Grilled Bruschetta..

Someone once said “there is a book of record in your mind, in which every act of your life is noted down. Each morning the blank page is turned on which the day’s history is noted on lines that can not be edited. This book of record is your memory. An act is done, is done forever, for the time in which it is done in passing, passes no more”.
A picnic with great foods great friends and family, an informal brunch or lunch or after dinner party-all great ways to take advantage of all that summer offers us.

Keep your foods and dishes informal. Here is part 1 of special recipes to keep the summer of 2007 in your memory book as a special one.

Bruscehtta Grigliata

3 tsps of Sapori D'Italia spice blend (Maria Liberati's The Basic Art of Italian Cooking tm) 1 loaf of crusty Italian bread cut into 1-inch thick slices 1/4 cup extra -virgin olive oil
Prepare barbecue (medium-high-heat). Brush both sides of bread generously With oil; season with Sapori D'Italia. Grill until golden, about 1 minute per side. 6 servings.

Ciao for now Maria!

http://www.marialiberati.com

Order the best selling book at http://www.marialiberati.com in the minth of July and AUgust 2007 and recieve a free sample of our new spice blend- Sapori D'Italia-

Too Busy And Have No Time To Cook?

For most women eating healthy is like an annoying chore that steals their precious time.

But eating healthy doesn’t have to take a lot of time. You can easily prepare healthy meals just as quickly as unhealthy meals.

The key is to plan ahead, have the right foods at your fingertips, and discovering how to quickly cook healthy meals.

If you know any of your friends or coworkers who eat healthfully ask them how they manage to find time to cook healthy meals without it taking up too much time. (I’m sure they'll give you some great tips.

you know that quote "many hands make quick work"? It couldn’t be any more true. That’s why if you live with family members you should get them involved and ask them to help you prepare meals or do other simple tasks that will save you time in the end.

They can also find a cookbook or collect recipes that specialize in time-saving ideas.

And if you really want to spice thins up and have some fun take a cooking class with a friend or husband/boyfriend.

A couple great ethnic dishes are simple and easy to make. Mediterranean, Indian, and Japanese foods are healthy quick and easy to prepare, their also super easy to share among family members or friends.

Here are a few tips for making quick nutritious, healthy meals and snacks:

Buy packaged, pre-washed, ready-to-eat fresh vegetables, such as baby carrots, salad mixes, and chopped or broccoli and cauliflower.

Buy packaged, pre-sliced fruits, such as melons, strawberries or pineapples.

Find recipes using foods that don't require a lot of cleaning and preparation, such as baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, or grapes.

Drink a can of vegetable juice as a snack.

Blend yogurt, fruit juice, and canned or frozen fruit to make a nutrious smoothie for breakfast or a snack.

Use frozen vegetables to make a stir-fry with skinless chicken. Serve on top of a quick brown rice or whole-wheat pasta.

Add frozen vegetables to a jar of marinara spaghetti sauce and serve on whole-wheat pasta.

Cook potatoes or other vegetables in a microwave.

Cook vegetables and fruits over the grill. Drizzle them with olive oil and wrap in aluminum foil. Or put them on a skewer and cook directly on the grill.

Make a fast fruit salad with sliced bananas, apples, blueberries, and a can of mandarin oranges.

Ode to Abby

I had the pleasure of spending the past two weekends with one of my favorite girls in the world. We met less then a year ago while doing promotional work in her hometown. Though I consider myself a very friendly person, rarely do I "click" so well with someone. Since last October, we have been in consistent contact through phone, email, or my infamous text messages.

My job took me back to the town where we first met and you can bet I was a happy girl! Traveling with any job can get redundant and I was in desperate need for something refreshing. Our time together was like a breath of fresh air. We laugh (you know the "I just split a rib" laugh, that's us) at nearly everything and on the contrary discuss topics concerning everything from boys, our futures, and accessories.

We are typical girls. We squeal if we see cute shoes and whine if we can't afford them. We like our jobs but are curious of the unknown. We can't accept a compliment without giving one back to the other. We love the beach, but mostly for the tan. (or in my case, freckle and burn) Being in her company removes me from the everyday stresses of life. Our time together is like little "mini" vacations that momentarily release me from being an employee, a manager, and a student. I am known only as "my friend Vanessa" when I am in her company.

It's funny how things are put into your life when it's least expected. I wasn't seeking to meet anyone new. Honestly, I was in it to make a few bucks . But what I ended up with in the end was much more then a paycheck. I came away with an amazing, life long friendship.

Smooth(ie) Move

When I was younger, I was convinced I was adopted. I have light eyes, auburn hair, and have been 5’5 for the past three years. My family is tanned skinned with brown eyes and dark hair, and my mom, aunt and grandmother all stand at around 5’8. I told my mom about my suspicions on numerous occasions.
“Nonsense,” she’d reply. “Your aunt and cousin are allergic to strawberries, and I’m allergic to cranberries. You’re clearly not adopted.”
So, when I found out I wasn’t allergic anymore at the age of fifteen, my reverence for the small, heart-shaped fruit only increased. Not only was it the link that disproved my uncertainties, it was also, I discovered, pretty delicious.
I held a “strawberry party” where various guests brought over various strawberry concoctions, and my far the most memorable was the smoothie my friend made for me. So when my cousin recently found out that she, too, was no longer allergic( I still don’t understand this phenomenon) we had another strawberry filled party, where I made her the smoothie my friend had so kindly given up. It requires:
· A cup of unsweetened strawberries that should be chopped in quarters
· 1 cup of milk ( tastes richer with 2%, but skim works as well)
· 2 cups of frozen yogurt ( your choice in flavor, but I always stick with vanilla)
All of these ingredients should be blended together well until you have a thick concoction. If you want a thinner consistency, just add less yogurt. This smoothie is healthy, tastes great and takes only a couple of minutes to make.
As April to July is prime time for strawberry season, I would recommend trying this out if not for the sake of enjoyment, but for my aunt, who each year waits patiently to be told by the doctor that it’s her turn for a strawberry party. We wish her luck.

To phone or not to phone? That is the question for wildly targeted parents of young children.

My eight-year old son has asked for an iPhone. Can you believe? My husband and I haven't even considered upgrading from our flip-phones, we're still trying to pay off the Disney Cruise. But my son has different plans than being age appropriate for talking mouses another year. He's a young man, apparently, and has enough "bro's" to fill up a buddy list. I can just see them sitting the bench during a little league game in the dugout texting each other...

"plz pas BZUKA b4 3d out" ...

I hate how I sound when I say this - "when I was their age" I don't recall being marketed to so emphatically, so, without forethought. The pie was smaller then. There were not as many pieces to have, and it couldn't be sent by e-mail or IM. Those were the days.

Last week, my one year old daughter, that's one year old daughter, screamed with delight as she recognized Elmo and Dora in Barnes & Noble and Target. Oh, not forgetting the Dora Spagehetti-O's at the corner grocery. "MOM!" The baby yelled. "MOMMA...DIS! Me! Dis!" She was successfully marketed to. She wanted "this".

I suppose I'm a hypocrite for writing on my laptop with the Dora potty in plain sight. I suppose I play along when I let them watch these media everywhere types so I can cook and write, or fold laundry. But, I have decided, I draw the line at iPhones, or any phones for that matter, for my 8 year old son. That's just me. Our circumstances don't necessitate, or even allow consideration of it.

I'm trying so hard to remain an idealist and logical consumer in today's world. Trying even harder to raise them. Besides, if I wait long enough, I'm sure idealism will be in style again.

What do you think about this - IDLZM ... a good screen name or better name for an energy drink? Nah, it probably wouldn't sell.

The Benefits of Walking

Recently, I couldn’t ignore the banshee like sound my brakes made every time I pulled up to a stop sign. My friend called me the other day when I was approaching her house. “Hey, sounds like you’re about five minutes away, I need more like ten, if that’s ok?” I told my Mom this story, and she then insisted I take it into the shop. “ What? But I wanted to go to Wawa, what am I supposed to do?” “ It’s called walking,” she said. “ Mom, it’s like 5 miles away.” “It’s more like one, and you go on that elliptical everyday. You can’t walk a mile?” This is a woman who walks everywhere, whose car has 50,000 less miles than mine and is around the same age. I decided to take her advice (she had a small point), and walk. It was effortless: I was listening to my ipod, cutting back on emissions and getting in shape. I really do enjoy walking, ( especially around Europe, where renting a car was completely out of the question), just not to a store ten minutes away. But now I’m re-thinking my attachment to my car and realizing it’s completely unhealthy.I would rather not refer to myself as lazy, but when I live a couple blocks from Wawa and insist on driving I have to admit the action reeks of lethargy. It’s not that I don’t enjoy driving cars anymore, I just don’t enjoy driving my car. It’s constantly causing me strife: oil leaks, a squeaky break, broken windshield wipers, claims it can reach mythical speeds. So why do I continue driving it? My boyfriend from high school once challenged that my car could go up to 90 mph- I protested, but he did it anyway, and I admitted defeat. The next day I was rounding a corner when the entire bottom of my car fell out in the middle of the road. Ever since then my car has gone to shambles. This summer I’m going to give it a break and start walking short distances. That way that iced coffee can be enjoyed in the heat during the walk back- the way it was supposed to be enjoyed-as opposed to nestled in the cup holder of my car.

The' Art of Eating Gelato' part 1

Summer's half gone and I have not had my gelato for the summer of 2007 yet. I am counting down the days to that first gelato of summer 2007- (I will be back at my office in Italy at the end of July).

You know we divide the seasons by how many gelati we have had. We always celebrate our first gelato of the year and mark it as a special time. And it is a memorable time savoring every drip of that wonderful creamy confection.

But you know, to really enjoy the perfect gelato you must learn 'the art of selecting gelato'

First:
*Be sure to have gelato in places that make ' gelato artiginale'- this means they make it from scratch. There are many chains that are poping up all over Italy that buy the gelato pre-made and don't make their own in house production.
*Also take time to savor your gelati and learn to distinguish intense flavors and narrow down who makes the best gelato. All gelati are not created equal. And if you ara true gelato afficianado you will not eat gelato unless it is at its' best.
*So many gelato flavors to choose from
. Decide before you get to the gelateria what flavors you will get or at least think it out before you get there so that you will get the flavors that will make your own tastebuds dance! If you are a chocohalic-be sure you get at least one dip of a chooclate flavor in your cone. pair it with a complementary flavor-banana, torrone, (or for a really intense chocolate experience) another chocolate based flavor. The more thought that goes into what you put into your cone- the more chance you have of making this a tastefully intense experience.

My favorite flavors are : baci, gianduja, kinder, cioccolato, torrone

What are yours???

Stay tuned for my favorite pics for best gelato places in Italy..

Purchase the bestselling book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking at http://www.marialiberati.com/ in the months of July and August 2007 and receive a sample ofthe new spice blend developed in Italy- Sapori D'Italia. Also receive $5 off retail price and free shipping and handling .This is a limited offer only. Poritons of sales go to Gilda's Club http://www.gildasclubnyc.org/

Technorati Tags : gelato, ice, cream, chocolate

Summer: Enjoy It While It Lasts

Something dawned on me today: summer is passing by too fast! Every year I await these three months as if my life depends on it. (in some cases it does :) Don't get me wrong, I adore the winter months, however snow and ice can get old real fast. And although the spring and fall seasons are enjoyable as well, they really don't hold a candle to summer time.

June through August contain a sense of freedom and relaxation for me. Perhaps I have not been out of college long enough to remove them from "my off months," none the less I eagerly await them every year. I have fond memories of family vacations to the beach. Sure my family has our own dysfunctional episodes comparable to "Everybody Loves Raymond" or "Little Miss Sunshine", but they are mine. These vacations never eliminated animosity, only removed it for the time being.

Another fond memory associated with summer is the drive-in movie theatre. Now, I am well aware that this is a "country thang" but it really is quite an enjoyable experience. For those of you who have never experienced the drive-ins, I strongly urge you to venture out and find one near you! I can recall carpooling with friends, laying out on blankets, having the car windows down so we could hear the movie dialogue on the radio, and enjoying two great movies for barely the price of one. Folks, it really is good fun!

Perhaps those of us who experience the four seasons anticipate summer time a little more. My mother brought up an interesting point the other day (amidst my moaning and groaning that summer is passing too fast), she said "hunny, you wouldn't enjoy summer the way you do now if you lived in a climate like this all year round." My mother is both smart and beautiful. However, in this case she is completely wrong!

Summer Fling or the Real Thing?

There are more guitars in my house than people, so it’s of mild surprise that I don’t play the instrument despite the shrines my mom and dad have set up around the house. I’ve dabbled with the violin, had a seven year tumultuous affair with the piano, yet somehow my desire to play the guitar never peaked. Like a child growing up with too much junk food, I’d been turned off to the instrument, content with listening to others play. When I was in high school, I would return home to hear my parents playing guitar together upstairs, my dad on his white electric guitar and my mom strumming on acoustic, each “singing.” Every once and a while my dad would break out a pair of random bongos he owned. “They’re totally sober, I swear,” I told my friends.
Now that I’m older, I’m sick of seeing the guitars slouched in their holders, shining and intimidating none-the-less. I am going to conquer this instrument, I will master “Stairway to Heaven” even if it takes me a whole year.
I could save money and learn from my parents, brother, or various friends who play the guitar; however, I find that getting out of the house and being in the “teacher/student” environment makes me work harder. If I know I’m paying money for the lesson, there is no way I’m wasting that time. I’m ready for the calluses on the pads of my fingers, and my remarkably small hands are going to have to stretch to make those chords. Who knows, maybe with a little bit more commitment, experience and maturity, my involvement with the guitar will resemble a healthy relationship as opposed to a summer fling.

SUMMERTIME…AND THE COOKING’S EASY

I have spent the last two weeks planning the menu for one day of the year, July 4th. After our seventh bedtime conversation about dry rub versus marinade for the ribs, my husband stated that I give more energy to planning meals than I do to, say, the laundry or weeds in the yard. My response to him was, “Doesn’t everyone?”

Apparently not. I can’t speak for non-foodies, but I love the culinary opportunity to win them over. You see, I am a hopeless foodie, and summer holiday gatherings are the high holy season for me. Give me a special occasion, some hungry people with the day off work, a ball game on the radio - and I accelerate into ecstatic high gear of menu research and guest appeasement.

It’s my thing.

I have torn through the recent issues of food magazines and my library of season-based cookbooks, and I believe I’ve got a winning menu this year. I’m sticking with what works – fresh fruit, grilled meats, cold salads, non-baked desserts and lots of bottled water.

So if you don’t want to, can’t find the time to, or simply don’t have the inclination to plan a menu for the festive, sunny days of July – let me help. I won’t overwhelm you with recipes, I offer only tips to make the most out of your summer parties. My only belief about the month of July is that it should be fun – for children, for adults, but also, for the designated chef.

Appetizers
Wet everyone’s appetites with the freshest fruit and vegetables you can find.
Crack open a sweet watermelon and let everyone serve themselves. Squeeze some lemon juice and coarse grain salt over ripe avocados and watch them disappear. Slice some fresh cucumber on the bias and drizzle with rice wine vinegar and red pepper flakes – the idea is, keep it simple. You need this time to apply sunscreen on youngish cheeks.
The most complicated thing I plan to do for the first stage of my holiday menu is make fresh salsa.

Main Course
Who has time to stand in front of a hot grill all day when you could be playing Marco Polo, a pick up baseball game, or building a sand castle? Do a few things ahead of time to expedite the cooking.
Cook ribs partially ahead of time in the oven so the grill time is minimal (and the meat more tender). Put the cheese inside of the burgers and allow yourself to get carried away in nostalgic conversation. Brine chicken breasts the night before (yep, overnight) so the meat doesn’t dry out on the grill.
Seafood cooks up evenly and is so aesthetically pleasing on the grill, especially when skewered. I’ll be plucking some Meyer Lemons off the backyard tree, squeezing over the shrimp kebabs, drizzling some olive oil and salt before they go over the flames – that is really all they need.
The toughest decision I’ll be making over my main course is what to stuff the burgers with – feta or bleu? What to top the chicken with, barbeque sauce or mango salsa?

Side Dishes
Let’s talk about barbeque cookware. Throw some sliced mushrooms, zucchini, eggplant, or peppers into a grill pan and they cook in no time. How about quesadillas? A tortilla on a barbeque skillet topped with cheese, fruit, herbs or vegetables - finger food for the kids, done.
Salads you can take credit for (mostly) – cooked fusilli pasta tossed with your favorite vinaigrette dressing, sun-dried tomatoes, green beans and goat cheese…things you have on hand. How about just buying a potato or macaroni salad from the deli and doctoring it up when you get home?

Dessert
Ever done a s’more on the grill? Try it this year. Assemble as usual – graham cracker, marshmallow, chocolate, graham cracker – and wrap in foil before placing on the grill, or use another clever grill pan. Watch the pool or salt-water soaked little ones wrapped in terrycloth towels gather around you as you lick the chocolate off your fingers.
You won’t find me inside the house frosting a cake made from scratch. I’ll be at the head of the outdoor assembly line with the other Mommies, scooping mounds of store-bought vanilla ice cream into plastic bowls, topping with fresh berries, and almonds toasted on, you guessed it, a clever grill pan. If that isn’t putting a healthy, sophisticated and easy spin on a classic American sweet treat I don’t know what is.

Now go enjoy yourself. You’ve done your share. Summer is appointed the literary metaphor for high points and bliss for good reason. Savor every morsel while you can.


Samantha Gianulis is an author, editor and columnist living in southern California with her husband and their three children. To read more from Sam, log on to her website www.samanthagianulis.com, or her blog, http://samanthagianulis.blog.com.