GET READY FOR JANUARY!

January is going to be a very stimulating month for CUCINAMORE, my cooking group, and I hope some of you will be here to join us for this great occasion and share the excitement!

I am going to have two special classes in January with a "guest star", my friend Benedetta, or "Betta" as we call her, who is arriving from Italy to be with us for a little while.

Betta owns and manages a very unique piece of paradise in Southern Tuscany, where, among other things like pampering her guests, picking up olives, checking the production of her own wine and much more, she also finds the time and the strength to be the main chef at her Agriturismo called "Poggio al sole" (click on the name to know a little more about her and her place).

Betta will be leading two classes at my house as follows (and remember: even if she's a real chef we will keep it "family-style" as usual, easy and tasty!):

21 Jan - wed - 6pm: "A TASTE OF TUSCANY 1 (The Meal)"
A variety of ideas for an original Italian meal that you can enjoy here and then prepare yourself in your own kitchen!

28 Jan - wed - 6pm: "A TASTE OF TUSCANY 2 (The Desserts)"
The sweet side of Betta!

Pick the class you are most interested in or come to both: cost per person/per class: $30.00 (all food prepared will be enjoyed by participants at the end of each class)
Payment is required when you book your class.

My kitchen is not huge, so hurry to reserve your own chance to have a "Taste of Tuscany" in San Antonio!

Someone Sells Their Cookies for the Holidays....

...a friend told me I should sell my homemade pasta, ravioli and gnocchi instead!
Well, in case you need a hand for your holiday dinners, just get in touch with me, I might be able to help: those go from your freezer to your plate in less than 5 minutes and add a nice, different touch to your meal. Just, don't cheat on Christmas day and say you made them yourself. Or if you do, make sure Santa has already delivered your presents...

Make a Smilebox greeting

So Much Fun With This Group Class!

Here: pizza, again! I know, we talked about home made pizza before, but this group lesson I had last Friday was really special for me. We had a lot of fun and I got so much enthusiasm and support and good vibes from the people who attended it that I need to share some of it, at least. I was never good at keeping emotions inside anyway :-)



What the class was all about was proving them that making a good, VERY good pizza at your home is a task that we all can achieve with some passion and good ingredients.




Italians don't talk with their hands, do they? Look at me! Always swinging them around...



Here are some fresh cherry tomatoes getting ready to become a pizza that tastes like Summer (even in December, but that's the magic of San Antonio, TX ;-) ). Note: the basil came from my backyard!



Here is how it looks out of the oven (and after someone had a few bites of it)




Bell peppers getting ready for their perfomance on a "sausage and peppers" pizza

There: ready to get in the oven!

I know, the pic is a little out of focus, but these are the people I need to thank for that very special night: grazie Shylah, grazie Rose, grazie Carl and Carla...and a very special grazie to my friend Yolanda, who is not in the picture because she's the one who took it and was big help all through the class.

Let me leave you with the menu of that class and remind you all that if you're still thinking of your last minute Christmas present for a food lover friend of yours, I might have an idea for you!

12 December 2008
GROUP PIZZA NIGHT MENU


· DIAVOLA (pepperoni pizza)

· POMODORINI E BASILICO (cherry tomatoes, basil, garlic, Parmigiano Reggiano)

· PROSCIUTTO E FUNGHI (sautéed mushrooms, cubed ham)

· RICOTTA E SPINACI (sautéed spinach, ricotta cheese, Parmigiano Reggiano)

· BROCCOLI E BACON (sautéed broccoli with garlic and red peppercorn, bacon)

· SALSICCIA E PEPERONI (Italian mild sausage, sautéed bell peppers with balsamic vinegar and brown sugar)

· VEGETARIANA (grilled bell peppers, zucchini, eggplants)

· SICILIANA (pepperoni, capers, olives)

Christmas Special

You’re still in time
To tell Santa
That all you want for Christmas is

A voucher for a special

Italian Cooking Lesson

To learn how to make a whole yummy meal

(antipasto, primo piatto, secondo piatto e contorno)

Available for those who’ve been good
And also for those who promise they will be…

(Special Christmas voucher: $ 50.00 or package for 4 "one-topic-lessons": $ 120.00)

Pizza Group Class

Friday, December 12th, 6:00 pm

HOME-MADE PIZZA LIKE YOU NEVER HAD IT BEFORE!


You will very seldom buy pizza again, after learning how to make your own, delicious and healthy, the way we really do in Italy.

With my hands-on teaching you will learn all the tricks you need to know to make the right dough to get a nice thin crust, get a few ideas for the tastiest toppings, all made of fresh ingredients and then taste the difference!

Cost per person: $15.00


Max 8 people, confirm your participation by Dec. 10th