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Blueberry Cake

I love blueberries: they’re not just delicious fruits but, as a University of Michigan Cardiovascular Centre study suggests, they may help reduce belly fat and risk factors for cardiovascular desease and metabolic syndrome. I loke eating them with my breakfast bran cereals but I love also using them as ingredient for cakes and salads. Today’s recipe is my blueberry cake. You can eat it for breakfast (if you love sweets things as we Italian people do), as a snack during the afternoon or as a dessert. If you want to make it creamy, add a couple of tablespoons of the white chocolate desire. White chocolate taste matches perfectly with blueberries! Here is the recipe.

Suggested movie: My Blueberry nights (Kar Wai Wong, 2007)

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Aubergine Parmigiana
It’s still summer, although the weather this year doesn’t want to allow the sun to pop up regularly. Today I want to share with you one delicious summer Italian recipe: Aubergine Parmigiana. It’s a perfect dish for a lunch on the beach, for a pic nic or for a meal with friends. It’s definitely easy to prepare, but remember you need time to cook it. On Make it Italian blog you can find the original recipe but there are a lot of variations you can prepare: you can use provolone cheese rather than mozzarella and, if you want an healthier version of this tasty recipe, you can grill your aubergines rather then fry them ;) I have nothing else to say but Buon Appetito!
Suggested movie: The Gold of Naples (V. De Sica, 1955)

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Grandma’s Pasta
Have you ever wonder how to manage the remaining food after a party?
The first option is eating it as it is, of course.
The second option is using it as ingredient for new recipes.
Grandma’s pasta is the result of the second option. I had meatballs at home and I needed to find a way to finish them. So I remind what my Granma used to do with them when I was a child: crushing them and making a delicious meaty sauce for pasta. Here is the recipe! Enjoy :)
Suggested movie: Bycicle thieves (V. De Sica, 1948)
Antonio Ricci: “There’s a cure for everything except death.”

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Carrot and Chocolate Cake

My mom says I am like a bunny because I like crunching carrots. I can’t explain why but I love raw carrots… and recently I realized how good they are with chocolate. The recipe I want to share today is a cake made by grated carrots and dark chocolate. I think the bitterness of the dark chocolate matches perfectly with the sweet taste of carrots. Try it and let me know! Here is the recipe!

Suggested movie: Looney Tunes: back in action (J. Dante, 2003)

“Bugs Bunny: Oh, I hate to see a grown man cry… especially when it’s a girl.”

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Mediterranean Brueschette

Summer is here or should be, although in London the sun hasn’t any intention to pop up. Have you already planned your holidays? I have but I still have to wait for a while before having some rest.

… but this is not a big issue for my culinary passion! It’s summer and here is one of my favourite recipes for this season: Mediterranean Bruschette. If you have friends at home or you fancy a summer light meal, try it! Here is the recipe :)

Suggested movie: Roman Holiday (W.Wyler, 1953)

“Reporter: And what, in the opinion of Your Highness, is the outlook for friendship among nations?
Princess Ann: I have every faith in it… as I have faith in relations between people.”

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Courgette Mini Quiches

Starters are very important in Italian cookery. They introduce the main course so their taste must combine in a perfect way to the main course. It’s better to serve them in small portions so your guests’ appetite is tickled but not satisfied. Today’s recipe is a one of my favourite starters: courgette mini quiches. I think the sweetness of the courgettes combines very well with the strong taste of the goat cheese. Here is how to prepare them!

Suggested movie: Laws of attraction (P. Howitt, 2004)
Daniel: “If you can reach out and touch the horizon, you’re at your journeys end. ”
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Romantic Cous Cous

Valentine’s day is approaching… do you have plans for that evening? Personally, one of the things I love most is cooking a romantic dinner for my boyfriend! Few days before that evening, I think of a ‘surprise menu’ for him and I write a plan for its preparation. It’s so satisfying to see my boyfriend’s smile when the ‘surprise dinner’ is on the table! Today’s recipe is one of my favourites for Valentine’s dinner: Romantic Cous cous. It’s easy to prepare, with a delicate taste of pesto and courgettes and… very scenographic at the sight. Take a look at it!
Suggested movie: The Lion King (R. Allers, R. Minkoff, 1994)
Mufasa: “A king’s time as ruler rises and falls like the sun. One day, Simba, the sun will set on my time here, and will rise with you as the new king. “
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Chocolate Salami
This is a typical Italian dessert, loved especially by kids. It’s a quick and easy recipe and it doesn’t require to be cooked. You just need a bar of dark chocolate, some biscuits, butter, sugar and two eggs… mix everything together and that’s it! Here is how to make it. Have fun! :)
“Narrator: In the end, Charlie Bucket won a chocolate factory. But Willy Wonka had something even better, a family. And one thing was absolutely certain: life had never been sweeter. ”