Childhood Food: Cotoletta alla Milanese e Fior di Fragola

Well, in a way it could be worse. Broken heating in January for example. For now, there is just something wrong with the hot water system. I think it may be something related to the pressure. The hot water doesn’t run if the radiators are not on and because it’s July, although in London, the heating system only gets on at 30C!
It’s bloody hot now in the flat, it looks like a hot Italian summer night. When you keep turning in the bed because it’s simply too hot, and that’s just an excuse not to sleep. From the open window someone is speaking loudly, but all inside is quiet, just the rest is noise.
Back in time, I used to spend summers with my grandparents when the schools were closed in this big house in a North West village near Turin, with 19th Century factories still up and running, in a period, late 80s, when there was abundance, people were carefree and didn’t care about global warming, gasoline’s price or mortgages.

LOST IN ROME- PASTA ALL'AMATRICIANA

Is Rome the most beautiful city in the world?
It is difficult to say, as every great city has got its own soul and beauty, but for sure Rome is one of those worth a visit at least once in a life time. Some places are so stunning to have become an icon of the city itself and evenly swarmed with tourists. What’s more than a strolling under the ancient Latin walls of the Coliseum, with fancy gladiators posing next to you, a challenge to the mysterious pagan Mouth of Truth or throwing a coin in the baroque magnificence of the Trevi fountain?
Its continuous flux of tourists shows that Rome is still an all desired destination in the hearts of the many, but sometimes a sweaty and loud crowd can really put you off even in front of such wonders.

DELIA'S PORK CHOPS WITH MUSHROOMS AND CREME FRAICHE

What is culture? For most of the people, culture is philosophy, painting, poetry and all the so-called high or noble arts. However, culture is part of our daily life. Even when we don’t think of it, we assimilate, share and exchange culture in countless little ways.
Food is one of these. When we share our food, when we try a dish from another country our knowledge get richer, besides the pleasure of a nice meal!
That’s the mission of this blog, just to try to get to know each other a bit better. Let’s face it. Socialization is not easy in a big city, especially when we commute to work drowsy in the morning and back home tired in the evening, but also during the worst day we keep learning something.

POLENTA AND SAUSAGES

Here’s my favourite winter recipe: polenta and sausages or “pulenta e sausissa” as they say in my area. I am pretty sure you know polenta already, as it has become fairly popular even outside Italy. Essentially it is corn flour and water. Add cheese and sausages and it becomes one of the most delicious meals ever. It is a typical northern Italian winter recipe, but I love it so much that I can even eat it in August when outside it is 30°C! If you go skiing in the Alps you can’t miss it, if you are staying home you can try to make it yourself. Not to mention that it is a very cheap and filling meal for the whole family. Also children will love it.

ROCK 'N' LASAGNE

Although the current Italian situation and the depressing grey English weather, I am proud to present this late Autumn special: an Italian classic, LASAGNE. It is the proper time to make lasagne, it is getting cold, we need confort food and it is an occasion to live your kitchen with your beloved persons. And, lasagne are so good that even help to digest the worst TV news (you know what I am talking about).
Now, it is necessary to make it clear that it doesn’t exist one recipe for lasagne, as every family keeps its own special variation. Mine is just a version, probably one of the easiest and lighter ones, but you can add whatever ingredients you prefer. The good thing about cooking is that dogmatism is banned, in favour of fantasy.

GREEN TAGLIATELLE WITH MUSHROOMS

This dish has the merits to be easy to make, cheap to buy and it makes quite an impression. Not to mention that is low in calories but at the same time very filling and tasty. I see it as an autumn classic for a quick dinner, after a long working day. If you are lucky enough to live in the countryside you can pick up your own mushrooms (make sure from an expert that are the edible ones) otherwise look for the next Tesco. I know, it does not sound right, but hey, where can I find mushrooms at this time of the night! Anyway, the better the mushrooms the better the final result.


250 g. Mushrooms
250 g. Green (spinach) Tagliatelle
Olive oil
Salt
Garlic
Parsley
Concentrated tomato puree
White wine

Stir fry the mushrooms with a clove of garlic. When they are almost ready add some parsley, the tomato sauce and a bit of white wine. Leave it dry for few more minutes but do not let dry too much. Bring to the boil a large pot of water, salt it with coarse salt, wait for few minutes and then add the tagliatelle. When ready drain it, add to the mushrooms and add some olive oil. Serve immediately. Enjoy!
If you want you can add some pine nuts. They add more calories, but they are healthy and strengthen the taste.