Tuesday at Frog Hollow Farm

This

Tonight's Aperitivo at Frog Hollow Farm

This sweet simple sign is from a street in the little town of Bellagio in Lake Como, Italy.  The town is built into a hillside, so every street is comprised of steps that take one up tiny alleys full of wonderful shops and beautiful views of that lake.  I'd love to go back and take a car trip around the entire lake, just Frog Hollow Farm Boy and me, stopping at as many of the small towns that surround it as possible - drinking their local wine and experiencing all of the aperitivo experiences possible! 

As you probably know, I am infatuated with  Italian aperitivo and have adopted the custom (have tried to anyway) in my home as part of our daily evening meal.  This is easy for me now since I've retired recently and Frog Hollow Farm Boy can be home as early as 5:00 some days.  Though most days we have our aperitivo here at Frog Hollow Farm earlier than they do in Italy - they usually start around 6:30 or so, it's flexible, like everything in that wonderful country! 

On the Menu for today:

Gnocchi di Carote

Roasted Red Peppers

Roasted Golden Beets

The gnocchi is from my Pasta Fresca cookbook by Vianna La Place- I've referred to this book several times in other posts.  Gnocchi that Americans are familiar with is usually made with just potatoes, this recipe also incorporates steamed carrots into the mix, and since I have one of those REALLY BIG bags of organic carrots in the fridge, that's what I'm making tonight. 

The roasted red pepper recipe is a favorite one from Rao's Cookbook by Frank Pelligrino. Rao's is one of those very established restaurants in the city, Harlem to be exact, where people have the same table reserved for them on one or more nights a week - from what I've been told it's impossible to get into this restaurant unless you're invited by someone who already has one of those established reservations - I don't know anyone, do you - because I'd love to have a meal there one day!  Rao's also has the absolutely best Lemon Chicken recipe I've ever had - take a look if you have a moment.

My roasted beets are just a recipe that I have made many times.  Frog Hollow Farm Boy has a fantastic vegetable garden every year, and for some reason he is a master at growing beets, all colors of beets.  Last year we had the most beautiful golden yellow beets, the traditional red beets and a pretty red and white swirl beet.  They all taste like beets, but look so pretty when I put them into old, glass mason jars with a vinegar mix.

Some of you have noticed that I cook with mostly vegetables - that's because of Frog Hollow Farm Boy's high cholesterol numbers.  But, I'm happy to say that he went to the doctor for a follow up yesterday and his numbers have improved so much from the diet he's been eating that the doctor was amazed - he actually thought he had someone else's lab report.  So, it is true that one's body really appreciates a diet full of delicious, organic vegetables and legumes along with whole grains.  We also have steak, chicken and fish, but in moderation the past few months -we leave those meals for the weekend when we're out with friends or just home.  Frog Hollow Farm Boy has also been enjoying a glass of red wine with me most nights, which can only help most things if you ask me!

All of my vegetable photos were found on Google Images, but since I've started blogging I plan on taking tons of photos of our own garden vegetables this year - I can't wait!  We also have a wonderful established asparagus patch and rows of red and yellow raspberries - YUM!