Oggi Cucino Vegetariano: two special treats

A cooking school with a view!

Today we Cook Vegetarian

Vegetarian recipes in Italian and Inglese

from Cook in Puglia:  Yle Sambati

PATATE AL SESAMO E ROSMARINO
1 kg di patate piccole
60 g di semi di sesamo
50 g di burro
rosmarino (un ciuffetto)
sale
 
Lavate bene le patate e fatele cuocere per 25 minuti con la loro buccia. 

Tostate in una padella i semi di sesamo. 

Nella stessa padella fate sciogliere il burro: saltatevi le patate, aggiungete il sale, conditele con il rosmarino e il sesamo e servite accompagnando con formaggio fresco, insalata o altre verdure.
 

POTATOES WITH SESAME AND ROSEMARY1 kg of small potatoes60 g of sesame seeds50 g of butterrosemary (a bunch)salt
 Wash the potatoes and cook for 25 minutes with their peel. 

Toasted in a pan sesame seeds. 

In the same pan, melt the butter: saltatevi potatoes, add salt, season with rosemary and sesame seeds and serve accompanied with cheese, lettuce or other vegetables.

CREMA DI PISELLI E MENTA 

400 g di piselli freschi
20 cl di panna da cucina
30 g di burro
1 cucchiaino di olio extra vergine d'oliva
peperoncino rosso in polvere
alcune foglie di menta fresca
sale


Lessate i piselli in poca acqua salata per dieci minuti circa.

Quando saranno pronti lasciateli raffreddare. 

Quindi metteteli nel mixer per ottenere una purea finissima insieme ad alcune foglie di menta. 

Fate fondere il burro in un tegame a fuoco moderato e unitevi la purea di piselli.

Aggiungete la panna, il sale, un cucchino di olio extra vergine d'oliva, il peperoncino.

Mescolate bene e decorate con foglioline di menta fresca, 

CREAM OF PEAS AND MINT

400 g of fresh peas
20 cl of cream
30 g of butter
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
chili powder
some fresh mint leaves
salt


Cook the peas in a little salted water for about ten minutes. 

When they are ready let cool. 

Then put them in a blender to get a fine puree along with some mint leaves.

Melt the butter in a pan over medium heat and add the mashed peas.

Add the cream, salt, a cucchino of extra virgin olive oil, chilli. 

Mix well and decorated with fresh mint leaves,

Interested in learning more about Vegetarian Cooking?  Now Cook in Puglia will add a Vegetarian cooking class for 2016!
  

Florence: Mail Box Etc has a new look

One of the rare times ALL members of MBE stop working for a quick photo!


In November there was a complete redesign of my favorite 
Mail Box Etc

The same great service for shipping, storing luggage by the week and even receiving packages and documents.

I have used their services for the past 5 years and feel they are like 'family'.  When traveling for a month or more, MBE will ship my bag ahead to my next location or even store it for me until I return.

And I always ship one bag home so I don't have to drag 2 bags to the airport or pay the additional bag fee!

You can read the original story here: http://bit.ly/1NHCfVU 

This location is very close to the train station, just off the Santa Maria Novella church piazza.

Mail Boses Etc:  MBE212

Via della Scala, 13

50123 Florence,  055 268173 

Mail Boxes etc Firenze 212  ceekayservice@dada.it  

  

When you stop by, tell them Home to Italy told you about their new store.

Florence: Hammered Gold Jewelry: an ancient tradition

                                                                                                                                  

Generations of Skill at the studio of  Nerdi in Florence Italy

Early in the morning, the Ponte Vecchio is still waking up. 
Shop owners  are removing the shutters and the dazzling glint of gold challenges the sunrise.   The mobs of tourists  and window shoppers will soon fill the street but for a short time it is quiet and almost deserted.

This is a wonderful time to walk the ancient streets of Florence.

If there are no cars on the back alleys and lanes, you can imagine you are back in the middle ages.

The Medici family put all the craftsmen and artisans who worked for the family in this former monastery and it continues to be the 'house of the goldsmith'.    Casa dell' Orafo

On the first floor a simple wooden door leads you into the studio of the Nerdi family.  My visit was arranged by 'Italian Stories' and I was warmly welcomed by Daniella, Silvia and Luca.

This is a working studio where not much has changed over the years  Perhaps the showcases for the fine jewelry pieces have been updated, but the work bench and many of the tools have not changed in decades.

Since 1948 Paolo Nerdi has worked in the studio when he was not much taller than the work bench he has used his entire career.

  

Today at the age of 81 he arrives every morning via scooter, even in winter!  He scrutinizes all the materials and gives advice based on decades of experience.     I was fortunate to meet him the day I visited.   Sig Nerdi's warm smile and greeting makes you feel as if you are a friend who has dropped in for a chat or to drop off a bracelet that needs repair.    

Today the workshop is run by Daniela, Paolo's daughter in law and "maestra d'arte orafa'.   A graduate of the Art Institute in Florence, Daniela and her colleague Luca, a 35 year veteran gold- smith,  create original pieces, engravings, where ancient jewelry can be restored, modified and renewed. 

Nerdi's does work for local jewelry stores, commissions, repairs as well as redesign for customers who want a new look for pieces they may have had for years.  There were a number of wedding rings being engraved today, happy work.

The hand engraving work is stunning and I fell in love with the piece in this photo.   Every stroke by a sure hand, every tool fitting the hand of the maestro as a glove.   

 Silvia was kind enough to translate for me as Paolo demonstrated some of the techniques used to create such fine works of art.  

The traditional method of crafting find pieces is still practiced in the studio.  Work done by a skilled hand reflects the years of training that is required.

A collection of more modern looking gold chain necklaces, bracelets and earrings caught my attention.  Silvia told me the studio was well know for the old style and technique of hammering gold.

I found little written about the technique but many interpretations on line.    Silvia supplied additional photos to demonstrate the process.

                                Hammered Gold 

                                

The technique and styles are the same used by craftsmen centuries ago and secret...

The gold is melted and from the liquid metal a golden plate is formed.  Slowly it is transformed into a golden thread:  passing through a sspinneret and it becomes thinner with every passage through the machinery.  

When it is thin enough it is passed through a spiral to create chain mails(circles).  The chain rings are closed and welded then hammered.   Now they are reopened and joined together to form the necklaces, bracelets or earrings you see here.  

The technique and the tools are part of the decades of experience that goes into each link.



Necklaces in different lengths, bracelets and earrings can be ordered directly from the studio.  Contact the studio for prices. 

             

Silvia was my patient translator for my visits to Nerdi's studio.
She graciously answered countless emails and questions.  
The historic information and photos of hammered gold are from Silvia.    Make an appointment to visit the studio and perhaps learn more about one of the many techniques the Nerdi studio specializes in.

The studio is open Monday to Friday

Nerdi Laboratorio Orafo Incisore

Vicolo Marzio 2

tel +39 055 292382

                                   

Additional history