I want to go to Italy!

I am not sure if it's the recent hosting of the limoncello party or that in my creative writing time my thoughts keep wandering back to a story about three girls who embark on a journey to Italy together but lately all I can think about is how am I going to get myself there?

I mentioned my desire to someone the other day and he went on and on about a wonderful trip he took to Florence years back.

As a baker and someone who loves to cook I know I am drawn to the food there but it's also the pictures of the gorgeous land that I want to touch and feel up close.

I am also drawn to the strong sense of family and the art. Imagine actually walking around the Pitti Palace and Gardens?

I want to see the back streets. I want a restaurant owner to invite me into his cellar and let me try his limoncello. I want him and his wife to tell me about wonderful family stories. Even if I can only understand their tales through expressions and gestures because my Italian won't be very good --just a few phrases I'll have picked up here and there.

I suppose getting myself to Italy is as simple as setting a date and a goal for myself. I've done it before--with my baking business and the finishing of my recipe book!

In the meantime, I have Dreamy Island Cookies and Lemon Cake for sale at the farm alongside my recipe book. Do pick it up and take a look!

Ciao!

Blueberry & Walnut Empanada!

Here is a super scrumptious recipe for using the abundance of all those fresh plump blueberries.

Empanada's are so much easier to make than people realize and they freeze great for later use.

Empanada's are a Latin inspired puff pastry-you can use traditional empanada dough or just as easily substitute pre-made refrigerated pie crust. They are nice for an afternoon snack with tea or as a breakfast treat with a cup of coffee.

Rolled out refrigerated pie crust, cut into 5 in. circles
Cup fresh (or frozen) blueberries
3 Tbsp. cream cheese
1/4 cup walnuts, finely chopped
Tbsp (or more) brown sugar

1 egg, slightly beaten, to brush top

Place cut out circles of dough on clean work surface. Drop a few fresh blueberries, 1/2 tsp. of cream cheese, sprinkle of chopped walnuts and brown sugar in center of each circle. Fold over one edge to meet the other side of dough and crimp around edges with a fork to seal. Brush a bit of egg on top of pastry to glaze. Place empanada's on a greased cookie sheet and bake at 325 degrees for about fifteen minutes or until pastry starts to slightly brown. Let cool slightly. Enjoy!
Yield: 1/2 dozen or so

Meet Me in My Cape Cod Kitchen

Meet Me in My Cape Cod Kitchen: Recipes from West Falmouth Baking Company is complete and ready for sale for $12.95. It includes (among other things) my recipes for Dreamy Island Cookies, Lemon Cake and Cranberry Biscotti.

A local food writer has planned to write a review of the book in the Falmouth paper in a couple of weeks. She sent a note earlier today to say she really liked the book.

I will also have copies of it for sale at the Coonamessett Farm store, include it as an option in my gift baskets and if people prefer they (for now) could send me an email to order a copy. You can probably pay by pay pal and I'd be happy to ship one out to you.

It's been fun to think up a creative project (like putting together a collection of my best recipes) then seeing it through to completion.

The Limoncello Girls!

On Sunday, my girlfriends and I hosted a sweet summer backyard barbecue by the water-a celebration of the summer of sorts!
We kicked the party off with a homemade Limoncello tasting. Guests took sips and were asked to come up with fancy names for our versions of the delightful Italian liqueur.
The names were read and guests voted on their favorites. A prize was offered to the best name.
The Limoncello girls first gathered last fall. We brewed up this idea to make our own Limoncello at my birthday party. We got together about a month later for evening lemon zesting and girl talk.
While making that first batch we gathered three times-each time became a mini party among friends. Then we shared homemade Limoncello with friends and family last Christmas.
In February, we met up again at one of the Limoncello Girls' book signings and chatted about our desire to get together and make some more. We did.
The party became a celebration of The Limoncello Girls and our desire to have fun and throw fabulous parties.
Lots of guests arrived in fancy yellow attire and we served them my lemon cakes and a friends delicious lemon squares for desert! One guest even arrived by boat and docked right at the house. Another guest offered her incredible home made fudge and the chocolate became the best accompaniment to the tart lemon treats.