Stress Free Cooking
by
Barbara Seelig Brown's
Lifestyle Designs

barbara@stressfreecooking.com

My Favorite Things
By Barbara Seelig Brown

Oprah has her favorite things. I am sure you do too. Many of my favorite things are food and wine related and come in handy for the holidays for both entertaining and gift giving.

The Myth of Fresh Truffles - The Black & White Diamonds of Italy's Piemonte region

The intoxicating aroma is unmistakable. It is hard, if not impossible, to describe a fresh white or black truffle, which is what contributes to the mystique of the jewels of Piemonte. In an attempt to describe them, I would say they have an earthy, garlicky essence to them and are wonderful paired with eggs and risottos or simply sliced over chicken, asparagus or filet of beef. A truffle slicer, resembling a cheese plane including a thick/thin adjustment on it, is essential so that you don't waste a bit of your truffle. You must be conservative when selecting and serving truffles; they are one of the most expensive foods in the world! In ancient times, Truffles were considered aphrodisiacs. Just the smell alone transports you to another place! Truffles are available in many specialty markets and by mail thru www.shopdarosario.com.

Grana Padano - Recognized as one of the original hard cheeses of Italy

First created by Cisterian Monks over 1,000 years ago, it is the most popular eating cheese in Italy. Grana Padano has a grainy texture which is very different from many other cheeses. It is made from partially skim milk which gives it a lighter, sweeter and more versatile quality than those made with whole milk. It is also lower in saturated fat than many cheeses. Look for the name Grana Padano (www.granapadano.it) on the rind to ensure that you are getting the authentic cheese.

Italian Wines - so food friendly, versatile and delicious!

The perfect example of their versatility is the Ruffino family of fine wines. Many of you may think that Ruffino is one huge company, but it is actually a series of ten smaller estates in Tuscany that all create very different wines. Each one specializes in their own special varietal, harvesting by hand in the true Artisinal fashion. Ruffino estates encompass land from Siena to Florence which allows more room for variation in style.

Chianti Classico is probably the most recognized Ruffino wine in this country but there are many others of note.

Ruffino Orvieto is a very light, dry, easy quaffing wine which is superb before dinner or with lighter meals. It is 50% Procanico, 30% Grechetto, 10% Verdello, and 10% Cannaiolo bianco which creates a fresh, fragrant wine with notes of meadow flowers, clover and green apples. This is a great white wine to have on hand for parties, both summer and winter.

Chardonnay Libaio Ruffino - Italian Chardonnay has a fresher taste than comparably priced California chardonnay. It has the classic straw yellow color and bouquet but remains fresh and fragrant with a good balance and finish of breadcrust.

Modus - Toscana IGT, which is 50% Sangiovese, 25% Cabernet, and 25% Merlot. This is a wine that is drinkable now but will also age well for 10 years. The Ruby Red color is complemented by the fruity, vegetal and floral aromas which are typical of these grape varieties. With good structure and rich, noble tannins, the wine has a long finish.

Lodola Nuova - Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG is an intense and deep red wine made up of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot. There is also a Riserva which is a bit more complex due to the longer aging period. Either way, these wines are perfect for the serious red wine lover in your home or on your gift list.http://www.ruffino.it

You can visit www.ruffino.it for more details.

ŠBarbara Seelig Brown, all rights reserved

Stress Free Cooking by Barbara Seelig Brown's Lifestyle Designs

Stress Free Cooking
by
Barbara Seelig Brown's
Lifestyle Designs