Ciao tutti,
Summer is upon us with the gardens and markets delivering wonderful fresh ingredients for our tables.
Here's one of our favorite - zucchini blossoms!
Hope you are enjoying your garden - or your local farmer's markets!
Gina and Mary
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Zucchini Flowers
Summer is finally here and with it come all the wonderful
fruits and vegetable of the season. One
of my favorite harbingers of summer are fresh zucchini flowers and they're just
coming into season in Tuscany. They add
a beautiful orange color to any zucchini dish, such as sauce for pasta or a
frittata, and of course are wonderful fried. Zucchini flowers in basket  |
The zucchini or squash plant has two different flowers, the
male and the female, and both are edible. The male flower has
a stem and is only used to pollinate the female flower, which will grow a
zucchini or squash once pollinated. In
Italy, oftentimes the zucchini is sold with the flower still attached as a
means of showing how fresh the vegetable was picked.
Zucchini plants only need one male flower for every two
plants, so all the extra flowers can be picked to eat. You can stuff them with mozzarella and basil
or pecorino Toscano and sage, dip them in batter and fry them in hot peanut
oil. Here is one of my favorite
recipes, very fresh tasting and delicious. Stuffed with fresh goat cheese and mint and lightly baked with cherry
tomatoes, it's a beautiful dish and one you're sure to make again and again.
If you aren't going to plant zucchini yourself this summer,
ask the local zucchini grower at your farmers' market to pick some for
you. Enjoy! |
Travel to Italy this September
Its not too late to book your fall trip with us! We have a few open spots for our culinary week that begins on Sept 25th. Our action packed week includes hands-on cooking classes, wine tours & tastings, visits to local food producers, markets and restaurants. We will be staying in a beautiful villa near Ville di Corsano south of Siena nestled in the rolling hills. The spacious 16th C. villa and gardens have a relaxing atmosphere with panoramic views. Its the perfect place to spend a week being immersed in the culture, history and traditions of this beautiful land.
 Special pricing if you sign up by July 15th.
Call Mary for the details and to hold your spot...
972-342-8308
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Going to Italy...
Even if you can't spend a week or so with us in Tuscany. I can help plan your trip and offer great accommodations for either a night or a week. I can also put you at Villa di Corsano for a week or a month!
Call Mary:
972-342-8308 or
mary@goitalyhomes.com
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