The Butcher's Favorite: Bone-In Braised Veal Breast

photo by Melissa Ruttanai at Worldwinder

 Literally a one pot dinner - thinly sliced roasted veal breast with layers of tomatoes & potatoes makes for a rich delicious meal that is easy to make.  A classic example of cucina povera, peasant cooking using a tough piece of meat & simple ingredients to create rich dish fit for a king. (You can use slices of veal breast or other tough cuts of steaks or leg of lamb - anything tough with a bone it in.) Our butcher Beppe taught this recipe to Jason years ago & he's been sharing it with our students & guests ever since.

Featured in September 2011 Taste Italia Magazine

Braised Bone-In Veal Breast with Tomatoes & Potatoes

Puntine di Vitello

Lavender + Orange Cake = Love at First Bite

The perfect balance of orange & lavender makes for an absolutely heavenly cake that it is quick & easy to make!

Each year I add a few more lavender plants around the pool but never really knew what to do with the fragrant flowers. Sure, I dried them & placed them in the guest apartments but to be honest I was afraid to cook with them at risk of making a lovely dessert taste soapy! Well this year I was determined to try - Jason made the first attempt with lavender short bread cookies - they were amazing & eaten in one sitting. I was inspired and my taste buds were salivating for more... The perfect opportunity arose when a we found ourselves with extra yogurt in the fridge and I thought -great, I'll make a lavender yogurt cake. I actually made two - orange & lavender cake and rosemary cake with lavender glaze and they are both to die for!! I'll post the second cake recipe later - 

Lavender & Orange Cake Recipe

Roasted Squash with Onion, Oregano & Mint

A new spin on squash: oregano & mint instead of cinnamon & nutmeg. This is one of my favorite Mario Batali recipes - best used with butternut squash or turban pumpkins the meaty flesh makes for a hearty fall dish.

Roasted Butternut Squash with Onion, Oregano & Mint Recipe

Fall Food Festivals in Italy, Expat Recommended

Autumn is one of the best times to visit Italy, after the hoards of tourists have gone home, the locals throw fabulous food festivals to celebrate the fall harvest, truffles, chocolate and much more! As an expat living in Italy we love filling our weekends with foodie festival getaways getting to know the local customs, flavors & countryside! In these villages all across Italy, ancient 'taverne'  open their doors to the hungry masses for the few days of the festival, chestnuts are roasted, new wine is offered, musicians wander the streets creating a festive atmosphere and neighbors stopping to chat with one-another...this is why we live Italy.

  So I thought I would ask other expats living in Italy on Italian Reflections what their favorite local food festival is & here are a few recommended to you: