October 14, 2008

The Tuscany Effect

Issue #3

In This Issue:

• Message from Serenella

• Tuscan Wisdom

• Live like a Tuscan - Honor Your Traditions

• New Recipes from Authentic Italian Women

• Tuscan Spotlight - Billionaire Babies in Tuscany

• Italian, the language of Romance:  Expressions of Love

• Website and Blog

• Contact Us

It's autumn in Tuscany and the fall colors are vivid. My friend and client Marlene moved to Lucca two weeks ago and sent me a beautiful picture of fall leaves taken from a villa window. May the picture bring some beauty your way and may this ezine bring some cheer to your day.

Benvenuti!
Serenella

Tuscan Wisdom

Definitive Tuscan Recipes - It's the Interpretation!

When you are looking for "true" Tuscan (or Italian) recipes of any kind, you may become very perplexed over numerous versions of the same recipe. Which one is the right one? Which is the "classic?" Let me try to shed some light on this quandary: In Italy, each person or restaurant, puts a personal spin on a recipe. The variations depend on personal taste, family background, specific area of Tuscany (or Italy) and what is easily available and very fresh in that area. Tuscans are notorious for being fiercely independent, even when it comes to recipes.

Again, we can use a musical analogy. Many musicians can play the same piece of music but it is the interpretation that makes one stand apart from another. Each recipe has a personal interpretation.  To make it even more complicated, Tuscans will hardly ever be able to give you a precise recipe: It's "A handful of this, a pinch of that" as cooking is often learned from watching other family members and done "a occhio" (by eye-balling) quantities.

Cooking is not a chemistry formula, it is an artistic experience; it is a way to express your creativity, enjoy all the steps of the process and render a wonderful result.

When Italians do give you recipe ingredients and measurements, it is always in weight (not cups or teaspoons). A perfect example of this is Tuscan Crostini (appetizers). First of all, when you say "Crostini" to Tuscans, they automatically assume you are referring to chicken liver crostini. If the crostini are any other kind, they are referred to by color or by naming the main ingredients (such as Crostini di Tonno - tuna - or Crostini di Pesce - fish). There are probably as many variations on Tuscan Crostini as there are Tuscans.

Have you tried making Tuscan Crostini? You should try the Tuscan way: Take a basic recipe, and adjust it to your taste by using variables or optional items, such as sage or bay leaves, chopped carrots, lemon juice, wine, etc. Just be careful not to overcook the chicken livers (they should not be too dry). Make certain that whatever you use is "in tune" with the rest of the ingredients. Then you will have your own "authentic recipe." Please write in and let us know if you come up with something you really love!

Crostini Toscani (Tuscan Chicken liver crostini)

Basic recipe (This is one version. There is another listed below in the “Recipes” section)

Preparation time: 20 minutes.
Cooking time: 20 minutes.
One onion
¼ carrot (optional)
¼ celery (optional)
3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
300g chicken livers
Stock (optional)
One tablespoon capers
4 anchovy fillets
Freshly chopped Italian flat leaf parsley or sage (or preferred herb) roughly chopped 50g butter.
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
500g unsalted bread, preferably country bread
Wine (optional)

Chop the onion (carrot, celery) and sauté in the e.v.o.o. Clean and wash the chicken livers, cut them roughly, add to the sautéed ingredients and brown well. If they dry out too much, moisten with a little stock or wine, but allow it to evaporate. Cook until done but not dry or overcooked. Remove from heat. Add the capers, and anchovy fillets, chopped herb leaves and butter. Using a large kitchen knife, chop the entire mixture very finely. Lightly toast the slices of bread and spread with the liver paste. If the slices of bread are crisped under a grill, they may be moistened with a spoonful of stock before spreading with the liver mixture. Some like crostini crisp and some prefer them moistened. The liver paste could also be served in an attractive bowl, surrounded with crisply toasted bread and decorated with herbs.

Speaking of recipes, John (my husband) and I spent part of our Sunday testing Tuscan recipes for my blog. It was quite an array of tastes from hot chocolate to mushroom soup and great fun to try these out. There were a few frustrations along the way as the recipes I receive from Italian women are never precise. So, we were able to add a few details.

At one point, my son Dave came over for a visit and acted as a willing guinea pig. He had a few suggestions as well.

John and I then decided to go for a walk in the neighborhood and were greeted by some neighbors who asked us about the wonderful smells emanating from our kitchen.

I'm sharing this with you because it is often the simple things such as cooking that are most enjoyable, bring people together, serve as conversation starters and make you feel better.

Given the bad news and stress of the last few weeks, it is uplifting to enjoy simple things and share them with other people - it's the Tuscan way!

Here are some recipes from the Toscana Mia Blog:

• Minestra di Funghi (Tuscan Mushroom Soup)

• Crostini Toscani (Chicken Live Crostini)

• Risotto con Carote e Mozzarella (Risotto with Carrots and Mozzarella)

• Cioccolata Calda (Hot Chocolate)

More Wine Scoop:

Last time I told you about the HBO launch of the Sopranos wines. The tag line is: "The Sopranos Wines - Family Made."

I am following this with much interest as I have friends involved both here and in Tuscany (where most of the wines originate) so I hope they do well. In fact, I have ordered some for myself. Here are a few insider details that are not yet in the media:

• The wines are currently being sold in 5 states (NJ, NY, CT, RI and DE). On January 1, 2009, the wine will be in 10 more states (CA, AZ, NV, IL, FL, MA, NH, PA, OH and TX)

• Distributors are on back order in many locations

• There is a website for these wines: www.thesopranoswine.com

• These wines can be purchased online at www.mondoliquor.com

• The Sopranos wines were in the Emmy VIP Suite and given in the gift bags

• There will be a feature in People Magazine in November

Salute (sah-loo-tay)! Cheers!

Tuscan Products: Happy Holidays in October!

You may already know that Tuscany is world-famous for art, wine, food, leather goods, ceramics, jewelry, pottery and more. Did you know that Tuscany is also famous for paper products and beautiful stationery?

Recently, my husband graciously hosted an Italian-style birthday party for me attended by friends and relatives. I received many wonderful gifts and wanted to find a unique way to say "Thank you." With this in mind, I went shopping on the Tuscan Products section of my own website at Italian Papers and Gifts, I clicked on "Carte Postale" and found some lovely vintage art-deco style postcards of famous locations all over Italy. I decided to order these. I received the set of 18 postcards in a beautifully decorated, protective tin that quickly arrived at my home.

I had so much fun writing these postcards. For my mother, who lived at the Lido in Venice during her first year of marriage, I sent the "Lido Venezia" post card. For my friend Margaret who has been talking about visiting the Lakes Region of Italy, I sent the "I Laghi" (lakes) postcard and so on. This was the most fun I've ever had writing thank you notes! And, they were very reasonable priced at $15.99.

I have carefully chosen the partnerships on my website as I want to make sure our clients can order the best. I plan to do my own Christmas shopping here for Italian clothing, shoes, bags, stationery, wine, gift baskets etc. Take a look at these offerings. Let me know what you think. Most of all, have fun discovering all the wonderful products that Italy has to offer.

http://toscanamia.biz/linksResources.html

Following are some helpful interpretations of typical phrases used in Italy:

Phrase: I'll be there in cinque minuti (five minutes)
True meaning: You'll be lucky if I'm there in half an hour

Phrase: I'm on a diet
True meaning: I've cut my pasta servings to only seven times per week

Phrase: Follow me in your car
True Meaning: Take your life into your own hands

Need more information about traveling to Tuscany?

Please contact Serenella Leoni, your Tuscany Lifestyle Expert, to reserve your place and to answer your questions.

Follow Serenella online at her social networks at:
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Linkedin Group - Tuscany Travel: www.toscanamia.biz/linkedintuscany