Cream Mushrooms

Every autumn, when the temperature and humidity is just right, my mother and I wait for the perfect moment to go mushroom hunting in the neighboring forests. With our eyes peeled to the forest floor we pick only those we know to be edible.

Gathering only enough for our dinner we hurry home while the mushrooms are still at their freshest. Prepared in a simple manner, we use our old cast iron pan, a dab of butter, a splash of cream, pepper and salt and some herbs like parsley and rosemary. Nothing more. We want to savor the taste that every unique mushroom has to offer. With our plates warmed and ready they end their journey with glass of chilled white wine.

Salut!

I was lucky enough to visit my sister for a summer when she lived in Rome. It was the hottest summer in 80 years. Forty-five degrees in the shade hot. It was also the summer I fell in love. In love with food. The temperatures soared and our dinners became late, late, like 10 or 11pm late. It wasn’t until the sun had been gone a spell that you could even fathom eating anything. So, we’re at a restaurant near her place and the waiter is cute....really cute. He is flirty and lovely and sparkling eyes and all that. He comes to the table after we’ve ordered our drinks with what he calls, “fiore de Roma!” Quite proudly, quite loudly and sets down a platter of the most perfect posey-shaped pinwheels: layers of fresh basil; that day’s sun dried Roma tomatoes; creamy, delicate buffala mozzarella; and a tissue paper thin ribbon of salty prosciutto. A little dish of olive oil and a little dish of balsamic and a sprinkle of chilli oil on the side. My god. The best bouquet I ever received. Flowers of Rome. Just heaven.

Every country has their culinary tradition. Here in Limburg, a province in the South of the Netherlands, we have our “vlaai” pie, which is old Germanic for “flat” pie. The same word that flan pie gets its name from.

Vlaai, a fruit pie or tart, prepared as it has been for centuries, has been a source of pride for the locals here. No birthday is complete without the birthday boy’s or girl’s favorite vlaai. In my illustration I represent the history with a character from Bruegel the Elder’s painting. In his painting “Netherlandish proverbs” we can see these pies sitting on a rooftop. The proverb goes: “Their roofs are covered with vlaai”. The vlaai pie was a status symbol that showed that you were well off with enough resources to afford such a treat. Today though, everyone is now able to enjoy this cultural filled delight!

Kanda Poha is a typical breakfast from state of Maharashtra made with flattened rice.
Flattened rice is also known as beaten rice. If you ever get a chance to visit Mumbai,
you will find this dish in each and every restaurant for breakfast or evening snack.
Indians love this dish and it is also served as an easy evening snack.
Kanda in Marathi simply means onions or veggies.
This breakfast dish has onions but I love to add other vegetables too.
So, sharing the recipe for Kanda Poha today.
It is an easy peasy breakfast option and healthy too with all fresh vegetables.

For my Global Cuisine design challenge entry, I want to feature the Filipino culture of communal sharing at the table, with what is now happily called a "Boodle Fight" coined from the military style of eating as one. Laden with fresh banana leaves and foods varying from vegetable side dishes to seasonal fruits, grilled meats, a melange of seafoods, of course, our staple, white rice and in many occasions, a roasted suckling pig aka lechon, the bountiful table showcases how Filipinos love feasting with family and friends indoors and at best by the beach on a hot summer's day. We eat with our hands, please!

Typical Christmas dish on Naples' tables!
Actually the celebrations are set on Christmas Eve at dinner and the menu is based on fried stuff, like fish and vegetables
this recipe came from ancient, it calls insalata di rinforzo like "support salad" because was used to support poor tables' food
but nowadays it's more a tradition " pe' devozio' "
and it's also typical Christmas lunch because when it's served usually pass hands by hands and nobody touch so ends out that you also find it the day after!!!

It's basically steamed cauliflower, pickles and papaccelle: small red peppers
Personally I really like but it's very funny to see this big bowl going around the table and return at the beginning as it started!!!

Global Cuisine
Back in November during my trip to Gran Canaria I tried seafood paella for the first time and I fell in love! Here is my picture celebrating the ingredients and the dish.

For the Global cuisine Challenge
A small collection of delicious italian sweet foods, which have almond as a primary ingredient. All perfect for Christmas!

a venetian drink

We visited Barcelona a while back and fell in love with everything, including the jamon. Eaten by itself, or along with spanish olives, manchego cheese, bread and olive oil, it's heavenly!