Ciaotraveler

Rustic Vermouth Pork Chops and Arugula Salad with Dijon Dressing I've been on an easy recipe rustic kick for awhile. These are "rustic" style pork chops using dry vermouth and parmesan cheese.  Recipe: 3 or 4 pork chops 1/2 cup extra dry vermouth (wine section at the store store; I keep this on hand all of the time) 1/2 cup cream or milk Green Olives (as much as you like) Parmesan cheese (fresh grated found in the cheese section)Olive oil Lemon Garlic Pepper Salt Pepper Lemon juice (one squeeze) Butter (optional) Cook pork chops on medium hot for about 3-4 minutes on each side in olive oil. Remove the pan from the heat and the pork chops from the pan. Add vermouth, olives and put back on the stove for several minutes.  Pour sauce over the over chops and serve. For my dressing:  I use olive oil, several dashes of balsamic, tsp. of dijon mustard, splash of lemon juice and spices of your choice.  Thank ...

That hard working couple, The Gaines, created their Silo's Bakery in Waco, Tx. (bottom) from the old structure (above top).  I think it turned out clean and smart looking.  Their success is just amazing!

Celebrity baker in London, Peggy Porschen, has opened yet another pretty pink bakery shoppe at  219 Kings Road, Chelsea.   This is how the building used to look before the pretty renovation... This is the original Porschen bakery on Ebury St. in London. (Credit Google) Just love the gorgeous baked goods from this place!

Easy Enchiladas My husband loves this easy peasy enchilada casserole and it really is one of the easiest things I cook.  You can use red or green enchilada sauce.

Ciao's Meatball Soup

If you've ever been to Italy and experienced the wonderful cappuccino then you know just how special it is to visitors. It's a ritual that we can really identify with as Americans. Italians love their precious resource so its not unusual to serve it in special cups.  These cups can be light and graceful or chunky and covered with regional designs.

Rustic Chili-Lime Olive Chicken Enchilada Casserole I've been experimenting with "rustic" dishes that remind me of farm living.  Rustic to me means simple, quick, flavorful meals usually created in one pan or dish.  The ingredients are fresh from the farm fields.  This dish makes two layers in a baking dish.  This is an easy chicken recipe and the ingredients can be adjusted to your taste, especially the spices. So here's the ingredients and portions: Chili powder or taco seasoning (About 1/4 cup; I have bulk seasonings on hand) Garlic powder (about 1 tbs.) Cumin (about 1 tbs.) Chicken (6 cutlets or 4 regular breasts) Yellow or white cheese (package, grated) Green Enchilada Sauce (I used Las Palmas 28 oz. "Hot Picante" but there's also "Medium") Uncooked corn tortillas (1 package of 24) Yellow Onion (1/2 chopped) Jalapeno black olives and green olives (1 can each, sliced) Lime (1 fresh squeezed lime or about 1 tbsp. bottle...

While in Venice, Italy, take a break to visit the original Harry's Bar.  The staff is warmly hospitable and will make your visit seem very personal.  They'll share the history of their delicious invention, the Bellini cocktail. You'll see photos of the many classic movie stars who've frequented the bar since 1931.     Harry's has a very unassuming entrance just off the main St. Mark's piazza and nearby marina.  It's worth entering this very famous classic bar for an original Bellini and a bit of culinary history... The shelves are stocked just as they were in 1931 according to the staff, same order and volume as Harry desired.   Now that's consistency!   The  wood bar reminds me of being on a very exclusive, old yacht.   T he only thing missing are the Captain's hats. The Bellini Cocktail: This Bellini drink was created 1943 at Harry's Bar in Venice in honor of the pa...

Chicken Marsala My own twist on a favorite...chicken marsala.  Very easy and quick.   6 boneless chicken breasts placed in a gallon size plastic zip lock bag 2 garlic cloves, minced Mushrooms, sliced 1/2 cup chicken broth 1 cup marsala wine olive oil flour Seasonings 2 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice Tenderize the chicken inside the plastic bag with a mallet until very thin Dredge in flour (can use same bag) Fry several minutes in olive oil on both sides Remove from pan and place in a baking dish (bake at 350 for 15 minutes) Return pan to the stove and add the minced garlic and mushrooms, stir and cook several minutes Add seasonings that you prefer i.e. basil, Italian seasonings, fresh pepper Add the chicken broth and the marsala. stirring constantly Let bubble and reduce Take off stove and add the lemon juice, stir Poor over the chicken and enjoy! I use pasta for the side dish but rice is good too. The wine is nam...

     The highest paid American actress today, Scarlett Johansson, has opened a new popcorn shop in Paris. Do you think we'll be adding that to our tourist list of things to see in the City of Light?  I guess if you love popcorn you'll be there...see the shop information here . 

I've enjoyed gelato in Rome, Portofino, Venice, Sorrento, Lucca, and many other cities in Italy.  Its rich and delicious but contains less fat than regular ice cream.  Gelato is made with  water, milk, eggs, cream, sugar, cocoa, fruit and more .   There's nothing like its refreshing taste during those hot days while you're on scenic walks or window shopping.  The gelato freezer case above was the most unique one I've ever seen.  It twirled around so you could see each selection.  This gelato shop was in Sorrento.   But the best Gelato I've ever eaten was in...

So my friends at the office decided I needed a little luncheon for my retirement...yes, I'm giving up my love of teaching and administration after 39 years (wow!).  So they know my taste...everything Italian...wine, pasta, and pizzelles.  My Aunt Teresa, the baker, made pizzelle cookies forever until she passed and now cousin Jo now has taken on this tradition. Speaking of pasta and wine, my favorites, chill up a bottle of Pinot Grigio and let's talk a little pasta... Oops, it doesn't have to be THAT chilled... This is better....the girls didn't know this is my favorite! Have a little wine as you work your magic in the kitchen--and add a little to the sauce as you go.  If I've learned anything over the years about cooking and eating, it's all about the personal tastes.  My husband loves spicy flavors.  Fresh ingredients are so healthy and delicious but they don't always provide the best spice to a dish.  So I add dried Italian seas...

A little departure from the norm today with Chicken Parm that I recently cooked up in the kitchen. Parmesan cheese is one of my favorite cheeses to use for dishes.  To come up with an easy breezy Ciao recipe, I actually studied a variety of recipes to create this one.  Here's how the process looked...    Here's what I used for ingredients: 6 boneless chicken breasts 3 tbs. olive oil 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 cup bread crumbs (panko or herb style) 1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese Fresh ground pepper and sea salt for flavor Chili flakes (optional) Box fettuccine Bottled pasta sauce if you don't have time to make one Grated mozzarella 6 Fresh basil leaves or sprinkles of dried basil (use less dried) Prep: Place the minced garlic with the olive oil in a plastic gallon bag to start the fusion process.  Place each piece of chicken in another plastic bag and tenderize with mallet until thin, repeat for each piece Mi...

Are you in love with extra virgin olive oil as much as I am?  I use it almost daily for salad dressings, cooking, pastas and in my health products.  Having traveled in Italy, I prefer to have authentic Italian extra virgin oils. Over the past 5 years there are substantiated reports that our oil isn't really virgin after all, as much as 70% imported oils have been compromised.   Evidently the richest extra virgin olive oils can be as valuable as illegal drugs. What?  Does this mean we'll have mad chemists breaking bad extra olive oils?  So what's the truth about extra virgin olive oil?  Some of the most delicious olive oils I've used in Italy are from Sorrento and the Tuscany regions.  Sicilian olive oils seem to be the ones they're focusing on regarding fake extra virgin products.  My Tuscan and Southern Italy olive oils and some of the Italian style foods we love it on...yummy! But you be the judge.  Here's some a...