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That Springtime Salad

May 28, 2016 By Laura Leave a Comment

That Springtime Salad celebrates everything about spring eating, with its myriad textures and fresh flavors. Inspired by a salad I was served in Italy, you will love this! So as you guys have probably figured out posting has become a little infrequent thanks to moving stress. But this post got extra delayed for a pretty… 

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Filed Under: Arugula, asparagus, balsamic, corn, easily made vegetarian, eggs, greens, Italian, Italy 2015, potatoes, salads Tagged With: arugula, asparagus, baby potatoes, corn, eggs, entree salads, hard boiled eggs, insalata, Italian, potatoes, prosciutto, salad

Old Fashioned Chocolate Glazed Chocolate Bundtlettes; Driving Around Mount Etna

September 5, 2015 By Laura 9 Comments

Chocolate Glazed Chocolate Bundtlettes like Grandma used to make--only glazed with a spur of the moment water and butter ganache!

Old Fashioned Chocolate Glazed Chocolate Bundtlettes are like the little black dress of chocolate cakes–simple, super easy and absolutely stunning. Scroll down for the recipe–or read about my adventures driving around Mount Etna first! Affiliate links have been used in the post to link to items I am discussing. As I sit here composing this… 

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Filed Under: bundt cakes, cakes, chocolate, ganache, Italy 2015, travel Tagged With: bundt, bundtlette, cake, chocolate, Etna, ganache, Italy, Italy2015, mini cakes, Mount Etna, Randazzo, Sicily

Touring Sicily

August 25, 2015 By Laura 8 Comments

Making ricotta the traditional way in Sicily

I’ve been avoiding this post. Not because of anything bad–we had a fascinating and fun time–but for a variety of reasons we ended up on a tour where we had no idea what we were touring.

Filed Under: Italy 2015, ricotta, travel Tagged With: Buscemi, dairy, Ragusa, ricotta, Sicily, tour

Duomo di Siracusa

August 7, 2015 By Laura 3 Comments

An ossuary chapel inside of the Duomo di Siracusa --most interesting cathedral we saw in Italy and my favorite part of traveling in Sicily!

The Duomo di Siracusa (the cathedral of Syracuse, Sicily) was my favorite place we visited in Sicily. Its architecture and history were fascinating and awe inspiring. I could not come up with a good segue for any particular dish or dessert for this one, so stay tuned for more food coming later…. The bones of… 

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Filed Under: Italy 2015, travel Tagged With: cathedral, Duomo, Italy, Ortigia, ossuary, relics, Sicily, Siracusa, Syracuse, travel

Southern Italian Style Arugula Salad with a Fruity Twist

August 3, 2015 By Laura 9 Comments

Southern Italian Style Arugula Salad! I learned to love these salads all throughout southern Italy--mixed greens, but always arugula (sometimes only arugula!), corn, tomatoes, some protein. So when I got home I made some with American bacon and then tried 2 different fruits--cantaloupe and peach! Bliss!

Crisp, refreshing and delicious, Southern Italian Style Arugula Salad with melons or peaches is the perfect antidote to summer heat! I have mentioned to many people that southern Italy (Calabria) really inspired me with their salads. This is the first such example. The one crucial ingredient in common to the Southern Italian style salads

Filed Under: Arugula, bacon, balsamic, cantaloupe, corn, easily made vegetarian, greens, Italian, Italy 2015, melon, peaches, salads Tagged With: arugula, bacon, balsamic vinegar, Calabrian, cantaloupe, corn, greens, Italian, lettuce, melon, peaches, pecorino romano, salad, southern Italian

Chocolate Drizzled Peanut Butter Cookies: Review of Bake Happy; Adventures in Ortigia, Siracusa

July 26, 2015 By Laura 11 Comments

Chocolate Drizzled Peanut Butter Cookies--chewy, rich, delicious!

Chocolate Drizzled Peanut Butter Cookies are the perfect pantry dessert–I made them upon returning home from Italy with what I had around, and they turned out delicious, even if the chocolate is not perfectly shiny. I was provided a copy of Bake Happy in return for an honest review. Affiliate links have been used to… 

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Filed Under: chocolate, cookbooks, cookies, Italy 2015, peanut butter, reviews, travel Tagged With: chocolate, cioccolato di modica, cookies, ganache, Italy, Ortigia, peanut butter, Sicily, Siracusa, travel

North Indian Baked Eggs: Review of Seven Spoons

July 16, 2015 By Laura 18 Comments

North Indian Baked Eggs--easy and delicious!

North Indian Baked Eggs are easy, fast and comforting; it is the kind of dish you turn to when you cannot think of what to make for dinner, and then end up thrilled with your meal! I received a copy of Seven Spoons from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review. Affiliate links have… 

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Filed Under: cookbooks, curry, eggs, Indian recipes, Italy 2015, pantry cooking, reviews, tomatoes, travel, vegetarian, yogurt Tagged With: baked eggs, Calabria, cookbook, cookbook review, eggs, Indian, Italy, Sila Grande, tomatoes, travel

Sassi di Matera: The Cave Dwellings of Italy

July 9, 2015 By Laura Leave a Comment

hotel room in Sassi di Matera

I am so sorry guys, I know I keep disappearing. I am having trouble getting into the swing of things at home! Add in a nasty 2 week sinus infection and then a quick road trip to see U2 in Toronto, and my brain is still pretty discombobulated. Also, I have not done much cooking yet, so… 

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Filed Under: beef, Italian, Italy 2015, ricotta, travel, zucchini Tagged With: cave dwelling, caves, Italy, matera, sassi

Pasta with Peaches, Prosciutto and Arugula: Cooking in Italy

July 3, 2015 By Laura 9 Comments

Pasta with Peaches, Prosciutto and Arugula: a delicious and healthy meal I whipped up one evening while we were living in Italy!

Pasta with Peaches, Prosciutto and Arugula is a fresh, healthy and delicious celebration of the flavors of Italy. Affiliate links were used in this post to link to items I am discussing. I was torn about whether to post this–the dish was delicious, but the pictures not so much. I obviously did not have any… 

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Filed Under: Arugula, Italian, Italy 2015, pasta, peaches, tomatoes, travel Tagged With: arugula, Italian, Italy, lemons, pasta, peaches, tomatoes, travel, trofie, white wine, wine

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Hi! I’m Laura and I am a recovering history major who has re-channeled all of my passion for learning about the history of different countries to learning about their food culture. That doesn’t mean every dish on here is strictly authentic, but it does mean that even my adaptations are not undertaken lightly. My goal is to show you–by doing–that these dishes are possible in your kitchen. Including desserts because I have quite the sweet tooth! Read More…

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