SALUTATION TO 2011

2011
a bit sweet, a bit sour and a bit crunchy!

My RAVIOLONI WITH CRANBERRY AND PINENUTS
represent perfectly the qualities of this year,
that I salute and let go!!!!

Prepare a pastry like the one I use to make a "crostata",
roll it very fine and then cut it with a round cutter.
Prepare some cranberry jam: mix 1 cup of cranberries with
1 TBS sugar, 1 TBS lemon juice and a cinnamon stick and
boil for 15 minutes or till the cranberries pop; let it cool.
Put half tsp of jam in the middle of the round pastry,
add a pinch of pinenuts, then cover with another pastry circle
and press borders with fingers to make them stick together.
Prepare all the ravioloni and then transfer on a baking shit
lined with parchment paper.

Bake for 15/20 minutes or till golden.
Serve with a sprinkle of confectionary sugar!
Bite into it and savour the balance between the sour, the sweet and the crunchy!!!

GOODBYE 2011!!!!

BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM AND STAY HEALTHY

We love parties!!!!!
We eat, we enjoy sweets, we drink nice champagne, then we drink again wine, we dance and our spirits rejoy.
Our bodies, though, don't agree with our spirits and become stressed!
Let's help them feel stronger preparing a super-healthy-recharging concoction!
Shitaki mushrooms: super antioxidant
Kombu seaweed: detoxifing and full of mineral salts
Ginger root: anti-inflammatory and digestive
Miso paste: super powerful probiotic
Soy sauce: source of good ferments

After drinking it for few days, your body will be ready for all the Holidays fuss!!!!

DEPURATIVE AND RE-ENERGIZING MISO SOUP

Boil 4 cups of filtered water with 1 piece of Kombu, 2 inch fresh ginger and 4 shitaki mushrooms for 30 minutes.
Remove from stove and add 2 TBS soy sauce and 1 TBS barley or rice miso paste (salty taste can be adjusted adding more soy sauce).
Strain and serve only the liquid in a cup.