Menus for this week are inspired by a recent and most enjoyable trip to Liguria.
The diet of northwestern Italy is focused on vegetables and seafood and is very good for the waistline!
They tend to cook one "treat" a week, such as a Tirmasu for a Sunday gathering.
As always, the budget is €100 per week for a family of four.
Strawberries are in season right now. Research shows if you eat berries regularly
throughout the "berry season" , it will provide you with enough vitamin c for the rest of the year.
Enjoy!
Saturday
Lunch
Baguette with Proscuitto from both Aldi or Lidl (both are very good).
Green butter leaf salad.
To do.Make Pizza base for dough for later and carmelize onions
Evening Meal.
Artichoke, spinach and carmelised onion pizza with ricotta.
Margherita for the children!
N.B Both Aldi and Lidl are selling artichokes for €1.39 and €1.79 a jar.
Lidl's are soaked in vinegar and Aldi's which would be my preference are in sunflower oil.
Sunday
Lunch
Mallorquin stuffed aubergines (see details on Mallorcan posting)
Tirmasu
Evening Meal
Herby potato soup with baguette, proscuitto and salad
To do
Prepare and make for lunches, puy lentil salad with feta cheese, walnuts, shallots, sundried tomatoes.
Make pasta dough for Pansotti, filling, and foccaccia dough
http://lacucinaitalianamagazine.com/recipe/pansotti--
http://lacucinaitalianamagazine.com/recipe/ligurian_focaccia
http://lacucinaitalianamagazine.com/recipe/genovese-basil-pesto_2
Make Pesto
Monday
Lunch - children - Left over stuffed aubergines. Berries and plain yoghurt
office - Puy lentil, feta and walnut salad with sandwiches
Evening Meal
Pansotti ravioli with pesto and foccaccia
To do
Make Bolognese and assemble lasagne
Make quiche filling and bake
Prepare Spinach and Rosemary soup
http://www.waitrose.com/content/waitrose/en/home/recipes/recipe_directory/s/spinach_and_rosemary_soup.html
Tuesday
Lunch for children - Quiche lorraine (buy premade pastry)/ Spinach and Rosemary soup.
Berries and yogurt
Office - Puy lentil salad and sandwhiches
Evening Meal - Lasagne al Forno with green leaf salad
To do - Make tomato and garlic soup
carmelise onions for tart
Wednesday
Lunch
Children - leftover Lasagne , berries and yoghurt
tomato and garlic soup with pitta bread and tahini.
Office - sandwhiches and pasta salad with spinach and pesto.
Evening Meal - French Onion tart with green leaf salad
Thursday
Lunch
Tomato and garlic soup with oatbiscuits and cheese. Berriesand yoghurt
Pasta salad with pesto and spinach
Evening Meal
Roast chicken with oregano and rosemary, roasted vegetables and couscous.
To do
Make chicken stock
Friday
Lunch
Children - Roast chicken sandwhiches, fruit and yoghurt
Office - Pesto salad and chicken sandwhiches
Evening Meal
Artichoke and mushroom risotto
http://www.beautiful-liguria.org/2011/03/risotto-artichokes-mushrooms.html
Friday, June 21, 2013
Thursday, June 20, 2013
A taste of Liguria
Liguria, often referred to as the "Italian Rivieria" is a region which is very much of its own unique character and quite different to its french neighbour. Liguria is a wonderful region to visit, there are many things to do for all tastes and budgets, as well relax by the sea and enjoy a rich cuisine washed back with very tasty local wines..Ligurians are charming people who are warm and friendly and love to chat, whether it be halting the traffic on a country lane or building a wall, there is always plenty of time for discussion!
Ligure (Liguuree as the locals say!) is "Sea to Sky" country; and on some parts of the coastline, the mountains come right down to the sea - the landscape is quite dramatic to say the least. Arriving by
train from France is a must, and quite literally at the border you can really sense that you have
just left behind France and have arrived in a completely different country. Many of the "Grand Dames" dressed in coutier with Chanel handbags and miniature poodles will have descended at Monaco, Villefranche sur Mer and Roquebrune Cap Martin. Onto the train at Ventimiglia will arrive a dashing ticket inspector, dressed in a well fitted suit made in Milan no doubt, with polished shoes and a dazzling white smile, the remaining ladies will swoon.
As your regional train rattles along, you will see the coastline has not benefited from the more stringent french planning laws, but more of a "free for all". However, there are plenty of towns which have survived the growth and exude piles of local charm, where their medieval feel with large Piazzas and well kept narrow cobbled side streets which are still as exuberant in their historical feel.
Alassio
The chic seaside town of Alassio really made a name for itself in the 19th Century; when it was discovered by the English, who built splendid villas and gardens which still remain today. Writers were also taken by it and Elgar composed his overture, "In the South" whilst on holiday here. It is quite unique as the train does not run right through the town on the coastal side which is typical of most Ligurian towns and this really adds to its allure. Houses stand right upon the seafront, the beach is lovely, long and sweeping, shallow and calm and allowing for very enjoyable swimming. Visitors tend to be from Milan and Turin, very well dressed, and will return faithfully to the same "Bagni" each summer. "Bagni's" are private bathing establishments along the beach, where a huge amount of posing is carried out (many even have their own websites!) For a small fortune you can rent deck chairs for the day, avail of the bathroom and eat a delicious light Alassian lunch. The Italian "Grand Dames" can be found here during the summer, surveying the crowds and will arrive looking incredibly glamorous in printed swimsuits from Rome and laden with lots of gold jewellery. Tourists aren't the norm
and so interest will no doubt occur, as the "Italian Grand Dames" ask plenty of questions in mixture of Italian, broken french and Engish. The streets of Alassio are filled with smart boutiques well stocked with mouthwatering Italian lines, buzzy restaurants and a Gelataria - Alberto Marchetti which must not be missed. All you can hear is "bellissimo".
Very Italian!
Pietra Ligure is a town you could quite easily miss, whilst driving along the coastal road. The road winds around the poorly developed outskirts not doing it any justice whatsoever.. However, if a little bit of effort is made, a very welcome and pleasant suprise is in store. The old town and seafront is something of gem and absoloutely charming. The stunning Piazza San Nicola holds the centre stage. Many evenings, mornings and afternoons can be spent in this wonderful square, watching perhaps a wedding party congregate on a Saturday morning, or the pigeons being playfully chased by small children into every nook and cranny, or simply sitting in the shade of one of the many bay trees with a glass of Prosecco. Pietre is a great place for young families, restaurants are very obliging, well priced and children are always served first. Nobody minds as well if little people spend the entire evening stand looking mesmerised at the lobsters in the fishtank! On side streets you may strike lucky and the owners will have children of the same age, " Mama" will stand by the door as they play outside - complimentary babysitting service!
Varigotti and Noli are just along the coast from Pietre Ligure. Charming small old fishing ports and now lovely holiday destinations. Both towns are small and very well looked after, with wonderful beachside swimming and an array of excellent restaurants to choose from. Many of the houses of Vargotti are built right on the seafront, where fisherman would have lived with their families. Seafront houses have steep steep steps up to the living quarters, to fend off waves and water during the winter time. Noli attacts a well heeled glitzy "Riviera" crowd, and is lovely to walk around, with narrow cobbled streets and a lot of charm. Both are good places to spend a couple of days.
Food
Liguria like the rest of Italy is a food heavan. Their a great connection with produce. Markets are abundant with mouthwatering local fruit and vegetables. If you like to cook and you would like to extend your culinary repetoire, you are in the right part of the world ! Make sure your holiday revolves around local food markets and shops. In Pietra Ligure, local growers host vegetable stands and assemble in the Piazza San Niccola from 3.30pm, for several hours passionately selling their daily bounty. Most are well into their late sixties, looking fit and healthy. They will proudly tell you how they manage their farm. Baskets are laden with trompetta courgettes, chard, spinach, aubergine, basil, and much much more. Locals also like to support their local "maccheria" (butcher) or "pescheria" (fishmonger) and off course the "pasticerria" (bakery). Be warned, waiting in shops to be served is "the norm", as most people have extended conversations with shopkeepers which can test a northern european's patience ! Beef is more than likely to bought direct from a proud farmer in neighbouring Piedmont. The star bread is focaccia which can be bought everywhere. Around Ligure Ponente, locals enjoy ,focaccia Cipolle,(onion) and focaccia formaggio. Focaccia is the best picnic bread and young children love it too.
Pansoti is the star local pasta; a triangular shaped ravioli stuffed with ricotta, chard, borage and herbs and often dressed with pesto - delicious! Delicatessans always have their own take on "pansoti" and so trying different ones is a vital part of ligurian culinary exploration.
Pesto , now a world famous sauce, pesto orginiates from Genova and again depending on where you are shopping or with whom you are dining with , this too has different variations. The beautiful village of Noli
has a wonderful variation; a blend of basil grown in Noli and blended with pinenuts, olive oil and plenty of garlic (no cheese) and of course hand ground - no electric blenders allowed here! Other pesto recipes would have grana padona or pecorino cheese added as well.. Pesto di Noci , referred to as a "white pesto" is enjoyed just as much , walnuts are bleneded with ricotta cheese and olive oil, making for a most enjoyable meal.
Taggiasca olives are grown abundantly and best tried as a "Pate di Olive", spread on bruschetta or grissini.
Gelati is a Ligurian regional past time; 8.30pm until 9.15 is "rush hour", when what feels like the majority of a town will descend upon icecream parlours for half an hour. Many people will then sit outside on benches, pavements and will become totally absorbed in their icecream, not talking until every mouthful is finished - Nocciola (hazelnut) and Sicilian pistachio are excellent!
Wine
Ligurian wine is good, and pairs particularly well with the local food, especially fish dishes. There are three main grape varietals widely grown; vermentino and pigato, and rosseo a red. Viticultural conditions are challeging, terraced winegrowing is the norm, and due to its very labour intensive methods, wines are a little more expensive, but well worth trying!
Ligure (Liguuree as the locals say!) is "Sea to Sky" country; and on some parts of the coastline, the mountains come right down to the sea - the landscape is quite dramatic to say the least. Arriving by
train from France is a must, and quite literally at the border you can really sense that you have
just left behind France and have arrived in a completely different country. Many of the "Grand Dames" dressed in coutier with Chanel handbags and miniature poodles will have descended at Monaco, Villefranche sur Mer and Roquebrune Cap Martin. Onto the train at Ventimiglia will arrive a dashing ticket inspector, dressed in a well fitted suit made in Milan no doubt, with polished shoes and a dazzling white smile, the remaining ladies will swoon.
As your regional train rattles along, you will see the coastline has not benefited from the more stringent french planning laws, but more of a "free for all". However, there are plenty of towns which have survived the growth and exude piles of local charm, where their medieval feel with large Piazzas and well kept narrow cobbled side streets which are still as exuberant in their historical feel.
Alassio
The chic seaside town of Alassio really made a name for itself in the 19th Century; when it was discovered by the English, who built splendid villas and gardens which still remain today. Writers were also taken by it and Elgar composed his overture, "In the South" whilst on holiday here. It is quite unique as the train does not run right through the town on the coastal side which is typical of most Ligurian towns and this really adds to its allure. Houses stand right upon the seafront, the beach is lovely, long and sweeping, shallow and calm and allowing for very enjoyable swimming. Visitors tend to be from Milan and Turin, very well dressed, and will return faithfully to the same "Bagni" each summer. "Bagni's" are private bathing establishments along the beach, where a huge amount of posing is carried out (many even have their own websites!) For a small fortune you can rent deck chairs for the day, avail of the bathroom and eat a delicious light Alassian lunch. The Italian "Grand Dames" can be found here during the summer, surveying the crowds and will arrive looking incredibly glamorous in printed swimsuits from Rome and laden with lots of gold jewellery. Tourists aren't the norm
and so interest will no doubt occur, as the "Italian Grand Dames" ask plenty of questions in mixture of Italian, broken french and Engish. The streets of Alassio are filled with smart boutiques well stocked with mouthwatering Italian lines, buzzy restaurants and a Gelataria - Alberto Marchetti which must not be missed. All you can hear is "bellissimo".
Very Italian!
Pietra Ligure is a town you could quite easily miss, whilst driving along the coastal road. The road winds around the poorly developed outskirts not doing it any justice whatsoever.. However, if a little bit of effort is made, a very welcome and pleasant suprise is in store. The old town and seafront is something of gem and absoloutely charming. The stunning Piazza San Nicola holds the centre stage. Many evenings, mornings and afternoons can be spent in this wonderful square, watching perhaps a wedding party congregate on a Saturday morning, or the pigeons being playfully chased by small children into every nook and cranny, or simply sitting in the shade of one of the many bay trees with a glass of Prosecco. Pietre is a great place for young families, restaurants are very obliging, well priced and children are always served first. Nobody minds as well if little people spend the entire evening stand looking mesmerised at the lobsters in the fishtank! On side streets you may strike lucky and the owners will have children of the same age, " Mama" will stand by the door as they play outside - complimentary babysitting service!
Varigotti and Noli are just along the coast from Pietre Ligure. Charming small old fishing ports and now lovely holiday destinations. Both towns are small and very well looked after, with wonderful beachside swimming and an array of excellent restaurants to choose from. Many of the houses of Vargotti are built right on the seafront, where fisherman would have lived with their families. Seafront houses have steep steep steps up to the living quarters, to fend off waves and water during the winter time. Noli attacts a well heeled glitzy "Riviera" crowd, and is lovely to walk around, with narrow cobbled streets and a lot of charm. Both are good places to spend a couple of days.
Food
Liguria like the rest of Italy is a food heavan. Their a great connection with produce. Markets are abundant with mouthwatering local fruit and vegetables. If you like to cook and you would like to extend your culinary repetoire, you are in the right part of the world ! Make sure your holiday revolves around local food markets and shops. In Pietra Ligure, local growers host vegetable stands and assemble in the Piazza San Niccola from 3.30pm, for several hours passionately selling their daily bounty. Most are well into their late sixties, looking fit and healthy. They will proudly tell you how they manage their farm. Baskets are laden with trompetta courgettes, chard, spinach, aubergine, basil, and much much more. Locals also like to support their local "maccheria" (butcher) or "pescheria" (fishmonger) and off course the "pasticerria" (bakery). Be warned, waiting in shops to be served is "the norm", as most people have extended conversations with shopkeepers which can test a northern european's patience ! Beef is more than likely to bought direct from a proud farmer in neighbouring Piedmont. The star bread is focaccia which can be bought everywhere. Around Ligure Ponente, locals enjoy ,focaccia Cipolle,(onion) and focaccia formaggio. Focaccia is the best picnic bread and young children love it too.
Pansoti is the star local pasta; a triangular shaped ravioli stuffed with ricotta, chard, borage and herbs and often dressed with pesto - delicious! Delicatessans always have their own take on "pansoti" and so trying different ones is a vital part of ligurian culinary exploration.
Pesto , now a world famous sauce, pesto orginiates from Genova and again depending on where you are shopping or with whom you are dining with , this too has different variations. The beautiful village of Noli
has a wonderful variation; a blend of basil grown in Noli and blended with pinenuts, olive oil and plenty of garlic (no cheese) and of course hand ground - no electric blenders allowed here! Other pesto recipes would have grana padona or pecorino cheese added as well.. Pesto di Noci , referred to as a "white pesto" is enjoyed just as much , walnuts are bleneded with ricotta cheese and olive oil, making for a most enjoyable meal.
Taggiasca olives are grown abundantly and best tried as a "Pate di Olive", spread on bruschetta or grissini.
Gelati is a Ligurian regional past time; 8.30pm until 9.15 is "rush hour", when what feels like the majority of a town will descend upon icecream parlours for half an hour. Many people will then sit outside on benches, pavements and will become totally absorbed in their icecream, not talking until every mouthful is finished - Nocciola (hazelnut) and Sicilian pistachio are excellent!
Wine
Ligurian wine is good, and pairs particularly well with the local food, especially fish dishes. There are three main grape varietals widely grown; vermentino and pigato, and rosseo a red. Viticultural conditions are challeging, terraced winegrowing is the norm, and due to its very labour intensive methods, wines are a little more expensive, but well worth trying!
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