Shrimp salad with chickpeas ( Insalata di Gamberi con Ceci )

Shrimp salad with chickpeas ( Insalata di Gamberetti con Ceci )

INGREDIENTS ( Serves 4 )
• 300g chickpeas
• 400g peeled shrimp
• 1 clove of garlic
• A handful of parsley
• Juice of one lemon


PREPARATION:
Chop garlic and parsley and put them to fry in a pan. Then add shrimp and cook for 5 minutes. Cool down the shrimp. Add chickpeas and juice of the lemon and mix. Refrigerate for several hours.

Tuscany in a Nutshell E-mail: tuscanyinanutshell.blogspot(at)gmail.com

By Tuscany in a Nutshell Tuscany in a nutshell on Google+ Published: 24 / 08 /2012 Updated: 24 / 08 /2012

The Mall Outlet

 Via Europa 8, Leccio - Reggello (Firenze). Aperto da Lunedì a Domenica dalle 10.00 alle 19.00.

Immerso nella campagna toscana , a è  certamente tra gli outlet più famosi della Toscana, per il suo stile elegante e raffinato. Si trova a pochi chilometri dall'uscita dell'autostrada A1 Incisa-Reggello 
Questo outlet è specializzato nelle grandi firme di lusso e  dell'alta moda, che lo hanno reso famoso.  Si può passeggiare tra negozi dedicati all’abbigliamento e agli accessori donna, uomo e bambino, oltre che alle fragranze, alle calzature e agli articoli per la casa.
 Qui si trovano i negozi di Gucci, Ferragamo, Cavalli, Armani, Valentino e Tod's tra i designer italiani. Per le grandi marche straniere abbiamo invece Alexander McQueen, Burberry, Stella McCartney e Yves Saint Laurent. 
Poiché sono tutti famosi designer dell'alta moda anche se i prezzi sono outlet, rimangono spesso alti e poco accessibili però per chi vuole comprarsi un articolo griffato è proprio il posto ideale. I visitatori possono poi rilassarsi sul terrazzo del Caffè da dove si può ammirare la splendida e idilliaca campagna.


Come raggiungere l’outlet:   si trova a circa 30 km da Firenze, vicino all’uscita A1 Incisa- Reggello e proseguire sulla destra in direzione Pontassieve fino a raggiungere Leccio. The Mall si trova sulla sinistra appena superato il centro di Leccio. 
Da Firenze, ci sono autobus BUSITALIA/SITA tutti i giorni (dalla stazione SMN di Firenze, Via Santa Caterina da Siena, 17) che vanno diretti al The Mall (biglietto costo 5 euro a persona corsa semplice) Un servizio giornaliero collega il centro di Firenze a The Mall e viceversa. I visitatori possono essere prelevati dagli alberghi del centro. Per informazioni e prenotazioni contattare il Centro informazioni. Tel (+39) 055 8657775.  
Con il treno: Prendere il treno dalla stazione Santa Maria Novella di Firenze fino a Rignano Sull’Arno. All’arrivo, continuare il viaggio prendendo un taxi, sempre disponibile. (5 minuti)




 Via Europa 8, Leccio - Reggello (Florence). Open from Monday to Sunday from 10.00 to 19.00.


Immersed in the Tuscan countryside, it is certainly among the most famous outlet in Tuscany, for his elegant and refined style. It is located a few kilometers from the motorway A1 Incisa- Reggello
This outlet specializes in designer luxury and high fashion, which made it famous. You can stroll through the shops for clothing and accessories for women, men and children, as well as fragrances, footwear and household goods.
 Here there are shops like Gucci, Ferragamo, Cavalli, Armani, Tod's and Valentino among Italian designers. For large foreign brands instead we have Alexander McQueen, Burberry, Stella McCartney and Yves Saint Laurent. Since they are all famous designers of high fashion even if the prices are retail outlets, are often high and difficult to access but for those who want to buy a designer item is just the place to be. Visitors can then relax on the terrace of the Cafe where you can admire the beautiful and idyllic countryside.


How to reach the outlet: is located about 30 km from Florence, just off the A1 Incisa- Reggello and go right towards Pontassieve up to Leccio. The Mall is located on the left just past the center of Leccio.
From Florence, there are buses BUSITALIA / SITA daily (station SMN of Florence, Via Santa Caterina da Siena, 17) which should be directed to The Mall (tickets cost 5 euros per person one way) A daily service connecting the center of Florence to The Mall and vice versa. Visitors can be collected from downtown hotels. For information and reservations, contact the Information Center. Tel (+39) 055 8657775.
By train: Take the train from Santa Maria Novella in Florence until Rignano Sull'Arno. Upon arrival, continue your journey by taking a taxi, always available. (5 minutes)

Tiramisu

Tiramisu

INGREDIENTS
• 500g mascarpone
• 3 eggs
• 160g sugar
• 200ml fresh cream
• 50g icing sugar
• 50g unsweeted cocoa powder
• 400g pavesini
• 200ml coffee


PREPARATION:
In a medium bowl beat the egg yolks with sugar until the mixture is soft and fluffy, then add mascarpone. In the meantime prepare coffee and allow to cool. In a another bowl, mount the three egg whites until stiff; in a another bowl whip the cream with icing sugar. Incorporate the cream into the mixture first and then the egg whites. Soak in the bitter coffee pavesini for a few seconds and dispose in one layer in a baking pan made of porcelain. Pour over biscuits layer mascarpone cream and deploy on the layer the cocoa powder with a sieve. Continue until all the ingredients are finished and make in the manner that the last layer is cream. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

INGREDIENTI
500g mascarpone
3 uova
160g zucchero a velo
200ml crema fresca
50g zucchero
50g cacao amaro polvere
400g pavesini
200ml caffè


Sbatttere i rossi di uouvo con lo zucchero fino a che il composto non sia soffice, poi aggiungere mascarpone. Nel frattempo preparare il caffè e lasciarlo raffreddare. In un altro recipiente , montare i bianchi di uovo a neve, in un ulteriore ciotola montare crema e zucchero a velo. Incorporare la panna nel composto e poi gli albumi. Immergere pavesini nel caffè amaro per alcuni secondi e creare uno strato in una teglia di porcellana. Versare sopra la crema al mascarpone sullo strato di biscotti e poi distribuire sullo strato della polvere di cacao con un setaccio. Continuare fino a quando tutti gli ingredienti sono finiti e fare in modo che l'ultimo strato sia crema. Mettete in frigo per almeno 4 ore.

Tuscany in a Nutshell E-mail: tuscanyinanutshell.blogspot(at)gmail.com

By Tuscany in a Nutshell Tuscany in a nutshell on Google+ Published: 25 / 07 /2012 Updated: 25 / 07 /2012

Coccoli ( Bread dough fritters)

Coccoli ( Bread of ball fried )

INGREDIENTS
• 500g flour
• 350 ml water
• 25g brewer’s yeast
• Salt
• sugar
• Extra virgin oil
• Oil for frying


PREPARATION:
In a medium bowl pour the flour. Dissolve the yeast in 100ml of lukewarm water, add a pinch of sugar, then pour it in the bowl and mix with fingertips. In the meantime add some water. Add 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin oil and knead until the dough is soft but not sticky. Cover the bowl with a damp cloth and let rise until the dough has doubled in volume. Heat the oil for frying in a deep pan. Coccoli are completely immersed in oil. Cook over medium heat. Flour your fingers and make some balls of dough. The size of these balls must be more or less that of walnut. Fry balls in hot oil. Add salt to the surface and serve very hot balls with ham and soft cheese.


INGREDIENTI
• farina 500g
• 350 ml di acqua
• 25g di lievito di birra
• Sale
• zucchero
• Olio extra vergine
• olio per friggere


PREPARAZIONE:

In una ciotola media versare la farina. Sciogliere il lievito in 100 ml di acqua tiepida, aggiungere un pizzico di zucchero, poi versatelo nella ciotola e mescolare con i polpastrelli. Nel frattempo aggiungere dell'acqua. Aggiungere 2 cucchiai di olio extra vergine di oliva e impastare fino ad ottenere un impasto morbido ma non appiccicoso. Coprite la ciotola con un panno umido e lasciare lievitare finché la pasta avrà raddoppiato di volume. Scaldate l'olio per friggere in una padella profonda in modo che i coccoli sono completamente immerso in olio. Cuocere a fuoco medio. Infarinare le dita e fare alcune palline di pasta. La dimensione di queste sfere deve essere più o meno quella di noce. Friggere le palline in olio caldo. Aggiungere il sale in superficie e servire i coccoli molto calde con prosciutto e formaggio morbido, come lo stracchino.

Tuscany in a Nutshell E-mail: tuscanyinanutshell.blogspot(at)gmail.com

By Tuscany in a Nutshell Tuscany in a nutshell on Google+ Published: 21 / 07 /2012 Updated: 21 / 07 /2012

Panzanella ( Italian tuscan bread salad )

Panzanella ( Italian tuscan bread salad )

INGREDIENTS
• 2 large ripe tomatoes, cut into bite-size pieces
• 1 small cucumber, peeled and diced
• 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 cup fresh basil leaves, torn into small pieces with your hands
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
• 8 slices thick stale country style Italian bread, torn into bite-size pieces (sourdough is also good but not something you use here in Italy)


PREPARATION:
1. first wet bread with water  and let it soak some of the water up, then with your hands squeeze all of the water out and place bread in a bowl. 2. In the same bowl, combine the tomatoes, cucumber, onion and basil. Drizzle with the 1/2 cup olive oil, season with salt and pepper and toss well. 3. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour or until serving time. Just before serving, toss the salad and adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper.

Tuscany in a Nutshell E-mail: tuscanyinanutshell.blogspot(at)gmail.com

By Tuscany in a Nutshell Tuscany in a nutshell on Google+ Published: 23 / 06 /2012 Updated: 23 / 06 /2012

Cuttlefish in tomato sauce ( Seppie in Umido )

Cuttlefish cooked in tomato sauce ( Seppie in umido )

Direct link

Serves: 3 dozen 
INGREDIENTS
• 500g cuttlefish
• Tomato sauce
• A clove of garlic
• A small bunch parsley
• Salt
PREPARATION:
Wash well cuttlefishes and slice them. Chop finely garlic and parsley and brown them in a medium pan. Pour cuttlefishes in the pan. When the cuttlefishes’ water is a little bit retired, pour the tomato sauce in the pan. Add salt. Cook for about 40 minutes, however, when cuttlefishes are not soft.


INGREDIENTI
• 500g seppie
• Salsa Pomodoro
• Spicchio di Aglio
• Prezzemolo
• Sale 

PREPARAZIONE:
Lavare le seppie bene e tagliatele a fettine. Tritare finemente l'aglio e il prezzemolo e fateli rosolare in una padella media. Versare nella padella le seppie. Quando l'acqua delle seppie 'è un po' ritirata, versare la salsa di pomodoro nella padella.Aggiungere il sale. Cuocere per circa 40 minuti, fino a quando le seppie non sono morbide.

Tuscany in a Nutshell E-mail: tuscanyinanutshell.blogspot(at)gmail.com

By Tuscany in a Nutshell Tuscany in a nutshell on Google+ Published: 05 / 05 /2012 Updated: 05 / 05 /2012

Florentine Tripe ( Trippa alla Fiorentina )

Florenine tripe ( Trippa alla fiorentina )

This recipe is very popular, especially in Florence, where you can buy it at the market stalls, in a particular way at San Lorenzo market.  It is easy to cook, its flavor is simple yet decided

SERVING 2
INGREDIENTS

• 400 g tripe
• 300g Tomato sauce
• 1 onion
• 1 carrot
• 1 celeery
• Salt, pepper
• Chilli, if you like it
• Extra-virgin oil
• 100 g Parmesan cheese

PREPARATION:
Chop the onion, pour oil and fry it in a pan and brown the onion. In the meantime, slice tripe thinly, wash well and drain it as well. Pour it into the saucepan. Add tomato sauce, season with salt and pepper, if you like add a little chilli. Cook for about 30-40 minutes. When cooked, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and let stand for 5 minutes and serve piping hot tripe .


TRIPPA FIORENTINA: 
 Questa ricetta è molto popolare, specialmente a Firenze, dove si può acquistare presso le bancarelle del mercato, in modo particolare al mercato di San Lorenzo. E 'facile da cucinare, il suo sapore è semplice ancora deciso 
 Dose: 2 

INGREDIENTI 

•  400 g di trippa 
• Salsa di pomodoro 300g 
• 1 cipolla, 1 Carota, 1 Sedano Sale
• peperoncino 
• Olio extra vergine di 
• 100 g di parmigiano 

PREPARAZIONE 
 Tritare la cipolla, versare l'olio e friggere in una padella la cipolla e marrone. Nel frattempo, affettate sottilmente la trippa, lavare bene e scolare pure. Versare il tutto nel tegame. Aggiungere la salsa di pomodoro, condire con sale e pepe, se vi piace aggiungere un po 'di peperoncino. Cuocere per circa 30-40 minuti. A fine cottura, cospargere con parmigiano e lasciar riposare per 5 minuti e servite ben calda la trippa

Tuscany in a Nutshell E-mail: tuscanyinanutshell.blogspot(at)gmail.com

By Tuscany in a Nutshell Tuscany in a nutshell on Google+ Published: 01 / 05 /2012 Updated: 01 / 05 /2012

Cantuccini di Prato - ( Prato bisquits )

CANTUCCINI DI PRATO

Serves: 3 dozen 
INGREDIENTS
• 400 g flour
• 250 g sugar
• 150 g almonds, unpeeled
• 3 eggs
• 3 egg yolks
• 1 tsp baking powder
• pinch of salt


PREPARATION:
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
2. Mix 2 eggs, egg yolks and sugar in a bowl. Add the flour and the baking powder and the pinch of salt. Toast the almonds, when they are cold, add the mixture. 
3. On a clean surface, turn out the dough and shape it into some roll: the should be 3 fingers wide and tall one finger.
4. Place rolls in oven, brush them with eggs and bake for about 15 minutes, then remove rolls from the oven. The roll should be warm and firm; place it on a cutting board and cut diagonally, making 1 cm wide slices.
5. Place the slices back in oven and leave some space between each slice. Bake for 10 minutes to150°C.. Remove and let cool. 
These cookies are traditionally enjoyed together with a good glass of Vin Santo. It is common Tuscan tradition to dip the cookie into the Vin Santo.

PREPARAZIONE

1) Pre-riscaldare il forno a 180 gradi.

2) Tostare le mandorle.

3) Mischiare le due uova e i tuorli di uovo 

4) Aggiungere farina e lievito, con un pizzico di sale.

5) Aggiungere mandorle alla mistura.

6) Su una superfice pulita , fare dei rotoli spessi 3 dita e alti 1 dito .

7) Cuocere i rotoli per 15 minuti.

8) I rotoli dovrebbero essere caldi e sodi, su un tagliere fare "fettine" diagonali di 1 cm.

9) Rimettere in forno i biscotti lasciando spazio fra ognuno. Cuocere per 10 minuti a 150 °c

Tuscany in a Nutshell E-mail: tuscanyinanutshell.blogspot(at)gmail.com

By Tuscany in a Nutshell Tuscany in a nutshell on Google+ Published: 22 / 04 /2012 Updated: 22 / 04 /2012

Recipe of Liver Crostini

Crostini di fegato - Liver patè crostini

Serving: 5/6 INGREDIENTS

1. 1 medium onion, chopped
2. 5 or 6 chicken livers
3. A knob of butter
4. 3 anchovies
5. 4 hg spleen, chopped
6. salt
7. vegetable broth
8. loaf of Tuscan bread, cut into diagonal slices and toasted slightly

PREPARATION
1. chop the onion and then in a saucepan melt butter with onion. Add clean liver pieces and cook for a few minutes. Once the liver is colored, add clean spleen and broth.
2. Continuing cooking at medium heat until there is no more blood visible. Add salt. Once the patè is thick, place it into blender and blend well. Add anchovies and a little butter. Cook for about 5 minutes.
3. Let cool. Spread the patè on the toasted bread slices and serve.

Tuscany in a Nutshell E-mail: tuscanyinanutshell.blogspot(at)gmail.com

By Tuscany in a Nutshell Tuscany in a nutshell on Google+ Published: 16 / 04 /2012 Updated: 16 / 04 /2012

Breasts of chicken "Suffer little", aka Roulade of chicken with bacon

BREASTS OF CHICKEN "SUFFER LITTLE", aka Roulade of chicken with bacon

SERVING 2, INGREDIENTS 
•    4 Breasts of Chicken
•    8 Slices of beacon ( 2 for breast )
•    salt and pepper
•    garlic  
•    rosemary
•    sage

Finely chop rosemary, sage and garlic.
Beat the chicken breasts with meat mallet and sprinkle with the chopped aromatic, add salt and pepper
Place a slice of bacon on the chicken breast and roll up.
Then you have another slice of bacon on the outside and close to form a roulade.
Arrange the rolls in a baking dish, grease, sprinkle a little with the mixture and bake at 180 degrees for 25 minutes

PETTI DI POLLO "PENA POCO", aka Involtini di pollo con pancetta
INGREDIENTI PER 2 PERSONE
•    4 Petti di pollo a fette
•    8 Fette sottili di pancetta
•    Rosmarino
•    Sale e Pepe
•    Salvia
•    Aglio

Tritare finemente rosmarino, salvia e aglio.

Battere il petto di pollo col batticarne e cospargerlo con il trito aromatico, salare e pepare

Disporre una fetta di pancetta sul petto di pollo e arrotolare

Poi disporre un’altra fetta di pancetta all’esterno e chiudere per formare un involtino .

Disporre i rotolini in una pirofila, ungere , spolverare ancora un po’ con il trito e infornare a 180 gradi per 25 minuti

Tuscany in a Nutshell E-mail: tuscanyinanutshell.blogspot(at)gmail.com

By Tuscany in a Nutshell Tuscany in a nutshell on Google+ Published: 08 / 04 /2012 Updated: 08 / 04 /2012

Orange sponge cake

TRADITIONAL ORANGE SPONGE CAKE

One of the most important traditional tuscan cake, is orange cake.
The recipe is very easy to do , and the cake is one of the best of all tuscan recipes.
you can eat in the morning or for a break, very simple but very good.
INGREDIENTS

• 300g flour 
• 300g sugar 
• 3 oranges 
• 3 eggs 
• 75g butter 
• 1 packet baking powder 

PREPARATION 
Separate egg yolks and egg whites and beat eggs yolks and sugar with an electric mixer. Add the flour gradually, add oranges juice, orange peel, melted butter and baking powder. Whip the eggs whites until stiff and incorporate them into the mixture. Now mix with a ladle from the bottom to the top. Put the mixture into a buttered pan or, if you prefer, cover the pan with parchment paper. Put in preheated oven at180 for 35-40 minutes. If you like, decorate with powdered sugar

Tuscany in a Nutshell E-mail: tuscanyinanutshell.blogspot(at)gmail.com

By Tuscany in a Nutshell Tuscany in a nutshell on Google+ Published: 05 / 04 /2012 Updated: 05 / 04 /2012