tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69516701299405453242012-02-01T09:46:28.404-08:00Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.comBlogger1841100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-27641632973643439952012-01-17T04:59:00.000-08:002012-01-17T04:59:47.345-08:00

Why am I proposing this cake in the middle of winter you might ask?  Well, as much as I try to only eat what is in season, zucchini are hard for me to give up, plus this cake is so tasty I didn't want to wait until September to post about it.  If you are inclined to only use seasonal ingredients I would imagine that parsnips could be substituted for the zucchini, I bet they would taste great

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-21159392241442136012012-01-09T00:00:00.000-08:002012-01-09T00:00:06.404-08:00

The result In case you didn't know, I am a total Donna Hay's fan, willing to spend $10 a month to get my hands on her magazine.  I just realized I missed last month's magazine, I think my local store stopped carrying it, I better find it soon as it has lots of cookies in the front.  I love her magazine and books, and I have cooked from them quite a bit, with great success.  Her cooking

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-73743219968098335212012-01-08T01:30:00.000-08:002012-01-08T01:30:01.590-08:00

Few simple ingredients This is not rocket science, nor Iron Chef's material, but if you never had home-made chicken broth you don't know what you are missing.  My maternal grandmother was the queen of chicken broth.  If I close my eyes I can see her sitting at her marble table, eating a bowl of piping hot chicken broth with some little pastina floating inside.  It was also a favorite of mine

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-53120998733542902192012-01-05T00:00:00.000-08:002012-01-05T00:00:07.795-08:00

In the previous post I mentioned how I tend not to make new year's resolutions.  Well scratch that, I just made one!  While doing some much needed after-the-holidays cleaning, I saw the mess in my pantry took stock of my pantry ingredients, and noticed how many items I have accumulated.  One thing you might not know about me is that I am a compulsive buyer, I see something that tickles my

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-77586240998943100012012-01-01T06:56:00.000-08:002012-01-01T06:59:21.887-08:00

One of the advantages of being an early riser is to be able to witness the most magnificent sunrises, the one photographed below was breathtaking, the colors were spectacular.  I talked about the West Point Inn before.  This century-old inn is located on Mount Tamalpais, is reachable only by foot or bikes, and has the most amazing views of the San Francisco Bay.  It was build for

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-62640155443534538372011-12-22T00:00:00.000-08:002011-12-22T00:00:06.132-08:00

I can't believe I haven't posted in almost three weeks, where did the time go?   The last two weeks have been intense, on many levels.  Three of our new chickens turned out to be roosters, which is something  I had to deal with, why were the odds against us?  One of our chicken was killed by a hawk, luckily she wasn't one of our favorites, but it was traumatic nonetheless, it also meant that

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-62566080747378937992011-12-04T00:00:00.000-08:002011-12-04T00:00:12.839-08:00

  We went to Los Angeles for Thanksgiving and it felt extra good to be there especially because of the recent passing of a dear family member, a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather.  The weather was great, and I even got to exercise!  Sadly though, I decided against making the apple tart since someone else brought an apple dessert.  I ended up making a version of this cake instead, and

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-44141761291006047972011-11-30T06:37:00.001-08:002011-12-01T06:25:48.629-08:00

Gorgeous, right? My version, how on earth did they do it? With just few hours to spare before we roll into December I add my contribution to the fun Donna Hay styling photo challenge.  There were only three of us who participated this month, so please check Simone's entry here and Jenn's here.   It was a challenge for sure, but life is not fun if we don't get pushed a little, right?

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-5409702938297380932011-11-21T00:00:00.000-08:002011-11-21T08:01:29.453-08:00

Sorry, it took me some time, but the winner of the Cucina Povera cookbook is Astrofiammante, congratulations!  I hope you use the book and let us know about it. In case you love apple desserts and are trying to find a recipe for Thanksgiving look no farther, this is a keeper.  I am going to make this tart again next week, it is perfect to celebrate Thanksgiving.  I found the recipe on

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-70026762555920251352011-11-18T00:00:00.000-08:002011-11-18T07:40:12.702-08:00

I can not stop taking pictures!  I keep noticing colors, constantly seeing amazing color contrast and combination.  I buy fruit at the store just to keep the color around for a while.  I found some dainty lady apples and when I bought them home I immediately tried different bowls and color combinations.  These pictures are just examples of this.   Then there is the wonderful

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-68769792028229697242011-11-14T00:00:00.000-08:002011-11-14T00:00:07.002-08:00

The hunt for new Christmas cookie recipes has started.   I love giving bags of cookies to friends and family and to make it fun I try new cookies every year.  My stack of Christmas cookie magazines increases every year, so does the list of delicious cookies I tried.   I like to choose cookies that have interesting texture and color so when paired together they visually please the eyes. 

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-24296590887566462122011-11-09T06:47:00.000-08:002011-11-09T06:47:22.474-08:00

Pretend food I am submitting this photo, shot in color and edited on i-photo, to the fun weekly event created by Susan of The well-seasoned cook. If you would like to participate to future events click here for the instructions.

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-86463461547570183362011-11-06T11:08:00.000-08:002011-11-08T09:50:25.124-08:00

This morning I woke up at 5, which was actually 6 yesterday, but didn't remember the time had changed until I saw the light starting to change outside.  It will take me few days to get used to the Fall Back time change.  I decided to go outside and take few pictures in the early morning hours, before the sun came up, something I should do more ofter, it is so magical.   There are so

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-72442693534317343762011-11-05T00:00:00.000-07:002011-11-05T14:12:40.373-07:00

Ribollita Perfect time for a bowl of earthy soup, especially when the soup is Ribollita, the very tasty cannellini and kale soup from Tuscany.  When I was asked by the publicist to review the book Cucina Povera, or Peasant Cuisine, by Pamela Sheldon Johns I was immediately intrigued.  "This book features more than 60 authentic, budget-conscious dishes from the heart of Tuscany.  Each dish

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-43095009804363916872011-11-02T18:14:00.000-07:002011-11-03T10:44:35.610-07:00

In a hurry before today is over.....and in theme with the just passed Halloween. Chocolate cupcake with oreo cookie "dirt" and meringue topping I submitted this picture, shot in color and converted to B/W on i-photo, to the weekly culinary event Black and White Wednesday started by Susan of The Well-Seasoned Cook. If you would like to participate by submitting a food related picture you can

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-65374708980548170652011-10-31T10:42:00.000-07:002011-11-01T20:18:53.758-07:00

Don't get discouraged by this photo, keep reading.... In my quest to learn as much as I can about food photography I found some amazing blogs, one of them is Jungle Frog Cooking, by the talented Simone.  Simone takes amazing photos and in an effort to learn from the pros she recently started a Donna Hay styling and photography challenge.  Who doesn't like the photos in Donna Hay magazine? 

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-89018521335724438032011-10-29T00:00:00.000-07:002011-10-29T00:00:10.185-07:00

If you are like me you find yourself at parties gobbling down eggplant dips wondering whether people would mind if you ate them by the spoonful.    I recently got my eggplant dip fix when I had dinner at a wonderful farm-to-the-table restaurant called Gather located in Berkeley.   Chef Sean Baker offers many vegan and gluten free dishes in his menu, which is so interesting you would want to

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-92217826477121362832011-10-26T00:30:00.000-07:002011-10-26T00:48:01.254-07:00

 Lemon verbena I can't believe I haven't posted any recipe the whole week.  Time is just flying faster every week, I wish I could slow it down a little.  It is not that I haven't cooked, I can assure you I have cooked plenty, but somehow I can't find the time to set up the dishes to take pictures, the light is not right ,or I run out of time.  I have a long list of posts ready to go but I

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-89491623481549657032011-10-19T05:42:00.000-07:002011-10-19T06:04:09.276-07:00

I love black and white pictures.  The focus is on the subject and the forms, not on the colors.  B/W pictures with high contrast are the best, they feel strong, they have an attitude. I am posting these pictures as part of a black and white Wednesday installment started this summer by Susan from The Well Seasoned Cook. The photos below were all shot in color but

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-66985862939367781602011-10-18T11:15:00.000-07:002011-10-18T14:31:06.506-07:00

I don't know about you, but I have been slacking recently in terms of nutrition.  In Italy I ate tons of vegetables, but once back in the States I became very lazy, I started eating tons of grains and little fresh vegetables.  I want to eat healthier to feel better, and I also decided that I was drinking way too many cappuccinos, which filled me up and prevented me from eating a good

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-42850503902695636622011-10-14T17:03:00.000-07:002011-10-16T07:39:05.935-07:00

I love fresh salsa, I could eat it by the spoonful.  It is so healthy-raw, vegan, packed with nutrients, delicious!  I normally don't make it since I have to admit that I didn't have a recipe until now.   I noticed the book Harvest to Heat by Darryl Estrine and Kelly Kochendorfer at a heirloom seed expo I recently went to.  I was attracted by the stunning cover photo, but what was so

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-71931924800776945492011-10-12T23:21:00.000-07:002011-10-12T23:21:55.290-07:00

There were only two of these cups, I love the color! I don't have a recipe today, but I want to talk about my new obsession passion, learning how to take better pictures.  While writing a post on my favorite food photographers and bloggers  I recently discovered so many fantastic photographers who inspired me to take better pictures.  One blog in particular, Still~Life Style, written by

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-13853569992759719782011-10-04T01:00:00.000-07:002011-10-05T20:15:39.096-07:00

Do you believe in fate?  I believe that sometimes things are meant to be, but I can't explain why.   I recently lost a non baking prospective job, I am not even sure how it happened, likely due to a not so clear e-mail exchange.  Fate wanted that the same day I scheduled an interview with a woman who is opening a bakery in my town, ten minutes walking distance from my house.  Maybe there is a

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-41147716789498721582011-09-29T10:18:00.000-07:002011-10-05T20:16:03.284-07:00

On the spur of the moment I made a batch of challah dough yesterday.  I love making bread, there is something Zen and relaxing about kneading and shaping yeast dough, seeing it rise, and then smelling the fragrance coming from the oven. Rosh Ashanah, or the Jewish New Year  started last night, and I am sure lots of celebration challah were consumed around the world.  Challah bread is

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-75094850650524052872011-09-27T07:21:00.000-07:002011-09-27T07:38:13.677-07:00

The Daring Bakers go retro this month! Thanks to one of our very talented non-blogging members, Sarah, the Daring Bakers were challenged to make Croissants using a recipe from the Queen of French Cooking, none other than Julia Child! I have made croissants before and I know they take a long time, not in actual work, but in between folds to chill the dough.  The great thing about

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-72345126673227689072011-09-13T17:45:00.000-07:002011-09-13T22:59:54.853-07:00

I have been following the blog Lucullian Delights, operated by the talented Ilva Beretta, for quite sometime.  Ilva and two other bloggers started a challenge called Paper Chef few years back.  The goal is to create a unique dish with four randomly chosen ingredients, in this case almonds, nectarines, cornmeal, and green tea.   I have participated to this challenge only a handful of times

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-66059828206492895712011-09-11T08:10:00.000-07:002011-09-11T08:54:29.336-07:00

It has been 10 years.  I still remember what I was doing when my father called me from Venice and urged me to turn on the tv.  I remember watching in disbelief the image of the airplane hitting the second tower, the first tower already in flame.  I watched in horror as people jumped to their death in desperation.  I stood stunned, holding my mouth not to scream.  How could few people hate

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-36194103050220187732011-09-09T09:10:00.000-07:002011-09-09T09:14:52.074-07:00

I wish I could show you pictures of my vegetable beds, but after two months of neglect my garden is all but pretty.  Just before I left I threw few beet seeds in the soil, hoping for some tender beets at my return.  As you can see I was rewarded with these beauties. There are so many varieties of beets, this is called Detroit Dark Red, the deep red color is amazing, and the flavor mild. As you

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-88603397198983350502011-08-31T17:23:00.000-07:002011-08-31T17:23:56.465-07:00

I am back but still so tired, it took me a week to get over the jet lag so I felt a little overwhelmed to post anything.  Two months of absence took a toll at my house and garden so I am slowly getting back to a routine and it feels good to be back.  Having missed two past daring baker challenges while in Venice, I had planned to participate to the daring bakers' August challenge which was to

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-72351197829560954572011-08-12T05:36:00.000-07:002011-08-12T11:51:17.929-07:00

I have been blessed with the most amazing sunsets this summer, very lucky indeed, this last one I was able to document with only few photos. I realize that since these photos were taken without a tripod they are not very sharp, but I virtually had one minute before boarding the public boat to snatch them, by the time I tried to change the camera settings, the boat had turned and people were in

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-68934151367145500612011-08-10T00:41:00.000-07:002011-08-10T00:44:48.133-07:00

I am not cooking much these days, although I have few things I want to make before I leave Italy.  I have been pampered by my mom's cooking and baking in her kitchen in the heat of summer is not ideal.  I haven't stopped taking pictures though, so I leave you with some photos I snapped during a wonderful trip to Austria I took last week with few "old" friends. What a different world Austria is,

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-58323644499235672372011-07-30T14:24:00.000-07:002012-01-01T13:07:49.293-08:00

Bear with me please, I am having a moment here, I have to get this out of my system.  This is just plain wrong and totally unbelievable for me to witness.  I walk around my native city in a state of utter disbelief, a city that has seen years of splendor is now crushed by tourism and carelessness, ironically a city that once used capital punishment against pollution.  I woke up early this

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-5250304805660346832011-07-29T07:51:00.000-07:002011-07-29T07:53:58.601-07:00

I had forgotten the beauty of the summer skies in Venice.   The Bay Area doesn't have the same clouds I have seen here in the last few weeks.  The weather has been really weird, chilly, with few storms that have brought unbelievable clouds.  I am not complaining since it can be really hot and unbearable in Venice, plus I can't complain about these views, can I? And a little later, with the

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-75798461251502655672011-07-27T02:08:00.000-07:002011-07-27T02:08:14.275-07:00

Another month that I will not be able to join the Daring Bakers' challenge.  I have to say I am happy being where I am though, spending time with my family and old friends.  I apologize for the lack of posts, I will resume shortly and hopefully show you some pictures when I will be able to sort through them. Particular of a little statuette my dad has in his house I spoke a little about my dad

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-72618059876940790282011-06-28T23:22:00.000-07:002011-06-28T23:25:34.964-07:00

I am in Venice right now, visiting my family, and breathing in the soul of my ancient home town.  I haven't been able to do much baking or cooking, until I saw some sad looking bananas that begged to be used instead of tossed.  It is so hot here that everything spoils really quickly.  Having made banana muffins everyday for few months at one of my last jobs, I knew I could make them without a

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-33330775899405007672011-06-02T06:20:00.000-07:002011-06-02T20:39:29.728-07:00

When I am invited to people's homes for dinner often I get asked to bring dessert, and I eagerly do so. If I have time I use it as an excuse to try something new so if the recipe works I can add it to my growing collection of tested recipes. Eager to finally cook a dessert containing fruit other than apples, I decided to try a cherry dessert, so when I saw this recipe I knew it was the one to

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-53470206475954107282011-05-27T05:54:00.001-07:002011-05-27T06:24:30.975-07:00

The May 2011 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Emma of CookCraftGrow and Jenny of Purple House Dirt. They chose to challenge everyone to make a Chocolate Marquise. The inspiration for this recipe comes from a dessert they prepared at a restaurant in Seattle.I was really happy when I saw this month's challenge since it is another gluten free recipe selected for the Daring Bakers. It is a

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-91764790758868966462011-05-24T16:01:00.001-07:002011-05-25T09:22:58.690-07:00

This post is dedicated to my cousin Manuela, who found a new passion for bread and pizza, could it be that she is nesting?Italians breathe pizza, this simple dish is so integral to our culture that we can't live without it. The best pizza I ever tasted was made in Naples, in a tiny hole in the wall, no wonder pizza napoletana is so well known. When I moved to the States I pretty much gave up on

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-6007751850327039722011-05-22T05:57:00.000-07:002011-05-22T08:11:07.136-07:00

My love for kale started two years ago after I went to the Green Gulch farm, also a Zen Center, to help out one day. I rescued few kale seedlings that were being composted since they didn't have space for them at the farm. Knowing how kale is good for you I decided to give it a try.That year the little seedlings grew to giant plants with beautiful purple stems and tiny yellow flowers. This

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-56407000640919270542011-05-15T11:37:00.000-07:002011-05-15T11:46:26.357-07:00

I wish I had the time to stop by and take some pictures at the bake sale, but all I could do was drop off my bags of granola and drive back home. I had a meeting with a potential partner for the bakery/café we hope to open one day, still a dream, still so far away.Hopefully Anita of Dessert First will post pictures for you to see of the beautiful products people made.On a different note....this

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-33924150890750956712011-05-13T22:19:00.001-07:002011-05-13T22:37:18.872-07:00

I can' t believe blogger was down for almost two days. A very late reminder of the bake sale I am participating in. I made lots of my granola, sweetened with maple syrup and honey, delicious! I can't wait to meet other bloggers and to see what they prepared.The Bake Sale is this Saturday, May 14th, starting at 10AM. We have two locations in San Francisco.18 Reasons593 Guerrero StreetSan

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-7729077091986142422011-05-09T07:58:00.000-07:002011-05-09T08:13:55.873-07:00

EuphorbiaI have not baked a single thing since the Daring Bakers' challenge in April, and I can't quite believe it. Since I stopped working I have been tackling tons of projects at home. I refinished the moldy and stained kitchen counter, re-upholstered a chair found on the street, changed the plumbing under a bathroom sink, planted few vegetables for the summer, started sanding some outdoor

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-12104196562998259562011-05-01T21:30:00.000-07:002011-05-01T21:39:25.922-07:00

All the pictures were taken at the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve near Half Moon Bay in California, an amazing spot 30 minutes south of San Francisco where you can see some of the best tide pools in California.Life and DeathPelican in FormationFunny Rock Face

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-8184843957603644922011-04-27T13:36:00.000-07:002011-04-27T16:57:43.276-07:00

It is that time of the month again, the 27th, and I am ready! This month's challenge was to create edible receptacles for the maple mousse we were given to try. I especially liked the recipes of this challenge because there is no gluten involved. Evelyne provided us with the recipe to make nut cups for the mousse, and I also tried a mini tart recipe I have had in my "to try" folder, which is also

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-63457022707314494752011-04-20T11:27:00.001-07:002011-04-20T13:30:13.997-07:00

When I saw this post by Kellypea of Sass and Veracity, I knew I had to make one table for food photography too, I also thought...why didn't I think of that earlier? There are so many talented food bloggers who take gorgeous pictures and to name just two, I love sites like Aran's Cannelle et Vanille or Diane and Todd's White on rice couple for their use of rustic tables. I am not a

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-72965694533234813202011-04-20T09:31:00.000-07:002011-04-20T09:53:45.353-07:00

I am really excited that I will be participating to this year's San Francisco's Food Blooger Bake Sale, held on May 14th, from 10AM to 6PM. The location might change due to the huge participation, so I will update it when I get a confirmation. Last year I was working like a maniac so I couldn't go and I was really bummed, but this year I will be there! I am working on a list of gluten-free

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-9853651875014820102011-04-17T07:04:00.000-07:002011-04-18T06:18:31.753-07:00

I know that the citrus fruit season is coming to an end soon, but if you can find the time this is one light and flavorful dessert. I am not sure why I never made sorbet at home before, maybe because I love ice cream so much that I never took the time to try it. This sorbet is the easiest and oh so refreshing. Stay tuned for more sorbet recipes.For the citrus salad I cut each fruit segments

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-89106063014094990182011-04-12T18:48:00.001-07:002011-04-12T18:49:17.317-07:00

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-9908840595953963372011-04-08T14:36:00.000-07:002011-04-08T19:33:54.129-07:00

Even though I stopped eating gluten few months ago, I couldn't resist eating a fair amount of this bread, it is so good.I have been a fan of San Francisco famous Tartine Bakery for a while, and if/when I get to open the bakery/café of my dreams (we are working on this, I promise), it will be highly influenced by their model. I will be selling this bread for sure.I bought the book Tartine Bread

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-52208258314741132282011-04-03T10:47:00.000-07:002011-04-03T11:02:53.213-07:00

Spring has finally arrived and my pear tree is full of blossoms. Last year a neighbor used our pears to make a pear liquor, this year we'll try to grow few pears in bottles, just for fun, stay tuned... I am also thinking of buying a dehydrator since the pears ripen all at the same time and we end up losing 75% of them. Any of you have done that?Borage flower, I love this stinging plantSpring

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-52934491983632026362011-03-27T13:56:00.000-07:002011-03-27T13:57:09.891-07:00

This post is dedicated to all the people of Japan, struggling to rebuilt after the terrible disaster caused by the tsunami. I have been amazed at their courage and grace in the face of such immense tragedy. I hope that nature will spare this country from another such disaster. Saffron, garam masala, pistachio cakeThis months I am prepared and finished a day early, unbelievable! Well...it

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-56767139201716007582011-03-26T10:35:00.000-07:002011-03-26T10:47:24.668-07:00

Big Blue Heron, fishing in the Marin HeadlandsThese birds are huge, they fly in formation, and when they dive you wonder how they don't dislocate both wings.

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-71524815124764829692011-03-12T19:46:00.000-08:002011-03-13T07:13:13.293-07:00

I still remember the first time I tasted these macarons, I thought I was having a transformation, an awakening, a eureka moment. I found the recipe in an amazingly beautiful and inspirational book called Wild Sweets by the Canadian couple Cindy and Dominique Duby, who later authored Wild Sweets Chocolate. Their book contains many interesting recipes of so called savory desserts, which incorporate

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-71117660630647832552011-03-12T14:27:00.001-08:002011-03-12T15:00:19.196-08:00

Since I don't always have time to write a whole post on food, but I constantly take pictures, I thought it would be nice to share with you the beauty that I can find around town.While hiking around Hill 88, in the Marin Headlands, I found dozen of plants in bloom. I loved the juxtaposition of the flashy beauty of the golden poppy flower with the insignificance of the wild cucumber flower.

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-2085601778944956032011-03-06T20:48:00.000-08:002011-03-06T20:55:20.757-08:00

I am now the owner of a super duper new digital camera, and to show you the quality I am posting these two pictures of the olives in my garden. I can't wait to start cooking again, and take pictures with the new camera, it has been too long....By the way, these olives are amazingly tasty. I brined and dry cured them, delicious! There are still tons on the trees and hopefully I will have time

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-59651550769242464832011-02-27T16:57:00.000-08:002011-02-28T06:43:18.636-08:00

I made it! Yes, I was able to finish the challenge in time...except that the florentine cookies didn't work out at all. It might have to do with the fact that I added ground pistachios without compensating by reducing the oats. The resulting cookies tasted great but were not lace cookies at all, but rather little wafers. The resulting dessert was "saved" by a cacao nib (or is it cocoa nib?)

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-32527889269194879752011-02-20T15:00:00.001-08:002011-02-23T16:13:25.602-08:00

I interrupt the usual food postings to share with you some pictures taken during an early morning hike. Mt. Tamalpais stands 2,571 feet tall, or 784 meters, and being located in a very temperate area, it rarely sees any snow. I saw snow on the mountain only once before in the 9 years I have lived here, but it melted before I was able to hike up. Today was different, mainly it happened on a

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-83204117369384944242011-02-14T17:47:00.000-08:002011-02-14T18:28:00.210-08:00

I have seriously neglected this blog, and I miss it a lot. I can't believe that I missed the January daring bakers' challenge despite the fact that I had it all planned out a week in advance. I decided to spend the day on a family outing instead of making the cake, I don't really regret it though.I am baking less since I stopped eating gluten and for now I don't have the time to experiment with

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-22908216495870242292010-12-24T17:52:00.001-08:002010-12-24T18:34:41.462-08:00

I love Stollen! This delicious German sweet belongs to a family of European breads made with eggs, butter, and lots of dried fruit. Panettone and Gubana are other examples, and they probably all generated in the middle ages, when spices, nuts, and dried fruit were used to add nutrition to winter breads. I have made this bread few times when I was in Venice last year, using Whild Yeast Susan's

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-21784094892344680232010-12-22T10:37:00.000-08:002010-12-23T07:23:12.958-08:00

I started making cookies for Christmas years before I changed my career from science to pastry. Maybe I was already moving in that direction, who knows. I grew up eating tea cookies in Italy, there are so many types, and many have either almonds or hazelnuts in them. I love to recreate the look and taste of those little morsels, and to lean new recipes from around the world.Linzer CookiesEvery

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-84866256640468827032010-12-06T07:15:00.000-08:002010-12-07T19:28:39.763-08:00

I brought these fantastic jelly doughnuts to my friend's Suzanne's house for Hanukkah, needless to say they didn't last long. As you may remember, I decided to try all the doughnut recipes of the October Daring Baker's challenge since I wasn't able to participate, and started with the pumpkin doughnut recipe. I was about to try a second recipe but when I saw these in Elra' s blog, I had to try

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-51221397287198685762010-11-27T17:09:00.000-08:002010-11-28T09:11:25.712-08:00

I finished on time this month, yeah! Ironically, I made the same crostata for Thanksgiving but forgot to take a picture of it, and probably it was for the better as by the time it came out of the oven there was no day light to take a picture of it. I served it with caramel ice cream, and it was devoured. This tart went in the oven that it was almost dark so the pictures are really bad, plus it

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-83751252160878585462010-11-09T06:37:00.001-08:002010-11-09T06:46:26.743-08:00

I have been a member of the Daring Bakers since March 2009 and sadly I haven't been able to participate every month. October's deadline caught me by surprise while working part time for a caterer. I was working so hard I didn't even realized it was the 27th until I started seeing doughnut posts going up. I really wanted to try participating in the doughnut challenge, especially since there were

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-78180048063767626182010-11-06T12:08:00.000-07:002010-11-07T05:05:18.832-08:00

I am not in a fall funk anymore, I have embraced the fall fruits to the fullest, and am getting excited by the endless possibilities. Last night I needed an ice cream to go with an apple tart Tatin I made for some friends who came over for dinner. At the risk of almost repeating myself, I decided to try another caramel ice cream, because caramel and apples were made for each other, don't you

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-19621180903834518782010-10-31T17:43:00.000-07:002010-10-31T22:14:43.640-07:00

The search for new cookie recipes has started. Even before entering the path of becoming a pastry chef I was making Christmas cookies, something that gives me great satisfaction. My selection consists of some traditional cookies, like ginger cookies, cookies with nuts, and cookies that look good together, a contrast of color and textures. While I have a great collection of recipes already, I

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-64646543786018215002010-10-17T14:56:00.000-07:002010-10-17T18:38:10.303-07:00

Autumn has officially arrived in the Bay Area so it is time to switch the dessert repertoire, and since I believe that ice cream should be eaten year round I decided to try this full-of-promises ice cream from The Perfect Scoop. David Lebovitz doesn't fail to deliver another amazing recipe, and if you don't have any of his books, run to the bookstore. David suggests using very flavorful pears

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-3925200680672471112010-10-09T08:05:00.000-07:002010-10-09T15:37:20.958-07:00

Imagine there's no Heaven It's easy if you try No hell below us Above us only sky Imagine all the people Living for today Imagine there's no countries It isn't hard to doNothing to kill or die for And no religion too Imagine all the people Living life in peace You may say that I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us And the world will be as one Imagine

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-34499689089148322052010-10-04T14:32:00.001-07:002010-10-04T14:38:41.829-07:00

I just spent two hours picking my tomato plants clean of ripe tomatoes, cutting many of the leaves to allow for more sun to hit the remaining fruit, and harvesting lots of basil before the cold weather kills the plants. It is a warm and sunny Autumn day in the Bay Area, so I am hoping for more ripe tomatoes in the next week or so. Every year in July I tell myself that I will not plant that many

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-47848298024428694832010-09-27T19:25:00.000-07:002010-09-28T10:41:17.977-07:00

I can't believe I missed the past two Daring Bakers' challenges. Both challenges were super fun but I just didn't have it in me to participate, I would have done a semi good job. The September 2010 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Mandy of “What the Fruitcake?!” Mandy challenged everyone to make Decorated Sugar Cookies based on recipes from Peggy Porschen and The Joy of Baking.This new

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-63665986490115842102010-09-23T17:55:00.000-07:002010-10-04T15:36:25.340-07:00

I love summer for many reasons, one being the variety and deliciousness of stone fruit, so it is a sad day for me when I step into my local grocery store and all I see are apples and pears (I love pears and apples, don't get me wrong, but let's face it, they can't compete with stone fruit). Today was the day I sadly realized that the summer season is over, fall is here, and I have to change my

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-56699192779022551122010-09-12T08:35:00.000-07:002010-09-13T06:02:04.812-07:00

Well...I have some news...I have not been working for two months but I will spare the details for a variety of reasons. I can't believe that I haven't posted in so long, the past two months have been interesting to say the least, a whirlwind of things; my job ended, my husband broke his ankle and had surgery to repair it (guess who is doing all the driving?), we had a 15 year old visiting from

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-45405395703314675082010-06-23T20:45:00.000-07:002010-06-23T20:54:48.840-07:00

This is not one of the best pictures, and I hope to take better ones tomorrow. Today, on my birthday, this little chick was born. One of our chickens stopped laying eggs and started brooding, which is really common in the spring, and she would sit on eggs constantly. Concerned that this cycle would not stop and she would get weaker and weaker we found some fertilized eggs for her and she has

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-6053520733947675832010-05-27T06:28:00.001-07:002010-05-29T06:34:36.538-07:00

I am not sure how I managed to publish this on time. The restaurant I am working at just got the permit from the health department yesterday and we are working like crazy to open next week, my life revolves around this now. I will write more about this new adventure in another post, there is so much to say. Knowing that the 27th would be crazy I made the little paté a choux on

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-15923586366724800712010-05-16T05:58:00.000-07:002010-10-04T15:42:35.278-07:00

I have been making cakes for friends and clients for a while. This doesn't happen too often, but once in a while I get asked. While I didn't go to baking school, I had some "formal" training on cake decorating while working for this insane but very talented woman who will remain unnamed. She made very traditional French cakes, and her decorating techniques were amazing. Decorating cakes is

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-30234145949843203692010-04-27T17:08:00.000-07:002010-04-30T12:35:53.769-07:00

This month I am late, surprised? I even considered not participating this month because I don't have much time but then I thought that this challenge can be made pretty simple, and since I never made a steamed pudding I was intrigued. The upside is that we can have dessert for dinner tonight. Here I am at 5 PM pacific time waiting for the pudding to finish steaming. There isn't much sun so

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-69713627309857011592010-04-20T07:02:00.000-07:002010-04-20T18:04:39.017-07:00

No food post today, but a message on a very important cause that touches me in my core. Below you can read a little excerpt from my friend Jane's blog. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when she was 27, and continues to inspire me with her strength and attitude by living with this incurable disease. Sunday I will be walking in her honor and in the honor of all people I know who have

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-44087430231969293682010-04-02T18:24:00.000-07:002010-10-04T07:12:46.407-07:00

To celebrate Easter, Venetians eat a special bread called Focaccia Pasquale. The best one I ever had was made by Mr. Colussi, an awesome baker who still makes this tasty Easter treat, and despite its price (of which the locals complain constantly), it always sells like crazy. Mr. Colussi's pastry shop was one of my favorite destinations as a kid, only blocks from my home, his craft legendary,

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-9997472281081881652010-03-27T06:50:00.000-07:002010-03-27T06:51:03.944-07:00

The 2010 March Daring Baker’s challenge was hosted by Jennifer of Chocolate Shavings. She chose Orange Tian as the challenge for this month, a dessert based on a recipe from Alain Ducasse’s Cooking School in Paris.I never heard of this dessert before reading about the daring bakers' March challenge. I thought it was a perfect selection for this time of the year since citrus

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-46540694646452360502010-03-13T07:34:00.001-08:002010-03-13T07:36:23.774-08:00

Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder that affects the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). MS is more prevalent in women and it afflicts 300,000 people in the North America. The symptoms first appear at age 20 to 40, at a prime in a person's life, in some women the onset of the symptoms happens right after giving birth. I happen to know three women who were diagnose with it,

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-38840150661220341882010-03-02T12:10:00.000-08:002010-03-02T12:25:34.750-08:00

You are probably seeing citrus cakes or other citrus creations popping out every where in food blogs nowadays. The citrus crop is at its peak, so every one is having fun with these versatile fruits, especially after the dull months of winter where one can only find apples and pears. This cake is different than most as it is gluten free, and it has a wonderful bitterness imparted by the orange

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-85460295128127071242010-02-27T16:29:00.001-08:002010-02-28T07:33:18.402-08:00

It is that time of the month already, can you believe it? I can't, life is so busy, I can't seem to catch up and I am not even working right now. This time I am prepared though, done with the challenge on time. Pictures are really bad, I waited until now to take them and there is no light left, all obscured by a dark cloud. One day I will have a good camera! For now, the i-phone has to do. The

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-25307276830398124532010-02-20T14:09:00.001-08:002010-02-20T15:32:44.312-08:00

I had few blood oranges laying around, bought without a clear idea of what to make. Marmalade was on top of the list, but then I run into this recipe while reading mattbites blog and that sealed it, caramels, yum! Matt Armendariz lives in Los Angeles and is an amazing food stylist and photographer. Check out his website and his photos if you haven't already, just amazing.Matt in turn got the

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-29944289490014703712010-02-11T12:11:00.000-08:002010-02-11T12:15:33.214-08:00

I made this cake for a Burns' supper I helped cater. I used Guinness which is not Scotch but Irish, but the point was to make a rich, buttery, stout cake any Scot would appreciate. I am proposing it here since it would be the perfect cake for a Valentine's celebration. Even better, make it on a sheet pan (the full recipe fills a half sheet pan perfectly), cut it with a heart shaped cutter, and

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-12451643445149546922010-02-06T22:08:00.000-08:002010-02-07T08:10:02.565-08:00

As some of you might remember, I purchased seven chicks in July, two bought from a local mom, and five ordered through the internet. Sadly, the best looking of them turned out to be a rooster and we had to find a home for him. Speck was lucky because he was purchased by a very nice lady who even sent up pictures of him and his new "friends". It was really hard to let him go.To my total

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-17248115392721208532010-01-28T06:55:00.000-08:002010-02-01T13:14:29.100-08:00

The January 2010 Daring Bakers’ Challenge was hosted by Lauren of Celiac Teen. She chose Gluten Free (or not) Graham Crackers and Nanaimo Bars!I started making the bars the same day the challenge was supposed to be revealed, another one of those time management mistakes I am known for, I blame it to my creative brain. Knowing that I had the whole day, I figured I could finish on time. But...I

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-8170225270557353072010-01-06T05:06:00.000-08:002010-01-07T05:19:45.677-08:00

Pictures suck big time, we were using a camera we didn't know, no natural light, with bad light bulb colors, I apologize.Tortellini are something every Italian eat, usually cooked in meat broth. This tiny pasta comes from the region of Emilia Romagna, in particular from Bologna, the prominent city of the area. Tortellini, or turtlen in the local dialect, were probably born from the need to use

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-86469227944700942022009-12-27T12:46:00.000-08:002009-12-27T14:01:45.178-08:00

There is a winged lion on the left panel and an angel on the topI can't believe that another month has passed, and it is time for another Daring Bakers' challenge. I had some troubles with the pictures, and more importantly with the stability of one of my creations. I chose the first dough, suggested by Anna, and noticed that the recipe has the wrong gram amount, which should be 1,330 instead

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-78252585135869341242009-12-21T00:10:00.000-08:002009-12-22T00:13:21.883-08:00

I am in my hometown, enjoying every second, every walk, every sight, all my friends, my family and the breathtaking beauty at every corner.It is freezing cold, thick snow fell two days ago at the same time as a high tide. I froze my feet and my fingers when I went out to take pictures but I loved every minute.Here are some pictures taken around town, just a little taste of this fragile but

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-89537101466889753812009-12-10T06:53:00.001-08:002009-12-10T09:48:28.665-08:00

I am in a real time crunch this week. We are leaving for Italy (YEAH!) on Monday, I am catering a party this Saturday, AND crazy me decided to still do the farmers' market tomorrow (I am hiring a friend to sell for me though). Every Christmas I make few types of cookies to give as gifts, but this year it is not a feasible proposition. Did I mention that I am also seriously purging the house

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-50434310588009674622009-12-05T05:40:00.000-08:002009-12-06T23:37:51.390-08:00

Almond Sticks from Bittersweet for the recipe click hereA year ago I started this blog with the idea of showcasing Marin County growers and their products. I wanted to write about this rich and beautiful area where I live, in northern California, its farmers, the organic movement, and more. It was also an attempt to professionally promote my cooking and baking. Somehow I didn't manage all that

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-9678953085561476472009-11-30T10:42:00.000-08:002010-01-03T22:40:43.910-08:00

Idania of El Aroma de Idania chose this month BBD's theme (for details on how to participate click here). I haven't participated for a while to this event started by Zorra, and I probably did only twice, but I really wanted to bake some bread with lots of grains, so this is the perfect recipe for this month's theme, mixed breads. This bread is perfect for cold weather, I can see it tossed into

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-59853597065600133342009-11-21T07:50:00.000-08:002009-11-23T20:02:31.759-08:00

Gelato is ever present in Italy, everywhere you go there is a gelateria where you can find the most amazing flavors of ice cream (malaga, bacio and melone are some of my favorites). Just two blocks from my house there was a wonderful ice cream shop, Gelateria Causin, owned by a nice couple whose son worked there, and was/is the cousin of one of my classmates, whom I had a crush on. They

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-7451673064695654582009-11-17T15:51:00.001-08:002009-11-17T16:35:55.583-08:00

More figs you say? But if you have followed me for a while, you would know that I am a big fan of this versatile fruit (see here, here, here, and here). I could eat figs every day, and now that the season of fresh figs is over I can still get my daily fix with dry figs if I need to. A neighbor has a fig tree she doesn't pick (what's wrong with her?), and I mean to contact her to see if I can do

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-71896701483118581802009-11-07T20:53:00.000-08:002009-11-08T17:53:44.721-08:00

I apologize to my English readers but I have no choice but to join this protest against plagiarism. A well known Italian TV personality "stole" the following tart recipe from Adriano's blog, Profumo di Lievito, and passed it for hers during a TV appearance. Apparently the same woman did the exact thing back in 2003 to Lydia of Tzatziki a colazione. Many Italian food bloggers are publishing

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-55072511284607815642009-11-03T09:08:00.001-08:002009-11-05T13:12:52.060-08:00

There are many advantages of speaking more than one language obviously, but one became clear relatively recently when I started discovering a great deal of wonderful Italian food bloogers. I love to read in my native language, learn about restaurants and food trends, rediscover dishes, and feel a little nostalgia (ok, a lot!). One of the Italian blogs in my ever growing reading list is Profumo

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-91941364756412020372009-10-31T13:29:00.000-07:002009-11-01T19:48:12.426-08:00

The talented Paoletta of Anice e Cannella challenged us again to join a fun Autumn game. In the Summer she gave us a recipe and we were challenged to copy or change it to our liking, this time we were given the ingredients and we had to come up with the recipe.Since the ingredients are some of my favorites to work with, and I love baking bread, I decided to give this focaccia a twist by adding

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-37493942384996217002009-10-27T10:52:00.000-07:002009-10-28T13:10:48.316-07:00

I remembered the first time I tasted a French Macaron, it came all the way from Paris via a family friend, and it was from Pierre Hermé, of all places. It was a revelation, the flavors were amazing, so was the texture. After I switched my career to the Art of Pastry I decided I had to master these delicate morsels. The first recipe I tried was from the Chocolate Desserts book by Pierre Hermé

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-89027032284316325512009-10-17T18:54:00.001-07:002009-10-17T19:19:59.028-07:00

I wanted to make bread today for world bread day but life took over, the life of a monarch butterfly to be precise. Three falls ago I planted three milk weed plants to attract monarch butterflies to lay eggs on the leaves and observe the caterpillars. Within days there were dozens of green eggs that hatched into tiny caterpillars that devoured the plants. One day they all disappeared to form

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-65792614293422762082009-10-13T09:33:00.000-07:002009-10-14T13:15:04.291-07:00

Why the pink? October is breast cancer awareness month and for the past three years Matthew Oliphant has organized this wonderful event, turning pink one blog at the time. There are many reasons I joined this event besides having breasts, mostly because I know many women who had breast cancer, including few who lost their battle to cancer. I also live in a county that has one of the highest

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-12067541541931086482009-10-05T18:46:00.001-07:002009-10-12T06:42:24.536-07:00

It seems that I am not learning from past DB challenges. I won't bore with the details of my busy life, but just know that I am not even working full time, only 2 days at the farmers' market and I can't seem to get organized. Time is flying under my eyes, and I find myself in disbelief every month, with another challenge I haven't even put into my brain for a second. Why do I always find myself

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com6