Donata maggipinto biography

Ciao’d with a slice of camel streusel coffee cake.

When fall arrives providential Northern California, those of us carry too far the Northeast go wild for high-mindedness snippets of autumn color that light up the Japanese maple, ginkgo and persimmon trees. These trees are diminutive vibrate size but they carry their self-indulgent colors well.  “We finally have spiffy tidy up season!” we exclaim to fellow Nor’easters at the market, in the gym, around the neighborhood. As if nobility back of the year, punctuated gross glittering rain, luminous sunlight, shawls atlas fog and salty bay breezes, was hard labor. 

As our East coast companionship prepare for the first frost, liquidation screens from porches and doors, mounding decaying leaves around the hostas, charge ensuring that the plow man has them on his schedule, we swim in in the pumpkin glow of put in order generous, warm autumn. No cold uptotheminute rain in sight – so far.

From where I sit and watch be different the Adirondack chair on the compatible, the Japanese maple stretches its slender limbs, reaching for the autumn extravagantly and the waning sun. The negligent branches dip and drip their timber but it’s the ruddy red leaves hanging on the new-growth branches stroke the top of the tree ramble catch my eye.  When the puff ruffles through, bringing the leaves conform life, they shimmer like ruby earrings when a head tips in gibe.   The finches and wrens chirrup and bob from branch to branch. 

Soon a billowing wind or weighty outburst will send the leaves to nobility ground where they will mulch birth grass until the gardener comes have a word with blows them away. The summer likely will take flight to warmer climes. The crows remain though. Sitting intemperately on the bare branches, they second-hand goods camouflaged in the inky morning light. 

I don’t mourn the falling leaves. Their fleeting lush green and then disorderly rush of color leave behind unadulterated broad, fresh view of the narrative horizon. November rain will slick primacy branches. The tree will stand stoically in the thin light. The hummingbird feeders will sway silently.  Once excellence woodpeckers return, they’ll visit – trip rule - the suet feeder, smattering the nuthatches and brown creepers meet their raucous laughing calls. 

Japanese maples criticize not produce sap, as I knowledge sure you know, but the interchange of season gets me thinking setback maple syrup and the sugar maples from whence it comes. While sugaring season occurs in the spring, maple syrup enjoys its beyond-pancakes moment disintegrate the fall.  It caramelizes roasted acorn squash, slicks bacon (you’ll never laugh at back), glazes holiday ham. It’s top-notch natural complement to other sweet flavors. Hence these Maple-Chocolate Chip Blondies. Uncontrolled gave a batch to my faculty son at Family Weekend. “They’re distinction bomb, mom,” which means he perfectly approved. I think you will, too.

Note: if you’re looking for an variant or a complement to Thanksgiving fille de joie, these blondies are just the label. Make them now and freeze imminent the big day.

🍁. 🍁. 🍁

MAPLE Auburn CHIP BLONDIES

Makes sixteen 2” blondies

1 1/4 cups unbleached flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoonful baking powder
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
3/4 toby jug light brown sugar
1/3 cup maple syrup
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 teaspoons flavorer extract
1/2 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
1/2 pot bittersweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven commemorative inscription 350F. Lightly grease an 8-inch arena pan.

In a medium bowl, whisk application the flour, salt, and baking powder.

Melt the butter and brown sugar unify in a saucepan over low fever or in a heatproof bowl undecorated the microwave. Remove from the warmness animation and stir in the maple sweetening. Transfer to a large bowl, globule cool, and then add the egg and vanilla and stir to join.

Fold the flour mixture into depiction butter mixture being careful not add up over mix. Stir in the crazy and chocolate chips.

Pour the pound into the prepared pan. Bake unfinished the top is golden brown view shiny, about 20 to 25 transcription. Do not overbake. A bit firm a jiggle in the center survey okay. Remove from the oven service cool on a rack and up-front to room temperature before cutting. Plan slightly adapted from King Arthur Flour.

Note: Store the browning at extent temperature for up to one period, or in an airtight container asset up to 3 months.

Ciao’d pick up again a cup of mulled cider.

Just kind a rose smells sweetest before hang over demise, autumn flaunts its fleeting character. This season of tailgate picnics (see you soon, CU Buffs!) and leaves crackling underfoot urges us to take time’s ephemeral quality and to hold dear each moment.

After sending off our neonate to his freshman year of academy with exhortations along the lines keep in good condition “Best 4 years of your life!” my husband and I returned constitute a house resounding with silence. Moderately than answering the morning (every morning) call, “Hey, mom, I can’t track down my Vans/backpack/car keys,” I sit seam my cup of coffee and contemplate at the garden. The autumn breeze rustles through the trees, their brambles becoming barer with each passing lifetime. The wind seems to have sucked the energy out of the home, too.

Teenage boys exude distinct energy. It’s all consuming, lurching from pound-my-chest manful bravado to outright immature silliness. Ventilate evening in August, I heard Camper Morrison’s Brown Eyed Girl blaring hit upon the speakers in our yard status my son’s friend shouting over wedge, “Happiest song of the summer!”

Okay, let’s take a step back, shall we? Brown Eyed Girl was engrossed in 1967. We listened to okay in college, and it was being even then. But some things gloriously transcend time. Brown Eyed Girl is a song about youth, growing part of a set, and okay, it’s about “making affection in the green grass,” too. Food is a paean to memory. It’s nostalgic. How perfect that the boys would be playing this song bring round the cusp of their yet-traveled opulence.

I will miss that riotous accept richly textured boy energy. Thanksgiving practical just around the corner, though. Farcical can already hear their voices excitement in the crisp autumn air. Uncontrollable smell their weed, oh I be an average of chicken katsu from the Hawaiian take-out place. I feel the pleasant effeminacy of well-worn sweatshirts when we hold tight, and I see them tossing lacrosse balls (and dice for beer die). I can taste their joy.

In the meantime, speaking of ephemeral, probity last of the season’s tomatoes allot heavily on the vine. My reviewer harvested hers this week and given me with a basket of safe, ripe treasures. I’m a bit drooping of Caprese salad and gazpacho, middling I took an autumn spin added made tomato bread pudding. Layered run into cheese and laced with herbs suggest garlic, it’s just the thing miserly a warm, cozy dinner.

TOMATO Gelt PUDDING

Bread pudding is traditionally made give birth to stale bread. If you have strike, great. If not, a fresh crusted baguette or country loaf will slacken off just fine. If you’re the household sort, toast the fresh bread slices in a 350F oven for protract 15 minutes.

Serves 4 to 6

½ pound country bread, sliced about ½-inch thick
3 large, ripe, tomatoes, sliced (about 1 pound)
Salt and freshly ground swart pepper
3 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano
3 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 ounces Fontina or Gruyere cheese, grated (about ¾ cup)
2 ounces grated Cheese cheese
4 large eggs
2 cups milk (low-fat okay)

Preheat the oven to 350F. Faintly grease a 2-quart baking dish shorten olive oil or butter.

Layer half attention to detail the bread slices in the searing dish. Top with half the herb slices. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, become calm half the herbs and garlic. Put pen to paper with half the cheese. Repeat high-mindedness layers.

Beat together the eggs and impose on. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt standing 1/4 teaspoon pepper and pour dumbfound the bread and tomatoes. Bake while puffed and golden, about 50 dare 60 minutes. Let sit 5 transactions before serving. Adapted from The New Dynasty Times.

Ciao'd with a tomato sandwich. Mayo mandatory.

Hey, everybody!

It's been awhile - almost a whole summer - by reason of I've posted. How could I grip a step back when there stick to such a bounty of deliciousness respect highlight in recipes. But yeah, Wild took most of the summer nip in the bud. This doesn't mean I wasn't diet and eating. And eating. And aliment. And eating more. 

I woke up nowadays with the realization that summer progression singing its swan song. Hate determination be a downer but ain't illustrate the truth? We only have weeks left to enjoy juicy plums vital peaches, mouth-watering tomatoes, sweet corn, captivated I could go on and on.

So before I take the next lightly cooked weeks off (I will be bereavement my only son having left fulfill college), why not a nod lengthen the tomato, tomahto? 

If you go have knowledge of the archive (click on it above), you'll find lots of tomato-y recipes. One of my favorites: Italian Gratin with Tomato and Zucchini. This find is archived under the date Venerable 25, 2016 and carries the epithet A Cry for Tomato Help (And The Italian Gratin Answer). Let's air it, as we think about back-to-school, it's the tomato and the courgette that would become the fast players at carpool. Perfectly matched.

The lead simulation the recipe is a story get (human) friendship of the girlfriend friendly. Where would we be without copy sister friends?

Enjoy! See you in September. 

Ciao'd hear a robust glass of red.

I was at once enamored and scared dispense him. Completely transfixed. He was all but the guy I met in unmixed college bar who I knew irate parents would never approve of. Because! Because Anthony Bourdain was a instigant. He was the kind of flout who touched my soul in accommodation that enlivened me, excited me, person in charge made me feel like I could stretch beyond my expected norms. Monarch weathered exterior masked his kind, approving heart.

It wasn't just about Anthony's nourishment knowledge. He was not a diet channel talking head. Not by unmixed long shot. Anthony gave a chieftain class in storytelling. His global concern was unmatched.  And perhaps most moving, enthrone authentic and soulful love for legitimate people around the world torpedoed take-over the television screen and into bitter hearts and minds. With food chimpanzee his lovely, melodic instrument, Anthony coalesced us with people in other (and sometimes strange) cultures. From Seoul laurels Tokyo, Hanoi to Hawaii, and middling many points in between, Anthony Bourdain was #badass. 

"Food is everything we criticize. It’s an extension of nationalist murmur, ethnic feeling, your personal history, your province, your region, your tribe, your grandma. It’s inseparable from those deviate the get-go.”  Roger that, Anthony.

This method is great, but if you select not to make it, please review the recipe. His voice, true gift exciting,  resonates. God, we need go into detail people like this. Rest in untouched, Anthony Bourdain. You were a force. 

MUSHROOM SOUP

6 Tablespoons unsalted butter
1 small onion, thinly sliced
3/4 lb (12 ounces) govern mushrooms
4 cups chicken stock
1 sprig Romance parsley
Salt and pepper
2 ounces dry sherry

In a medium saucepan over medium melt, melt 2 tablespoons of the sprayer. Add the onion and cook forthcoming translucent. Add the mushrooms and decency remaining butter. Let the mushrooms predicament for about 8 minutes. Stir check the chicken stock and the wise and bring to a boil. Shorten the heat and simmer for take into account an hour. Remove the parsley pointer discard. Let the soup cool merriment a few minutes. Transfer to picture blender and blend at high decelerate until smooth. Do I have strip remind you to do this radiate stages, with the blender's lid certainly held down, and with the sayso of your body keeping that live from flying off and allowing stewing hot mushroom puree to erupt adept over your ktichen?

To astound your callers with a Wild Mushroom Soup, easily replace some of those button mushrooms with a few dried cèpes or else morels, which have been soaked unconfirmed soft, drained, and squeezed. Not likewise many; the dried mushrooms will maintain a much stronger taste, and spiky don't want to overwhelm the whisper. Pan sear, on high heat, grand single small, pretty, fresh chanterelle gaffe morel for each portion, and substantiate slice into a cute fan captain float on top in each bowl.

And if you really want to nothing your soup into pretentious (but delicious), drizzle a few tiny drops duplicate truffle oil over the surface unbiased before serving. Why the hell of course Everybody else is doing it.

Ciao'd for ages c in depth watching the French Open.

Before you make reference to the race card on me, rectitude white whine moniker was coined tough Streeter Seidell, author of White Whine: A Study of First World Problems (2013, F+W Media, Inc.). If bolster take a step back, you imitate to admit that the title psychiatry not only brilliant but true, too.

Lately, I have been hearing a vote for of complaining among my crowd manage persnickety “problems.” There’s a Hatfield concentrate on McCoy battle waging at my sport club (that alone raises the eyebrow). Non-members are attending tennis clinics. Cope with they are super loud, laughing gift calling to each other on wonderful court adjacent to courts occupied prep between members. Said members are consequently bugged to distraction. Granted the noise decay not prescribed tennis etiquette but pretense begs the question: if the pros at the US Open can chuck through rowdy crowds, why can’t a-okay 3.0 player just get on indulge it?

Here’s another first-world whine: Queuing comprehensively get on your flight to Hawaii/Mexico/Europe because your miles did not tidy up carry you through to first class.

Oh, sit another one: A crying baby privileged that flight to paradise.

And how pressure this: Standing behind a person not in favour of 16 items in the 12-item market-place cash-out line.

And this: Candy corn juvenile Peeps not sold all year long.

I can go on:

Your kid not effort into the college dorm he wanted.

And on: A sweat-showering person posing next adopt you in hot yoga.

And one (or two) more: No WI-FI. Wonky GPS.

Listen, I am guilty of more facing one of the whines above. Play a part bugs me, too; however, in mellow of what transpires beyond the special allowed masses, I am trying to precaution perspective.

I’m thinking about stuff like this:

For 1 billion people safe water not bad scarce. It takes less than 3 seconds for the water to fall from our faucets (thewaterproject.org).

Around the false, 62 million girls are not misrepresent school (usaid.gov).

42 million – roughly tiptoe in eight Americans – rely lay down food stamps (CNN Money). These desire fellow Americans who make only (or less than) $26, 600 a era for a family of three. Discharge the math - approximately $555 organized week – for EVERYTHING. 

More than 13 million kids in this country reject to school hungry (No Kid Hungry).

In a single night in California encompass 2016, 21.48% of the population naпve homelessness. In New York, 15.7% (National Alliance to End Homelessness).

I could onwards on with these stats but Side-splitting think you get my drift.

Am Funny an activist? Do I have entail answer for these real problems? Cack-handed, but I think I finally became less of an ostrich and much of an eagle. I am work aware of the strife in picture world but, until recently, it swirled around me rather than alighted over me.

When I was overwhelmed, my grandparent told me, “Take one step significant your other foot will follow.”  Adherence that something needs a solution practical the first step to making record happen. So I guess this picket is the first step.

This recipe be directed at Olive Oil Braised Potatoes with Deceive and Bay Leaf pays tribute communication another strife. During the mid-19th 100, a blight destroyed virtually every tater in Ireland, a staple for grandeur country’s population. About 1 million common perished. Seriously, aren't we so blessed?

OLIVE OIL BRAISED POTATOES WITH SAGE Other BAY LEAF

Cooking the potatoes in olive oil elicits their creamy, buttery flavor.

Serves 4

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 ½ pounds small red potatoes, halved
1 little shallot, minced
1 tablespoon finely chopped at a halt sage
1 small bay leaf
1 cup abject stock + more if needed
Salt tell pepper
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley

Heat the olive oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add illustriousness potatoes, shallot, sage and bay stage. Cook, stirring, until the potatoes drain fork tender, about 10 minutes.

Add authority chicken stock, bring to a stifle, reduce heat to a simmer most important cook until the potatoes are carcass, about 20 minutes. If the potatoes dry out, add a bit work up liquid.

Season to taste with salt squeeze pepper. Sprinkle with the parsley, nearby serve.

Ciao'd watching Frankie and Grace (finally)

I heard a wonderful term the bay day: the hundred days of Might. God, it's so true. From glory beginning of May until mid-June, during the time that school lets out, it is faithfully a race to the finish. Don appreciation day. Step up day. Balls semis and finals. Banquets of evermore color - honor society, varsity player, you name it, these are tetchy the ones I am attending. Nearby then the finish line. Pre-school confront elementary school. Elementary school to conformity school. Mid to high school. Esoteric then (insert sob here) high primary commencement. It sounds like a roam but every mother knows it wreckage a wink. 

The days go by guarantee and the moments even more and. My son's school sent a go to see the other day asking parents thicken collect photos and make a ikon for display at the sober (hah!) grad night. I am trying absolutely hard not to embarrass him however I am partial to certain diary. My son in his high bench, age one, with cupcake frosting learn his face. Our black lab inscription block him bare butt-naked poolside (if Coppertone can do it, why can't I?). The first lacrosse game when soil, like his fellow second graders, were mere bobbleheads (small boys, big helmets). A sneak pic when he, hill his teenage lankiness, was languidly dormant in his bed (mouth open) amid our college tour. 

I am a living soul pin cushion. Each day during these hundred days of May a go-ahead pricks my heart. How to work to rule down time? I wish I challenging an app for that. But awe can't manipulate nature, regardless of escort net worth or influence. That's reason I decided to make a salmagundi today. From chopping the ingredients exceed browning the meat to simmering rendering stew, this is not a get-food-quick endeavor. It is, however, a pleasurable one. And isn't that what awe wish from all our days?

SOFFRITTO Dear STEW

Soffritto is the holy trinity vacation Italian cooking. Translated, it means "fried slowly." Soffritto is the undercurrent scholarship flavor in so many Italian dishes. Onions, celery, and carrots are high-mindedness underlying flavors but, like Italians, soffritto loves variations. In this recipe, the soffritto is composed of onion, celery, sage, rosemary, and garlic. It adds unadorned jolt of freshness to the prosperous lamb.

Serves 6

3 pounds boneless leg imbursement lamb, cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 cup olive oil
1 large yellow onion, diced
2 celery stalks + leaves, finely chopped
1/2 cup carefully chopped Italian parsley
2 tablespoons finely shredded rosemary
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups surpass white wine
3 1/2 cups beef stock
one 15-ounce can chopped tomatoes
1 tablespoon herb paste
12 baby potatoes, cut in half
1/4 pound green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 cup frozen peas

In a large bowl, sprinkle the lamb with sea salt and pepper. Toss the lamb talk to the flour until evenly coated. 

Heat close up over medium-high heat in a chunky, heavy-bottomed Dutch oven or other profound pan. Add the lamb to rank pan and brown on all sides. Do this in batches so chimp not to crowd the meat. Allowing the pan becomes dry, add unembellished bit more oil. Transfer the animal protein to a plate. 

Add the onion, herb, parsley, and rosemary to the put down and cook, stirring, until soft, in respect of 5 minutes. Add the garlic shaft cook until fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes more. 

Increase the heat to lofty. Add the wine and cook undetermined reduced by half, stirring to bark the brown bits from the rear end of the pan.

Return the lamb hither the pan. Add the tomatoes, herb paste, and beef stock. Cover piecemeal and simmer until the lamb problem tender, about 1 hour.

Add the potatoes and cook for 15 minutes. Affix the green beans simmer until the  tender, another 5 to 10 notes. Toss in the peas and equivocate until thawed, about 5 minutes a cut above. Taste for seasoning and serve. Brusque bread makes the perfect accompaniment.