focaccia bread

 Notes from Villa Vita

  Your resource for authentic travel to Italy 

February 2011

Delightful Travel Memoir and More...

 

Book Cover
  
Author Linda Dini Jenkins has captured her journeys in Italy with a refreshingly unique style. 
  
Employing her great sense of humor, along with her lovely poetry, photos, travel tips and recipes - 
Up at the Villa: Travels with My Husband
is an enchanting read illuminating the many wonders of travel throughout Italy.
  
WOULD YOU LIKE TO WIN A COPY SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR? 
  
It's Easy! 
Just send us an email with your name and mailing address!

 

Winner will be chosen at random from the first 25 responses received.  
  
So HURRY !!!

Good Luck!

WAIT!  

There's More...  

Linda Dini Jenkins

 

Join Linda on her upcoming Travel Writing Workshop in Verona! 

May 23 - 30, 2011
 
Enjoy morning writing classes and afternoon tours, and plenty of opportunity  to explore  Verona, and surroundings - an ideal balance of learning, adventure, and fun.
Class size is limited to 15.
  
For more info - please visit
Travel The Write Way
  
  Please tell her Gina
sent you!
  

 

YOGA FAMILY HOLIDAY!

July 30 - Aug 6, 2011

 

 Handstand

 

Top international yoga teachers Veva Eickleberg (USA), and, Helen  Crowdey (U.K) are together again in Italy with a holistic holiday for you and the kids!

This dynamic team will help you to relax as a family while immersing your body, mind and soul in the soothing Tuscan countryside.

 

More Info 

 

Namaste

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Ciao!    

 

What a winter so far!  Mammamia!  Perhaps a nice trip
on the calendar could warm you up. Here is some food for thought:
 
Photo and Cultural Journey to Tuscany with Joel and Barb Wolfson May 14th - 21st. Almost full!
 
Writing Workshop in Verona with  author  Linda Dini Jenkins and her husband Tim - May 23 - 30, 2011. See info at left.
  
Music lovers - join Joy and Daniel Ferro from Juilliard in NY for Insider's View of Tuscany: a unique sojourn including concerts. Week-long rograms between July 13 - August 4, 2011.
  
All travelers:  for the ideal way to experience Tuscany  between April and November - Il Borgo awaits you with our Lessons of Tuscany all inclusive program . . . Our busiest year ever! 
 
For armchair travelers - don't miss our newly added beautiful blog,  An Artist's Journey, by Lucy Dickens...  transporting you to some very beautiful places captured by this talented artist and fine art story teller.
 
And yes, we do know that it really is all about the food,  so why not make the house smell like freshly baked focaccia to send your senses on a nice trip!   See a foolproof recipe below...
 
Keep travel in your heart and on your calendar!
 
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A trip to Il Borgo in Tuscany sounding really good about now?

Swimming Pool
  
Our signature "Lessons of Tuscany" all inclusive week based at Il Borgo - a seamless journey including meals, tours, and transfers, with optional classes  - is indeed the ultimate, authentic Tuscany experience.   Book your reservation now and let thoughts of the Tuscan sun warm your winter. more. . .

 

Come visit us in New York for the NY Times Travel Show at the Javits Center Feb 26th & 27th!

 

Enter to win a 3-Night Stay at Il Borgo just for stopping by!


 

An Artist's Journey  
 
Passion

 

We are just thrilled to have artist Lucy Dickens and her Fine Art Story Telling  proudly displayed on our website! Please take a look . . . If you would like to create your own artist escape or workshop in Italy, please call us at 1-866-590-8181 or email us at  info@villavita.net.  more . . .

Featured Recipe: Fabulous Focaccia!   

 

This lovely flat bread topped with olive oil, spices and other products is an early prototype of modern pizza dating back to Etruscan times. 

 

Foccacia

Ingredients for the dough:

. 2 teaspoons rapid-rising dry yeast

. 1 cup warm water

. 2 tablespoons sugar

. 3 1/2 to 4 cups flour

. 1 tablespoon coarse salt

. 1/4 cup olive oil

. Cornmeal, for dusting

 

Toppings:

. 2 tablespoons olive oil

. 1 onion, diced

. 2 garlic cloves, minced

. 10 Kalamata olives, pitted and quartered

. 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan

. 1 tablespoon coarse salt

. Freshly ground black pepper

. 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary

 

Directions

In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a dough hook, proof the yeast by combining it with the warm water and sugar. Stir gently to dissolve. Let stand 3 minutes until foam appears. Turn mixer on low and slowly add the flour to the bowl. Dissolve salt in 2 tablespoons of water and add it to the mixture. Pour in 1/4 cup olive oil. When the dough starts to come together, increase the speed to medium. Stop the machine periodically to scrape the dough off the hook. Mix until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes, adding flour as necessary.

 

Turn the dough out onto a work surface and fold over itself a few times. Form the dough into a round and place in an oiled bowl, turn to coat the entire ball with oil so it doesn't form a skin. Cover with plastic wrap or damp towel and let rise over a gas pilot light on the stovetop or other warm place until doubled in size, about 45 minutes.

 

Coat a sheet pan with a little olive oil and corn meal. Once the dough is doubled and domed, turn it out onto the counter. Roll and stretch the dough out to an oblong shape about 1/2-inch thick. Lay the flattened dough on the pan and cover with plastic wrap. Let rest for 15 minutes.

 

In the meantime, coat a small saute pan with olive oil, add the onion, and cook over low heat for 15 minutes until the onions caramelize. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Uncover the dough and dimple with your fingertips. Brush the surface with more olive oil and then add caramelized onions, garlic, olives, cheese, salt, pepper, and rosemary. Bake on the bottom rack for 15 to 20 minutes.

 

Shared from foodnetwork -  Link to Recipe 

 

FOR YOU FOODIES - Check out the new cool online community, EatItalian.com Join - share - learn - and find the best Italian Restaurants worldwide!

 

THANK YOU FOR SHARING! 

 

 

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www.VillaVita.net     info@VillaVita.net


Villa Vita International is a full service travel provider creating customized itineraries to Italy and beyond for individuals and small groups emphasizing authentic and life-enriching experiences.

 

Call Toll Free: U.S. and Canada: 1-866-590- 8181 or Phoenix AZ: 623-581-1062