Loving chocolate....

No many weeks to Christmas....you can find chocolate in many shapes and forms !!!

Here an example of what I have bought last year during the holiday.....

I look forward to enjoy some more chocolate soon!

Santa Claus or Babbo Natale!!

Chocolate nativity

The Gran Tour : for some but not for all!

Galleria of Roma Antica

Do you like to travel? Have you ever been in Italy? Do you like to go and see wonderful places without stress and rush? 

Come with me and have fun!!!!

I'm going soon!!! More details for next tours coming soon!

Ciao,

Simona

Your connection to Italy

Let's cook Italian

The term is gone, however there will be a new Italian Cooking course starting in May at New Farm State School. 

The course is limited to 8 people and it runs for three consecutive weeks.

In classes you cook, you eat and you meet some new friends!

So....I see you in class!

Here I'm in class with my students! We are preparing cannelloni and scaloppine!!!

                         

A presto!!!

Future trips to Italy - ITALIAN WORKSHOP

Have you got intention to travel to Italy and want to learn Italian? You have purchased tickets for a group tour to some of the most beautiful cities or regions of Italy or are you visiting relatives, but you can't speak the language.......what purpose will that map with all the historic sites, churches, and art museums serve if you can't ask a question in Italian, decipher an Italian menu, or use the phone in Italy?

It's not enough to pack your bags and watch Italian movies before you arrive in Italy. Whether you're going to visit the world-famous cities of Florence, Rome, and Venice, or on a pleasure holiday on the Amalfi Coast or the beautiful Sicily, there are a multitude of ways to improve your Italian skills before your trip.

Learn the basics with an Italian workshop of three hours. You will be introduced to the most important phrases and sentences that you will use when travelling. This workshop will give you the confidence to ask your way around; book your accommodation and transport; ask for directions; understand menus in restaurants; and greet people and make friends. 

The workshop is specifically designated for people who need a quick introduction to the language, in order to get around when visiting Italy. 

Course cost: $100 (including materials) - 

For any enquiry you can contact Simona HERE 

BE QUICK!

The traditional ITALIAN CIAMBELLONE in two colours

If you like to cook, here for you a unique Italian cake, the ciambellone. 

Have you ever tried this cake when you were on holiday in Italy?

This is an old traditional cake, usually prepared during the Winter time. Loved by children, but also by adults, the cake is perfect for breakfast or for an afternoon snack. 

So here the recipe for you!

INGREDIENTS

• 3 eggs
• 300 grams all purpose flour
• 200 grams sugar
• 1/2 glass of oil
• 1 glass of milk
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• some butter to grease the pan
• cocoa powder

Empty bowl 

Ready to go in the oven

Ciambellone 

And then.... what are you going to do?

Easy, here the INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat the oven at around 180 C, if not forced. First of all beat the eggs with the sugar until you obtain a nice zabaglione, then add the baking powder, the milk and the oil, and finally the flour and mix until evenly combined. You can either use a whisk, as well as a food processor. YOUR CHOICE!

Grease your baking pan with butter and then add some flour. Move the pan until all the surface is covered with flour to prevent the cake stick while it cooks in the oven.

Add half of the butter into the pan. Then add cocoa into the half batter still in the bowl and mix until blended, and pour gently over the other batter already in the pan.

Cook between 30 and 40 minutes, depend on the oven.You can check if it's ready by piercing the cake with a toothpick. If it comes out clean, it's ready!

BUT REMEMBER DON'T OPEN THE OVEN FOR THE FIRST 20 MINUTES OTHERWISE IT WILL COLLAPSE.

NOW... Try the recipe and then let me know what you think!

A presto!

The Italian ciambellone 

L'infinito

If you have a good knowledge of the Italian language and you want to practise here for you one of the most famous and beautiful text written by Giacomo Leopardi, estrapolated from the "Canti".

Brisbane

Sempre caro mi fu quest'ermo colle,
e questa siepe, che da tanta parte
dell'ultimo orizzonte il guardo esclude.
Ma sedendo e mirando, interminati
spazi di la' da quella, e sovrumani
silenzi, e profondissima quiete
io nel pensier mi fingo: ove per poco
il cor non si spaura. E come il vento
odo stormir tra queste piante, io quello
infinito silenzio a questa voce
vo comparando: e mi sovvien l'eterno,
e le morte stagioni, e la presente
e viva, e il suon di lei. Cosi' tra questa
immensita' s'annega il pensier mio:
e il naufragar m'e' dolce in questo mare.




NEED TO PRACTISE YOUR ITALIAN?

A presto!

Bella VERNAZZA!!!

BEAUTIFUL VERNAZZA FOR ALL THE ITALIAN LOVERS!!!
WALK AND ENJOY THIS MAGNIFICENT AREA OF LIGURIA