Have you read The Hills Of Tuscany…a new life in an old land by Ferenc Máté? I am about half way through and I am in love with this tale of searching the hillsides of Italy. Máté and his wife, Candace, a painter, left New York and found themselves in Tuscany with 4 weeks to find their dream house and vineyard. As I said, I am still reading, but so far they have found everything but their house and vineyard, but Máté's descriptions of golden dales, scrumptious meals, rich wines, and friendly natives make for fun reading. And don’t miss their first experience of roasting chestnuts over an open fire!

I’ve also read Máté's A Vineyard in Tuscany and recommend it also….but then, if it is about Italy, wine, vineyards, food, etc. I am going to love it.

I went to a movie today….Burlesque, starring Christina Aguilera and Cher. I had a ball! The music was wonderful and Aguilera was incredible. I have to be honest with you, I had heard her name, but could not tell you what she looked like or what she sings. Now, I am most anxious to go pickup one of her cds.

If you haven’t seen the movie, go to www.burlesquethemovie.com and check out the soundtrack!

As for Cher….I was dreading seeing her, for fear she would be on stage, doing the old bump and grind routine, but fortunately, Cher played the part of an older, former burlesque star who now owns the theatre. She does two numbers that are very good….if only she hadn’t done something to her upper lip. It doesn’t move!
I think she had a Botox moment or two.



Okay, so much for my entertainment….

I’m having “the Girls” for lunch on Tuesday….haven’t decided on the menu yet, but I’m thinking about Panini, those wonderful Italian grilled sandwiches, along with a salad and dessert. In Italy, a panino (Italian pronunciation: [paˈniːno]) is customarily made from a small roll or loaf of bread, typically a ciabatta or a rosetta. The loaf is cut horizontally and filled with salami, ham, cheese, mortadella or other food, and sometimes served hot after having been pressed in a grill. A toasted panino, colloquially called "toast" by Italians, is made out of two vertical slices of pane in cassetta almost invariably filled with prosciutto and a few slices of cheese, grilled in a sandwich press. In Central Italy, there is a popular version of panino which is filled with porchetta, i.e. slices of roasted pork. It is traditionally served without any kind of sauce or topping

This recipe is perfect for right now….pears are so good.

TALEGGIO AND PEAR PANINI      Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

1 (1-pound) loaf ciabatta bread (or 8 slices country bread)
1/4 cup olive oil
8 ounces Taleggio cheese or brie, sliced
2 large pears, apples or peaches, cored and cut into 1/4-inch wedges
2 tablespoons honey
Pinch salt
Pinch freshly ground black pepper
3 ounces arugula or spinach

Preheat the panini machine. Cut the ciabatta loaf into 4 equal pieces. Halve each piece horizontally to make 4 sandwiches. Brush the bread on both sides with olive oil and place the bottom-half of the bread slices in the panini machine in a single layer. Heat until golden, about 3 to 4 minutes. Continue with the remaining top slices of bread.

While the top slices of the bread are in the Panini machine, begin forming the sandwiches. Divide the cheese among the warm bread. Cover the cheese with slices of fruit. Drizzle the fruit with honey. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Top with a handful of arugula. Place the warmed top half of the bread over the arugula and return the competed sandwich to the panini machine for 1 to 2 minutes more to finish melting the cheese. Remove from the panini machine. Cut the sandwiches in half and serve immediately.

Of course, Panini with ham and cheese are pretty darned special. Make it with Prosciutto and one of the delicious Italian cheeses….and there you have a true Italian Panino.