Tuscany in 2014

Did you know that Florence, Italy was the first place to use a fork at the table?  Yep, it's true... more than 200 years before the French did; not that it's hard for anyone to believe when you really think about it ;o)  Not to knock French Cuisine or table manners at all but there has always been a mysterious if not alluring quality to Italian cooking and Italy in general..(my personal opinion of course).  I mean seriously, just take a moment and look at Tuscany will yah?!

What's not to like about it?  Okay, so maybe acres and acres of sunflowers aren't your thing...

But you can't deny that the architecture alone is breathtaking...

                                       

Of course then there's the FOOD, the MARKETS, the quaint family owned establishments that have been serving the same white bean and shrimp stew since the beginning of time... oh and did I mention the FOOD?

Tuscany comes to mind when I think open air markets ...

                                         

...and fabulous grand villa's stretched out along the rolling hillsides.  

                                          

I had a trip planned for May of 2013, but well, best laid plans... Needless to say, I'm a force to be reckoned with and intend on venturing out again in 2014... I'm looking at June for a 10 day cooking tour of the region.  I have to tell you, I CANNOT WAIT!  This is the year and I'm going!  Thanks to the kind folks at PRONTO.COM I've been learning Italian on my 2 hour daily commute (each way mind you) in preparation of a flawless holiday experience.  This will include but not be limited to wonderful eateries (seen here)...

I no doubt will enjoy all of the following deliciousness:

I'll explore the surrounding "villaggios" and discover a whole new world of food from the farms;

to the markets;

to the tables

And then, I'll fill my basket full of fabulousness and make my way back to the villa; inviting new friends to join me for dinner.

They, of course, will bring the wine.

Here's a little something that is super easy and completely deeeeeeeelish!  Buon appetito!

What you need...

• 6 red or yellow bell peppers (or a mix), cut into 1 inch wide strips (along the longest length, in order to have long strips)
• 1 lb. ground meat (I use turkey)
• ¼ lb. mortadella (a delish Italian sausage, heat cured pork to be precise)
• ¼ lb. cooked ham
• ½ cup bread crumbs
• 1 egg
• salt and pepper to taste
• toothpicks
• extra-virgin olive oil

How to do it...

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).To make cutting the bell peppers into strips easier, you can first soften them by placing 2-3 at a time inside a small plastic bag and heating them up in the microwave for 2-3 minutes. The vapor that forms makes them soft and easier to cut and clean.
2. Prepare the meat filling by processing the mortadella and ham in a mixer or blender. Add to the ground turkey in large bowl, then add the bread crumbs and egg. Mix well. Add salt and pepper.
3. Take some meat and spread it on the bell pepper strips with the back of a spoon. Take one end of the strip and roll up onto itself until you have a small roll. Fasten closed with one or two toothpicks.
4. Pour enough olive oil into a long tray to cover bottom. Place the rolled up bell peppers flat on one layer, close to each other (you should see the meat filling from the top and rolled up peppers). Bake for 20-25 minutes or until tops of rolls are slightly browned. Remove and let cool 10 minutes before serving. Also tasty served slightly warm.

As always, it'll be deeeeelish!  Enjoy!  

xo the sunflower

www.thesunflower.biz