The Art of Italian Finger Food...

  My family visited Italy for spring break a couple of years ago, and ever since then, we have all been obsessed with extra virgin olive oil, fresh colorful food, and the family style atmosphere of each eventful meal.  Back home in Birmingham, Momma started putting together an anti-pasta plate from the fabulous Frank Stitt Bottega Favorita cookbook.  

Bottega Favorita

Cookbook 

  This particular plate includes hard boiled eggs, roasted red peppers, olives, cucumber, tomatoes, prosciutto, salami, etc.  However, on my current budget, it works better to empty the fridge... in my fridge turkey, hummus, tomatoes, arugula, cucumbers, and beets.  The more color the better!  Drizzle a little extra virgin olive oil, add salt and pepper.  Use your hands, and don't worry if it gets a little messy!

via instagram

PS if you crave the rich, colorful, awesomeness of beets... Momma taught me to put them in the oven at 400F unpeeled wrapped in foil with olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper... for about an hour... when soft, peel and eat!  

Delicious!

Food Lover...

I admit, I am not a precision cook, I am a guess-estimator.  I love putting on some music, pouring a little wine, and just going to work.

fresh kale... great winter green

 Usually I look through my cookbooks and on the internet (foodgawker.com is a favorite) to find a combination of vegetables, take notice of any other special ingredients, and then I just start... olive oil and minced garlic are a base for any dish.  

chickpeas...

On the menu tonight... pasta with kale, chickpea, and sausage served with bread and lemon based vingerette salad.

baby argula + salted almonds + parmesan cheese + homemade lemon vingerette dressing

sauce = kale + tomatoes + chickpeas + sausage

over whole wheat pasta

all photos via instagram

BON APPETIT!

Off to a new start...

As our family gathered together to celebrate the New Year, we decided to take advantage of the clear, cold night and eat dinner outside.  Though it was a last minute decision, we were able to put resources together quickly.  We moved the table toward the outdoor fireplace, threw a circular burlap table cloth on a rectangular table, added mismatched candles, surrounded by different peas and beans, add everyday woven place mats, plates, and silverware, and viola... we had a lovely, simple table to begin the new year.  Though we were worried about the cold, we have pyromaniac family members who were overly ecstatic to build a scorching fire, which kept everyone comfortable, except for those nearest, who, of course, had to move.  Inspired by the simplistic beauty of the evening and the warmth of the fire, we began looking for future outdoor settings, after all you never know what may happen in the new year...        

Our cozy ambiance via Instagram.

Modern outdoor fireplace via Coastal Living

We could definitely deal with this setting...

Plates, napkins, flatware (fancy gold), woven placemat, cozy throw, amber goblets

Just for future reference...maybe 2013?