Olive Oil Cake

 

Last month when I was at Dario Cecchini's we had an amazing olive oil cake made by Simonetta; her recipe was for 4 cakes about the size of truck tires, and called for 90 eggs and 1 1/2 liters of olive oil.  So I set about trying to figure out a reasonable size to make one cake, and today with a little fiddling, I think I've got a good one. 
Keep in mind I'm working with metric measurements, Celsius temperature in the oven.....in essence flying by the seat of my pants....fortunately, I don't think you can ruin this one.  Use a golden olive oil, either the Cipolloni that they sell at Enoteca Properzio , or one from Umbria or Tuscany--one that isn't too strong in flavor.  Here goes:

Olive Oil Cake

Makes one 12 to 13-inch round

1 1/2 cups sugar
6 large eggs
grated zest of 2 medium oranges
juice of 2 medium oranges (about 1/3 cup)
1/3 cup olive oil
2 1/3 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3 tablespoons brandy or grappa (optional) ---original recipe called for 1 liter!

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and coat the inside of a 12 to 13-inch round cake pan with olive oil or non-stick cooking spray.  
2. In a large bowl, combine the sugar, eggs, zest, juice and oil, stirring to blend.  Let stand about 10 minutes, for the zest to release some oil into the mixture.  
3. Add the flour and baking powder, and stir until blended. 
4. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  
5. Allow the cake to rest 10 minutes, then invert onto a rack and cool.  Serve the cake dusted with powdered sugar, or plain.    

I actually was serving this to friends at the enoteca and to the staff while it was still pretty hot from the oven, and it was good.  I think it will keep well, in an airtight container for a few days. 

Buon appetito from Spello!

Rural Farm Life In Umbria

They don't call it Italy's Green Heart for nothing!

So you’ve seen Assisi, and Spoleto and Montefalco, eaten at some amazing restaurants, and drunk some spectacular wines; but have you met the people that raise the food and drink you have been consuming?  When I tell people about the treasure of Italy, it is not the food, art, history or wine, it’s the Italians.  Yesterday our friend Anne took us to meet farm families that are her neighbors and friends.  What a treat to meet people who have farmed the land for their entire lives.  Warm welcomes awaited us, as well as sips of local new wines, and dark green extra virgin olive oils.  

Meet Peppa, Anne's friend who has farmed since she was a child.  This is her bread oven, no longer in use, but when it was she would awaken at 2 a.m. to get the bread into the oven so that her father and then her husband would have bread for the day

Anne and Peppa

Cutting lavender

My pal Megan making friends with Peppa---no language barrier here--just smiles

Beautiful scenery on the way to meet Peppe and Gentile at their farm

Gentile another farm woman

Her husband Peppe

dog days

cattle

Easy bake oven

Sheep and ducks coming home

Peppe and the Vet taking a bow after artificially inseminating the cows

What's left after the wine is pressed

Still functioning wine press

Meet Emma

Sharing a laugh with Anne

Pressed grape must

Hugo pressing the rest of the grapes to get the mosto

Hugo feeding the animals

A visit to Marino to taste his olive oil

Drying grapes

Garlic

Onions/shallots

Last of the grapes--just for snacking

A visit with Giovanino

Cooking Torta al Testo

 Our evening ended at Anne's house for dinner, but the entire afternoon was an amazing look into the lives of some very special people.

Grazie a Peppa, Gentile, Peppe, Emma e Hugo.  Wishing you a buon giorno from Umbria.

5 Star Lunch in Assisi with Franca

Memorable meals; you know the ones, where you can’t stop thinking about the food, the ambiance, the wine, the service….these things happen so infrequently in our fast paced lives, that they stand out like little jewels in our memories, ready to be plucked again, when we remember that particular day in our lives. 

Yesterday our group had what I describe as a Goldilocks day in Assisi; not too hot, not too cold, but just right.  Bright blue sky, crisp air and a light breeze, just the type day you would want to be eating outside.  And so it was that we wound up at La Fontanella, a tiny ristorante off the beaten path in Assisi known to our guide Anne Robichaud.  

Walking from the frenzied Piazza del Commune onto a side street, then down another, we entered this secret garden, where the food is lovingly prepared by Franca Mariani.  Franca believes in the tradition of not preparing anything that isn’t grown within 12 miles of Assisi, and she also prepares whatever is fresh that day.  We were in for a treat, but none of us could imagine the delights awaiting us!  I tell people when they ask about restaurants to go where the locals go, ask your concierge, or a friend in the local area where they go because this is where the authentic foods of the area are served.  Most Umbrians will not tell you to go to a Tuscan restaurant, since they are so proud of their heritage and their foods. 

Franca loves what she does; and she puts out food that is not only memorable, it’s some of the finest I’ve had in Italy.  There are 3 courses each day, no menu, and if you are gluten intolerant, make sure to call ahead and let her know---she’ll accommodate you.  

First course, from left:  potato and truffle torta, pumpkin flan(to die for) homemade salami on walnut bread (only made in fall), and pickled red onions (agra dolce)

 Any of you that take my classes, will hopefully be able to partake of these when I develop the recipes and teach later on in the spring/winter.

Home made prosciutto tortellini, with hand picked wild mushroom sauce and Parmigiano cheese (heaven on a plate)

Who knew simple ingredients could produce such amazing results?  In the hands of a skilled cook like Franca, magic happens.  At this point, we thought we were done, but Franca blew us away with the next course....

Homemade sausage with green grapes in white wine

This is a true Umbrian dish, especially at harvest time; it is sweet, salty, meaty, porky, oh it's just one of the best things I've tasted in a very long time---again, simple, fresh, ingredients, cooked with amore.Between the beautiful outdoor garden, great new/old friends, the simply delicious food, and our hostess and cook Franca, this was one of those memorable meals that will stay with all of us for a long time.  Our dessert was a chocolate cake with candied figs, which came from her trees in the garden.  Can't get much more farm to table than that! 

Should you or any of your friends be near Assisi, I highly recommend calling Franca and going for lunch or dinner; there is no set menu, the menu is whatever is fresh that day, and you will have a delicious meal,no matter what is served.  The restaurant is tiny and fills up fast, so make sure to call so you are not disappointed.   Grazie Franca, per un pranzo incredibile;è stato un piacere conoscerti.  

La Fontanella
Via B. da Quintavalle.7 -06081 Assisi
Tel: +39075812272
Mobile:   +393495585108
lafontanella@libero.it
Facebook:  la.fontanellaf@libero.it

A Beautiful Day in Assisi

 

My friend Megan is visiting from San Diego, having already conquered Rome, and Naples she’s here in Umbria for a few days before heading on to Florence and the Cinque Terre.  Today we went to Assisi with our friend Anne Robichaud, a certified guide here in Umbria who I’ve known for 15 years and who found my mother’s family in Gubbio many years ago.  Picture the scene in Chevy Chase's European Vacation where they knock on the door to the relatives house, not knowing any of the language and being invited in—fortunately we found our relatives, Chevy and his family weren’t so fortunate.

Assisi is all about St. Francis, and St. Claire and their missions to the poor, and the biggest news to hit here since the Saint died is the newest Pope who chose the name Francis.  When I was here in the spring one day the bells in Assisi peeled for what seemed like hours, in celebration of the announcement that Pope Francis would visit here for the feast of St. Francis on October 4. 

 This is a beautiful pink city on a hill, with winding streets, beautiful art, and friendly people.  Most of all Assisi is a city of peace, you feel it walking the streets, in the churches (which don’t just feel like empty buildings, as so many European churches can feel) and you feel the peace of St. Francis’ sacred mountain, Mt. Subasio.  Here is a sample of our day, I’ll fill in with the amazing meal we had at lunch in another post. 

Entrance to the lower basilica

 

Beautiful fresco in Piazza del Commune

Anne Robichaud giving the tour

Beautiful day and great view of Santa Maria degli Angeli

Rare to see the "Poor Claires" out and about

Clothing stores are a bit different here

Beautiful countryside at the bottom of the hill

 Wishing you a buona notte from Spello.