Cooking class con Novella

Friends, it is killing me that inexplicably the computer I borrowed from my sister refuses to connect to the internet because I have so many photos to share with you. Despite the size, I've included one below: hand-rolled trofie (a pasta shape) with pomodorini (a tomato sauce) and toasted bread crumbs. This afternoon, I took a four-hour private cooking class during which time I learned to make two different pasta doughs, three different pastas, three sauces and the beautiful dessert, Mille Foglie.

Yes, that's true and awesome. I now know how to craft orecchiette and trofie as well as spinach-ricotta-stuffed ravioli, both squares and mezzalunas. I can make a traditional broccoli sauce for the first, a tremendous pomodorini for the second and a fascinating sausage/sweet onion/saffron/cream sauce too. Chef Novella also shared a pesto rosso recipe that I cannot wait to try: sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts, vin santo-drenched raisins and a few other ingredients which are escaping me now because I am very tired.

Having a newborn is a lot of work, even if you are just an engaged auntie who is smitten with him.

Novella made her puff pastry for the Mille Foglie from scratch which she said is a hell of a job. I might just buy mine. She said doing so is worth every penny. The cream is like best-ever vanilla pudding mixed with whipped cream. OMG.

At Elia's apartment tonight, we cooked everything and were so full after our flight of pastas that we saved the dessert for tomorrow. I can't wait!!

www.em-i-lis.com  

Italia: Day 3

I feel profoundly happy to not be covered in pet hair right now. This is a surprising aspect of my happiness right now, and one of which I'm enormously aware. I have not had to lint-roll myself since Monday morning! Tremendous. Happy Thanksgiving, American family and friends. Elia loves Thanksgiving so we are having a small one here. This morning, we went back to Mercado Centrale to pick up a few remaining items for tonight's meal, including our turkey from the turkey guy. Look at the sign they have hanging over the stall.

www.em-i-lis.com

I inquired about the somewhat odd placement of the Stella di Davide, and the guy said, "I don't know. I'm Palestinian so it's not mine." His colleague said, "I think an American girl made this for us. It's about 15 years old now."

The whole thing tickled my funny bone.

Artichokes and porcini mushrooms are in season now- can you even get over the size of these mushrooms?? And the artichokes could not be fresher or more stunning, yes?

www.em-i-lis.com

www.em-i-lis.com

www.em-i-lis.com

For lunch we decided on lemon and ricotta ravioli and a kale salad with apples, Parmesan and walnuts. These ravioli render you certain of dying of bliss. Dressed with a simple lemon butter sauce, each bite is a cloud of perfection.

www.em-i-lis.com

www.em-i-lis.com

Our apple pie is cooked, the veggies are roasted, the turkey is in. I made a cipollini confit, and we're making a cornbread dressing too. Hope you are all happy, healthy and well. Warmest wishes from across the pond.