Why not host an Italian dinner party for your friends this week? I did last night! On our menu: Bistecca di Manzo con Rucola (steak with arugula), Creamy Orzo with fresh garden peas and asparagus, and Panzanella, served with a FABULOUS Super Tuscan that I got in December in Greve in Chianti, called Sassello. Amazing meal!
The steak recipe is in the Rogers Gray Italian Country Cookbook, which I LOVE, and the Creamy Orzo is one of Giada DiLaurentis' incredible concoctions (not lowfat, but everyone goes nuts for this flavorful, creamy dish). Her recipe calls for frozen peas, but I added just-picked snowpeas and tender asparagus from my garden. And Panzanella, is of course, made most delicious by the freshest basil and the best-tasting olive oil. This early in the season, it can be hard to find tasty tomatoes, but the little organic grape tomatoes are packed with sweet tomato flavor right now. I toasted the ciabatta, rubbed it with garlic, salted it, and drizzled Viola olive oil aaaaallllll oooooover, before cubing it to add to the salad.
Seriously, this was one of the best all-around meals that I've ever made. And to top it all off, we savored the Super Tuscan. After the first sip, everyone was wondering what it was and wanted to see the bottle. We all thought it was fabulous!
Aglio e Scalogno
Aglio e Scalogno: Garlic and Shallots at the Christmas Market in Florence
Don't Just Dream It - Do It ! Let us take you on a tour of a lifetime!
L to R: Marybeth, Giuliana (owner/founder) Steve (filmmaker)
Giuliana, owner of La Contadina Travels and Tours
Giuliana, on the right, leading a tour in Umbria
Steven Robert McCurdy, documentary filmmaker and my fellow tour guide
Steve taking a self-portrait in Italy
Another self-portrait of Steve, who is co-leading the tour with me
