Tag: garlic
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Bitter foods & Puntarelle salad
This year I’m taking a great course on Botanics. Might be because of the teacher or because I’m fascinated by the subject, in any case I’m finding it really interesting. The past lessons we’ve been talking about the main Plant Families (Apiaceae, Brassicaceae, Leguminose, Rosaceae, Liliaceae and so on) and their characteristics, uses, health benefits.…
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Summer Gazpacho
It has been so hot and dry here in north of Italy, it hasn’t rained in ages and the heat storm arrived earlier than usual. This time of year calls for a light and fresh diet, the last thing I would want to eat is something overcooked, filling and simmering hot. Gazpacho is a traditional…
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Master tonic
Master tonic, aka Fire Cider, is a homemade natural remedy for colds and flus. Its ingredients are anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral, making it a great go to when in need of some immunity support for our body. It’s the first time I make this, and I’ve decided to make a bigger batch next time. You…
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Foraging wild garlic
This past weekend I spent it in my countryside house in the Piacentini hills, with some friends from uni. A pleasant way to spend the time there is to take walks in the fields, surrounded by nature. We’ve noticed in the past years lots of wild garlic in the fields, but never paid much attention…
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Super creamy Pasta w/ Avocado sauce
We’ve been hit with some cold and rainy weather here in northern Italy. How best to survive it? with a lil’ Comfort food! Ok, I admit, I shouldn’t be buying avocados in Italy, they are imported from South Africa, or South America most of the times. So sustainably speaking (and being a slow food student)…
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Simple Celery Soup
I found this beautiful celery “bouquet” at our local vegetable lady in the country and couldn’t resist. Celery isn’t a very popular choice of vegetable usually. But it is so good for you and very versatile. If you just google celery’s benefits you will find out it’s full of antioxidants, great for anti-inflammatory, helps the…
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Root lentil salad for a crowd
This past weekend I celebrated my birthday with all of my family in America. It was a great party, got to see people I hadn’t for a long time and the food was all great. We did it at my aunt’s house in Newport Beach. She used to own a restaurant for 25 years and…
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Summer Zucchini Pasta w/ squash blossoms
Summer squashes are so abundant at the farm. We have them in at least 6 varieties, differing from color to shape. They are smaller than the zucchini you find in Europe, which I think makes them more flavorful and tender. We also have many squash blossoms. I found out this year that squash blossoms can…
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Red Lentil Hummus
I have been spending a lot of time at the beach here in Southern california, after work, on weekends, watching the sunset, walking on the beach, swimming (the water is so warm this year, you can easily chill in it which is very unusual), getting seaweed everywhere, watching kids build sand castles, elder couples walking…
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Fig chutney
At the farm we’ve been having so many figs. There are 8 fig trees on the property and they are ripe…they just keep coming, at least till beginning of september. The ones we sell are called Strawberry figs, they are small and so sweet and delicious, you eat the skins too. So many figs get…
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Summer Cucumber Salad – CHINO FARMS
Wow August already! I’ve started working at this farm called CHINO FARMS, in San Diego county. It is an incredible farm, owned and ran by a Japanese family. It first started in early 1900s when Junzo Chino emigrated to California and started the business. The produce is incredible, everything looks and tastes so darn good.…
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Carrot soup w/ crunchy Black Chickpeas
I’ve hurt my ankle quite badly a couple of days ago, have been home not able to walk or stand. I’m sure it’s nothing too serious but will go check it out at doctors soon. I started icing it but since yesterday I changed to heat and it is improving. I don’t know if it’s…