What Are Tartufi? A tartufo (plural tartufi) is a what we call a truffle in Italian. We’re not talking about chocolate truffles, even though they are also delicious! Tartufi are a kind of tuber, the fruiting body of a type of fungus that spends its whole life underground near tree roots. They look like a …
Sometimes you want nonna’s incredible ragù (meat sauce), but you don’t want to spend all day cooking. This is one of my go-to recipes as a mom here in Italy, and I’m sure it will become one of yours too! It’s an easy ragù recipe that’s relatively hands-off (hey, amazing food requires some prep) and …
Easy Ragù Recipe (Full of Veggies!) for Busy Parents Read More »
Are you thinking about moving to Italy, but you want to know more about Italian schools? Or perhaps you’re traveling here with your kids and want to be able to explain what school is like in Italy. Our family lives in central Italy, and my three boys were born here and have lived here their …
Education in Italy – 20 Things that May Surprise You About Going to School in Italy Read More »
Italian Grocery Stores– different types of supermarkets in Italy, important things to know about shopping, helpful tips, useful words and phrases for shopping at an Italian grocery store and more! Ah, grocery shopping in Italy. Is it really romantic like they show it in the films? Skipping along cobblestone streets, stopping in at the jolly …
Italian Grocery Stores – A Visitor’s Guide + Helpful Tips Read More »
Picture this. You’re on vacation in bella Italia and you’ve just checked into your B&B in Florence. You drop your bags, walk into the bathroom to check it out and… you see a little basin next to the toilet. What is this toilet buddy? Is it a second toilet? A mini laundry sink? A drinking …
The Italian Bidet – How to Use It (+ Helpful Tips) Read More »
Aperol spritz is considered the classic Italian cocktail, but its cousin, the refreshing Hugo cocktail (aka Hugo spritz) is a favorite of many Italians, especially in the hot summer months! The perfect place to drink one is in the Dolomites, while looking at the mountains and the bright green hills. But, if you can’t make …
Hugo Cocktail Recipe – Straight from South Tyrol Read More »
Pesto, aka pesto alla genovese is a traditional Italian sauce made using: Basil (from Genova) Extra virgin olive oil Parmigiano reggiano Pecorino romano Pine nuts Garlic Salt If you want to make authentic pesto alla genovese perfectly, there are quite a few steps and it takes a while. I’m a busy mom, and if you’re …
No-Fuss Basil Walnut Pesto Recipe (for Busy Moms) Read More »
Panzanella (often called Italian bread salad or panzanella salad) is a classic summer dish in Italy. It combines leftover ingredients like yesterday’s bread with fresh, in-season vegetables. You’ll find it on the menu in Italy in the summer, and it’s easy to make at home too! Panzanella is a piatto povero or ‘poor man’s …
Traditional Panzanella Salad Recipe – Straight from Italy (+ helpful tips) Read More »
One of Italy’s beloved summer dishes (along with classics like insalata caprese) is panzanella. It combines leftover ingredients like yesterday’s bread with fresh, in-season vegetables. If you’re gluten-free, panzanella is off-limits due to the bread, but we’ve got a simple substitute. Now you can have gluten-free panzanella with this easy and delicious recipe! Good …
Gluten-Free Panzanella – An Easy & Delicious Recipe Read More »
Did you wander through the fruit and vegetable mercato in Italy and do a double-take when you saw a humongous lemon? That wasn’t a lemon you saw – it’s called a cedro. What is a cedro, you ask? Cedro Basics A cedro (pronounced CHEH-droh) is a citrus fruit, known in English as a citron. A …
