When in Rome...

...Make pasta!

I am back from a fabulous 2 week vacation with my husband. We sailed the French, Italian and Spanish Riviera's on a Holland America Cruise Ship. What a great time! We met so many interesting people and have come home with lists of names and addresses of people who live all over the world with invitations and promises to visit our new friends again some as close as New Jersey and some as far away as Bali!
It's really amazing how all industries are catering to the foodie crowds. The excursions that interested me the most were the ones that were centered around food, creating food, finding food, shopping for food, and most of all eating food!
When in Rome we decided to go to the Roman Countryside and we had the opportunity to go to a Estate in Ariccia. We were told that a Count still lives on the Estate and makes wine. I didn't meet the Count, but I did meet his son!

We pulled into the Estate. It was beautiful! I'll let the pictures do the talking.

pomegranates!

We were led into a courtyard area, where a large banquet table was set up with some appetizers and some sweet white wine and homemade bread. Best of all was Nona waiting for us for the pasta demonstration. With just flour and water she was going to show us how to make a delcious homemade pasta.

We could choose to watch her or help her.  So with permission I filmed her as she rolled out the gnocci and then not being shy I jumped in on the action myself. I could tell by her big smile and thumbs up that she gave me that I did a great job!

I have another video to upload but blogger keeps telling me that there's an error! It's only 51 seconds long! geez!

After making the pasta we all went into the dining room where the red and white wine flowed freely and we were served a delicious lunch.

There was an antipasti of fresh grilled vegetables, a beautiful salad with fresh aragula followed with the pasta we made with a meat sauce and lasagna. I was so busy eating that I forgot to take pictures.
Afer lunch they gave us a tour of the inside of the building and showed us a small wine cellar.
I quickly spotted the homemade limoncello! I wish they had given us a few shots of that after lunch!

Ciao!
Buon Appetito
xoxoxo
Lorraine

Summer Short Ribs

Is there such a beast? Sounds like a contradiction to me. Usually made in the winter months, braised slowly for hours to make a hearty, belly warming meal, short ribs are always a favorite...in the winter, but in the summer? I'm not so sure.
So while gazing at a box of beautiful ripe white peaches I thought that I could somehow mix the two and come up with a dish  that would taste really good.
So I gathered up some other ingredients, sort of like a mystery box challenge, fit for an entree round on Chopped and came up with Summer Short Ribs.
Beef Short Ribs! Cooked with porcini mushrooms, white peaches, and onions and braised in a white wine and burbon sauce. For a garnish I cut a peach in half, dipped it in brown sugar and let the peach brown in some butter.
There are some nice flavors happening here!
My husband and I are off for a fabulous 2 week trip to Italy, France and Spain.
I look forward to sharing pictures with you when I get back.

Enjoy!
Buon Appetito!
xoxoxo
Lorraine