the ne plus ultra of tomato sales.

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The Tomatomania! folks gathered a dizzying array of tomato seedlings from which to choose. Hundreds of varieties, thousands of individual plants greeted us this morning when we drove to Tapia Brothers Farm in Encino, California. Read more… »

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Senate Resolution – 150th Anniversary of Italian Unification

Posted March 20, 2012 By Adri

Italian FlagAmerican Flag

A Resolution

Senate Resolution – 150th Anniversary of Italian Unification






To close the year long celebration of 150 years of Italian Unification the United States Senate passed a resolution honoring the anniversary. At the opening of the year’s celebration President Barack Obama made A Presidential Proclamation. To read his words, click here.

The following resolution was submitted by John Kerry (D) Massachusetts; which was considered and agreed.

Senate Resolution 394

A resolution commemorating the 150th anniversary of Italian Unification and the beginning of warm and abiding relations between the people of the United States and Italy.

Whereas it has been 150 years since March 17, 1861, when the parliament of a united Italy proclaimed Victor Emmanuel II their king;

Whereas the story of the Italian Risorgimento, in particular Giuseppe Garibaldi’s heroic adventures, have inspired generations of Americans;

Whereas, between 1880 to 1920, an estimated 4,000,000 Italian immigrants arrived in the United States to settle and help build our Nation;

Whereas today there are almost 18,000,000 Americans of Italian ancestry whose contributions to our society are diverse and profound;

Whereas Italy has been a loyal NATO ally and a major strategic partner for over 60 years;

Whereas Italian-Americans have made enormous contributions to the United States; and

Whereas Italy remains a steadfast partner in the defense of a shared vision of fundamental human rights and the preservation of democratic ideals: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate–

(1) recognizes the 150th anniversary of the foundation of the modern state of Italy;

(2) celebrates the ties of kinship and shared democratic values that unite the two countries across the Atlantic;

(3) honors the service and sacrifice of Italy’s soldiers, sailors, and airmen alongside United States forces most recently in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya; and

(4) reaffirms the friendship between the Government and people of the United States and the Government and people of Italy

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Torta di limone verde e mascarpone, la ricetta

Posted March 16, 2012 By Adri

Lime and Mascarpone Torta – Everything old is new again

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I love this torta – it is light yet satisfying with a tender crust and a lime filling that delivers great citrus flavor without a heavy does of tartness.

For those of you who have a fear of pastry – let me give you a couple of tips. First, start with easy to roll doughs like this one. Known in Italian as pasta frolla (tender crust), this shortcrust is sturdy and tender. Read more… »

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Torta di limone verde e mascarpone

Posted March 14, 2012 By Adri

Lime and Mascarpone Torta

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Happy Pi Day! Be irrational today!

March 14 is the day to celebrate π (Pi), the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. Math nerds and other number enthusiasts celebrate the symbol with all items circular. I celebrated with a Lime and Mascarpone tart. It’s round, and it’s a pie. I have it covered.

3.14159265358979323846264338 …………..

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I have no affiliation with any product, manufacturer, or site mentioned in this article.

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Crostata al limone

Posted March 12, 2012 By Adri

Lemon Tart

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Spring is not here yet, but the profusion of citrus lends such bright notes to food and table, it almost seems it has arrived. Baskets of Meyer lemons, Moro and Sanguinello oranges fill my kitchen counter. It is time to start thinking about Easter desserts, and a crostata al limone would be a welcome addition to any Easter dessert table. I used Meyer lemons, but if you have Eureka, Lisbon, or any of the Italian lemons now available, use them. Read more… »

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