From My Italian Kitchen: Muffins

We’ve all missed things during the last challenging months – family, travel, hugs (that’s a big one!), and getting together with friends to name a few.   One of the things I’ve missed most is entertaining. Having friends over to my home, gathering interesting people around my table, is one of my favorite things to do. I take great pleasure in the preparations - working in the kitchen (baking, chopping, stirring = culinary therapy). I also enjoy picking out just the right dishes, arranging flowers, and setting a pretty table in anticipation of guests arriving.  How I’ve missed this during the months when we were not allowed to have people over to our homes! Luckily, those times are past and now we can open our homes to friends – as long as the groups are small and everyone is well.  Social distancing means I can fit only 2 or 3 guests around my table. That size group is perfect for one of my favorite ways to entertain – the morning coffee or brunch.  

For me, morning gatherings always call for muffins, whether I’m baking in my tiny Italian kitchen or my slightly larger one in New Mexico.  

Lemon glazed muffins - my favorite.

I almost always start the menu with muffins, add a pretty bowl of fruit, perhaps some yogurt or an egg dish.  Combine with coffee, tea (perhaps a mimosa), plus a couple of good friends and you’ve got the perfect socially distanced morning get together.  Since I’ve hosted brunches in both Italy and New Mexico this summer, both featuring muffins, I thought I would share some of my favorite recipes. 

Summer ripe strawberries with a little sweetened cream cheese go well with lemon glazed muffins

 First up, Lemon Glazed Muffins. I think of these as Italian muffins, both because the bright lemony flavor reminds me of summer in Italy and because I made them for the first time in the toaster oven in my tiny Italian kitchen. The recipe is adapted from a lemon quick bread; with some small changes it became muffins. The recipe makes a dozen, but is easily halved to make 6. It is hands down my favorite muffin!

 1 medium lemon (pick a juicy one!)  You’ll need the grated zest and 4 ½ teaspoons of juice.

1 ½ cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

1 cup sugar (plus another 2 tablespoons for the glaze)

½ cup butter

2 eggs, slightly beaten

½ cup whole milk + 1 -2 tablespoons

 Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a muffin pan (don’t use paper cups  – they don’t work well with the sticky lemon glaze)

Grate the peel from the lemon and squeeze for juice, set both aside for now.

Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a medium size mixing bowl.

Cut in the butter to make coarse crumbs and then stir in the grated lemon zest.

 Beat the eggs slightly and add the milk. Stir the egg/milk mixture into the dry ingredients to moisten. (if too dry, add another tablespoon or two of milk).

Spoon batter into a prepared muffin pan and bake for about 25 minutes until tops are just golden.   Cool 5-10 minutes on a rack and then carefully remove from the muffin tin.

 Mix the reserved lemon juice with 2 Tablespoons sugar.  Bring to a slow boil, cook and stir until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.  Brush the tops of each muffin generously with the lemon glaze.   These are good while still warm or when cooled to room temp. 

Another coffee get together - this time in New Mexico - with sugar crusted muffins and a plate of mango with blackberries. Yum!

 Next, Sugar Crusted Muffins. I’ve been baking these muffins for over 50 years.  Really!  The recipe dates back to my 8th grade home economics class.  Since then I’ve made them countless times and have adapted the recipe to make blueberry muffins as well. If only my 8th grade teacher could see me now!    The recipe makes 9 generous or 12 smaller muffins.

1 ½ cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

½ tsp salt

½ cup sugar

¼ cup butter, melted.  (plus another ¼ cup melted butter for dipping the baked muffins)

½ cup whole milk + 2 tablespoons

1 egg, slightly beaten

additional sugar and cinnamon for topping

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  

 Sift flour, add baking powder and salt; resift and add sugar.

Combine melted butter with milk and beaten egg, beat slightly and add to dry ingredients. Mix just to moisten.

Spoon batter into prepared muffin tin.  Bake for 15-20 minutes until the tops are firm and golden brown.

When cool enough to remove from pan, dip the top of each muffin into the melted butter (1/4 cup) and then into a small bowel with a sugar – cinnamon mixture (½ cup sugar and 1 tablespoon cinnamon).  

The cinnamon and sugar topping make these muffins the perfect treat for morning coffee.

Blueberry Muffin Variation:  Use ¾ cup buttermilk, cut in the butter rather than using melted butter, add a big scoop of blueberries.  After spooning into the muffin tin (and before baking) sprinkle the tops with a little demerara sugar for extra sparkle and crunch. Doubling the recipe makes 1 and 1/2 dozen muffins.

Blueberry muffins were the star, alongside strawberries, for a brunch in New Mexico just before I left to return to Italy.

 With fall quickly approaching, it’s the perfect time to fire up the oven and do some baking.  I’m looking forward to sharing my next batch of muffins with friends, especially now that I am back in Lucca after a couple of months in the United States.  And remember, in Italian the word for muffin is … muffin!

The Luminaria of Santa Croce - 2020 Style

 In Lucca, September is traditionally a month of festivals including street fairs, music performances, and – most importantly – the Festival of Santa Croce. The Santa Croce festival venerates the Volto Santo (Holy Face), an ancient wooden crucifix which is the most important religious relic in Lucca. The famous crucifix is housed in a small chapel within the larger Cathedral of San Martino.  For most of the year it is viewed through the openings in the small chapel walls, beautiful in its simplicity.

The Volto Santo dressed in gold vestments for the Feast of Santa Croce on September 13th.

 But for the September festival the crucifix is anything but simple. Instead, it is adorned with gold vestments – from crown to shoes – and the small chapel is opened for up-close encounters with what is, depending on your personal beliefs, a holy religious artifact or an important cultural and historical object. (For a more detailed description of the legend of the Volto Santo see “The Legend of the Volto Santo” post from September of 2017). Unfortunately this year, while the gold vestments are in place, entrance to the cathedral is limited which means that most of us will have to make do with memories and photos from past years.

The beauty of a candle-lit piazza during the 2016 procession

The highlight of the festival is the September 13th luminaria procession through the historic center of Lucca.  It begins in front of the Basilica of San Frediano and slowly makes its way across town, illuminated by the sea of candles which line the buildings along the narrow streets, and ends with a special ceremony upon its arrival at the Cathedral of San Martino.  

Imagine thousands of these luminaria lighting the streets of Lucca. Magic!

The luminaria procession is an important event - calling home from around the world those with Lucchese roots - and has only rarely been cancelled. The last two cancellations were due to a terrible storm in 1976 and before that a disruption towards the end of World War II.  This year the cancellation of the procession is due to concerns about the potential spread of COVID-19 through the crowds of on-lookers that typically line the streets and the many participants in the procession. The candles were lit, but there was no procession this year.

The beginning of the 2017 procession, on the steps of the Basilica of San Frediano.

 Although we could not witness the luminaria procession, and could only watch today’s religious services via Italian TV rather than from inside the Cathedral of San Martino, a look back at previous processions can remind us of the beauty of the event. With luck, we will be able to experience the joy of the luminaria once again next year. Let’s make a date for September 13, 2021 in Lucca.

A banner with the representation of the Volto Santo begins the procession each year (the actual crucifix is too large, and too valuable, to be part of the procession).

Celebrating a Year of Living in Italy

This week marks my one-year anniversary of living in Italy. The traditional one-year anniversary gift is paper, which I see as fitting for the beginning of my next year in Italy (more on that in a moment).

Via Elisa in Lucca, during lockdown 2020

My first year here has been filled with everything I love (except the friends and family who live elsewhere in the world): adventure, learning, new experiences, good food, good wine, great coffee and even greater friends and, of course, my lovable Labrador retriever. Even with the COVID-19 pandemic arriving about halfway through my first year, it has been a time to treasure. Some of my favorite photos from the past year are sprinkled throughout this post.

With this celebratory post I thank all the Two Parts Italy readers for following our blog and sharing our passion for Italy and travel in general. As I start my second year in Italy, I am staying put in Lucca but moving on from co-writing the blog, turning over all of the writing to Joanne. Two Parts Italy, and Joanne, will continue to keep you connected to Italy with weekly blog posts. (Joanne says she hopes to persuade me to write an occasional guest post.)

Venice

In the coming year, I am moving on to other endeavors, including going back to doing some painting and drawing (that’s why paper is fitting for this anniversary) and other writing, and focusing more on photography. The kind words from many of you about my photos have inspired me. Thank you! Who knows? Another blog might be in my future as well.   -post by Judy

Bodhi, waiting for our friend, Candice, to come walk with us

Lenno and Varenna: Two Towns and Two Shores on Lake Como

One of the things I’ve most missed during the nearly six months that we’ve lived with COVID-19 is the ability to travel freely and explore Italy and beyond. After all, the ability to see more of Italy (and of Europe) was part of the reason I moved to Lucca nearly two years ago. Because travel has been limited, I find myself thinking back to trips I took in the months before our lives changed so dramatically. Remembering these adventures helps keep me focused on the positive rather than the negatives associated with the virus. One of the trips I like to remember was one I made last fall, when my sister came to visit.

With only a short (three-day) stay at Lake Como, we had to make some tough choices about how to spend our time. Because my sister, Patty, was a first-time visitor to this region, I wanted to show her some highlights, a few “must-sees,” and one of my favorite spots, Villa del Balbianello. And because on-and-off rain was predicted throughout our stay, it was important to take advantage of every bit of clear weather.

The boat landing in Bellagio, under blue skies just before the rain set in

We spent the better part of our first day in Bellagio (a “can’t miss”), which was beautiful despite the misty, rainy weather that descended soon after we arrived. Bellagio, with its narrow staircase “streets,” is the place for shopping on the lake and the many shops provided a great way to escape the drizzle.

The day in Bellagio was wonderful, but hands down my favorite day was the one we spent exploring two towns on opposite shores of the lake - Lenno and Varenna.

Wandering through the back streets of Lenno on a foggy morning

We started off the day in Lenno, on the western shore, just a short bus ride from our hotel down the road in Argegno. Lenno is a small village (fewer than 2,000 residents), which sits at the base of a short peninsula that juts into Lake Como. A walk through town and along the seaside promenade affords wonderful views of narrow lanes, the wooded peninsula, the town’s small harbor, and long views across mid-lake to Bellagio. There is a pretty village church (Santo Stefano), shore-front restaurants, and many peaceful spots to pause and enjoy the view.

Lake Como as seen from a terrace at Villa del Balbionello in Lenno

Most visitors to Lenno are on the way to visit Villa del Balbionello and that’s where we headed too. The villa, which sits at the end of the peninsula, can be reached by a hike through the wooded landscape or by my preferred method - motorboat. The villa and its surrounding gardens are breathtaking (mozzafiato in Italian) and definitely on the list of must-sees for any visit to Lake Como. (For more on the villa, see Two Parts Italy Villa del Balbianello, March 23, 2017). After visiting the villa, we had a wonderful lunch in Lenno at Trattoria Santo Stefano (fresh fish expertly prepared, photos below).

After lunch it was a short walk along the harbor to the ferry dock where we caught the boat over to Varenna on the lake’s eastern shore.

One of the endless views of the lake to be found in Varenna

Varenna has its own special character. It is small and laid-back, with fewer tourists, though it’s still plenty lively with lots to enjoy. There are gardens (including a botanical garden), villas, a small harbor, a ferry stop, and a charming old town.

The most unique feature in Varenna is the passerella, a bridge-like walkway that skirts along the shore above the water. It is also called the “passeggiata degli inamorata” (loosely translated as lover’s lane). You’ll know it by its red railing - all that separates you from the lake - and views that are incomparable. You may even hear accordion music as you walk along, the perfect Lake Como soundtrack. This walk is a must when visiting Varenna. It takes you from the ferry stop, along the lake front, and through the old town. Even better is stopping for lunch or a gelato along the way. Keep going past the famous Hotel du Lac with its view terrace (perhaps it is time for an aperitivo with a view?) and then up away from the lake into the center of the old town, ending at the church of San Georgio.

A morning in Lenno and an afternoon in Varenna made for a busy but fabulous day, especially shared with my sister. But next time we have to stay longer! - post by Joanne

Making Marble in Carrara, Italy

What could Michelangelo and James Bond possibly have in common? Carrara, Italy, the city known worldwide for the marble produced there. White gold, some of it is called.

Michelangelo traveled to the area to choose marble (marmo in Italian) for many of his sculptures, including his incredible Pieta. And the James Bond movie, “Quantum of Solace,” was filmed among some of the Carrara marble basins in 2008. Being a fan of both Michelangelo and James Bond, a trip to Carrara has been on my travel wish list for quite some time. I recently took a day trip there with a couple of friends.

The famous Carrara marble is, of course, excavated from within the mountains of the area. In Michelangelo’s time, it was a months-long process - borne by man and beast - to break a slab of marble free from the mountain and maneuver it to the sea for transport to Rome or another destination. (Just think how hard it would be to get your marble kitchen counter top down the side of a mountain in the days before trucks and trains!) Today, it is a days-long process – carried out by man and machine. Until 1965 (!) it was done largely as it was centuries ago. Now, even with technological advancements, it remains a dangerous and difficult job, the details of which we learned during an off-road 4x4 tour.

Near the quarry, almost everything is made of marble

Tons of marble are carried down the mountain by truck

We traveled 1,000 meters above sea level on a winding road before stopping and surveying the surrounding ridges, cut into to form massive marble “staircases.” In the distance was the Mediterranean Sea, where a sizable port serves as a launching pad for long-distance deliveries of the marble. Closer to us, heavy-duty equipment was expertly managed by quarry workers on some of the “steps” of the mountainside. There are more than 100 quarries and more than 800 people employed by them.

Almost translucent

Heavier white marble

Blue-grey marble

Back down the mountain is the city of Carrara, long ago established as a place to house the quarry workers, and where many of the sidewalks are made of marble. The “white gold” marble is labeled so because of the gold veins that traverse it. A piece held up to the sun by our tour guide revealed the transparency of the marble. Blue-grey marble quarried here is more dense but also beautiful.

The yellow line above carries electricity to the quarry site; the blue line carries water, a key component in the quarry efforts. Rainwater is used today.

Carrara is an easy drive from Lucca (about 50 minutes or so) and a tour of the quarries is fascinating. I recommend it to anyone in the area (except those who get car sick on winding roads).   -post by Judy

Signs denote the different quarries.