Risotto with Pumpkin and Sausage

Rainy days are numerous in Lucca this month. But with an ombrello in hand we just go about our days.

After a few days of clear weather, just enough to tempt us to think about spring, we are back to cloudy wet weather here in Tuscany. My weather app has me prepared for several rainy days in a row this week. I hope the app is wrong (as it often is), but the rainy forecast has me in the mood for some Italian comfort food. For me, that means risotto.

Rice is not the first thing that pops into most people’s mind when thinking of Italian food. Rice may not have been native to Italy, but since arriving along ancient trade routes from the East it has become a staple. Northern Italy, especially the Po Valley, is an ideal setting for growing rice. Flat land and lots of water are key. And that is a good thing because rice, in the form of risotto, is a very popular dish in northern Italy.

The short, plump grains with a high starch content in Riso Nano Vialone make for a delicious creamy risotto with a “loose” consistency.

There are three main types of rice used in risotto - Carnaroli and Arborio are likely the ones most non-Italian cooks have heard of and they are the ones I first learned to use. But, In a recent cooking class at Extra Virgin Cooking, Chef Giuseppe introduced our group to a third type, Nano Vialone Veronese, which he explained resulted in an especially creamy texture. He wasn’t kidding! The risotto con fungi (risotto with mushrooms) we made in class that day was wonderful with great flavor and a perfect creamy texture. Since then, Nano Vialone Veronese has become my go to risotto rice.

Risotto has many variations, both regional and seasonal. In Lucca, at this time of year, pumpkin and sausage take center stage. I first tasted this combination at Trattoria Gigi and immediately set out to make a version at home. It is the perfect comfort food for a rainy February day. Here is my version of Risotto con Zucca e Salsiccia (Risotto with Pumpkin and Sausage). Here in Italy it is easy to find already peeled and cubed pumpkin in the markets which speeds the preparation of this dish. I sneak in a little French Calvados for a bit of a flavor twist, but white wine works just as well.

Ingredients are important. I first developed this recipe using Carnaroli rice, which works just fine. For a creamier texture, I now prefer Nano Vialone Veronese rice.

Ingredients:

Delicately sliced leeks add wonderful flavor to this risotto

2 cups raw pumpkin, in small cubes.

5 teaspoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO), divided

1 leek cleaned, cut in half lengthwise, and thinly sliced (about 1 cup)

1 ¼ cups risotto rice ( Nano Vialone Veronese, Carnaroli, or Arborio)

3 Tablespoons Calvados or white wine

3 ½ cups vegetable broth

¼ teaspoon Kosher salt

1/8 teaspoon white pepper

Roasting the pumpkin is key to developing its flavor.

300 grams sausage, crumbled and cooked through.

2 Tablespoons butter

Toss the cubed pumpkin with 2 teaspoons EVOO and roast at 400 degrees F for ~ 20 - 25 minutes (until tender). The smaller the cubes the faster it will be done. Set aside.

Sautè sliced leek in 2 teaspoons EVOO until tender.  Add 1 teaspoon more of EVOO to the leeks, followed by the rice.  Toss the rice to coat with oil and then toast lightly for 3 or 4 minutes.

 Add the Calvados or wine and stir while it evaporates.

Pour 1 cup of hot vegetable broth into the rice, bring to a simmer.  At this point you can cover the pan and turn off the heat, allowing the rice and broth to sit for up to an hour or so.

When ready to finish the risotto, add a second cup of hot broth and bring the rice back to a simmer.   Over low heat, stir until the broth is absorbed.  Continue to add the rest of the broth (up to 1 ½ more cups) in ½ cup portions, stirring until each addition is absorbed and rice is tender.

With the last addition of broth, add the cooked sausage and small cubes of the roasted pumpkin to the risotto.  Cook and stir until the broth is absorbed and the risotto has a creamy texture.

Stir in 2 Tablespoons of butter.   Serve immediately.   A little sprinkle of parmigiano reggiano cheese is nice when added at the table. A crisp white wine pairs well with this risotto. Buon appetito!

A February Week in Lucca

The last week or so here in Lucca has been mostly cold, rainy, and windy.  Some days saw just a slow drizzle but others were seriously rainy.  One night brought drama with thunder, lightning, hail, and brief periods of flickering lights.  Mixed in were periods of cloudy, chilly weather with breaks in the rain.  The rare days of sunshine felt like a gift with blue cloudless skies and some sunshine!

 Despite the less-than-ideal weather, there is a bit of buzz in the air. The long weeks of January are over, and the days are getting longer.  February is short and will land us one month closer to spring.

It is a time to make the best of breaks in the weather, go for walks about town, and see what might be new to discover.  Camera in hand (well, my IPhone camera) each bit of clear sky was a chance to set out and explore.

One walk last week brought a surprise encounter with a local group of Steam Punk enthusiasts.  All in costumes, they make for compelling photographic subjects. 

A lovely Steam Punk lady!

 Walks around Lucca last week also provided a chance to see Valentines Day themed window displays.  Look closely at the typewriter in the photo below – the brand name is most appropriate.

 A lot of the buzz in the air had to do with the start of Carnevale, an event that will go on until the beginning of Lent.  Viareggio is home to most of the Carnevale action, but the themes, masks, confetti, and  paper mâché creations spill over into Lucca in many ways. 

Last week it was in the arrival of the Skull Parade, a collaboration between Viareggio and Mexico City.  The large paper mâché creations reflect Mexican Day of the Dead culture with a splash of Italian Carnevale.  They are scattered throughout Lucca so you never know when you might stumble onto one.  Searching for these teschi (skulls) was good motivation to go out for a walk, even when an umbrella was required.

Other Carnevale related arrivals included a huge Gorilla mask, created by the Cinquini brothers, under the loggia in Piazza San Michele.   Could his eyes really be following me?  Indeed they can!

 A Carnevale event just for children on Saturday was a blizzard of confetti thrown by costumed kids.  It was a fun kind of chaos. A stilt walker threw streamers for the kids and the unicycle rider provided bags of confetti.  Give a kid a bag of confetti and just watch what happens.

Inside the Piazza Anfiteatro, the oval-shaped piazza that follows the outlines of the old Roman Amphitheater, nightfall brought Carnevale themed projections on the buildings.  It was just warm enough to sit outside in a cafe (cozied up to the gas flame heater), sip a glass of wine, and enjoy the light show.

 All this in one week! And what will next week will bring? More Carnevale events and hopefully some drier weather.

Rue des Teinturiers in Avignon

Last week’s post began a walk through the charming city of Avignon in France’s Provence region.  This week, let’s continue walking, this time along my favorite street in Avignon, the Rue des Teinturiers. The walk begins not far from the Les Halles market, after crossing Rue des Lices, and ambles towards the old city walls.

 Teinturier is French for dyer, the Rue des Teinturiers is the Street of the Dyers. This cobblestone street, which runs along a small branch of the river Sorgue, is a mix of 21st century artistic, hippy vibe and the lingering spirt of the historic cloth guilds that were a big part of Avignon’s economic life in the 15th through 18th centuries. The canal provided the water source needed for dyeing silk in the 15th century and dyeing brightly colored cotton fabrics in later centuries.

One of the few remaining water wheels along the canal

The streets here are cobblestone, the large Sycamore trees create shade, and the old buildings and stone walls add to the sense of this being a different city and a different time from the rest of Avignon.  The last vestiges of the dyers are evident in the 4 water wheels that remain along the canal (once upon a time there were 23).  The mechanisms of the waterwheels are fascinating and almost seem like art.

The ruins of the Convent of the Cordeliers, with just the bell tower standing.

A walk here begins at Rue des Lices, crossing over to the start of Rue des Teinturiers. Here the ruins of a bell tower is all that remains of the Convent of the Cordeliers. 

Further down the street is the Chapelle des Pénitents Gris (Chapel of the Grey Prenitents).  The oldest part of the chapel dates from 1631 with additions ongoing through the 18th century. 

The Order of the Grey Penitents is even older than the chapel, established in the early 1200’s by King Louis VIII. 

Famous for a miracle that occurred during the floods of 1433, today the chapel is still used to celebrate that miracle and for religious services.  Enjoy the chapel from the street; the interior is only open during worship times. 

The Chapel of the Grey Penitents

 All along the Rue des Teinturiers are cafes, restaurants, galleries, and shops.  Sitting stream side with a cup of coffee and gazing at the old waterwheels provides a peaceful break from the busier parts of Avignon. The exception is in July when the theater festival brings lots of people to this tucked away part of the city.

Along the street, the old buildings have interesting windows and doors. The small homes sit across the stream, reached by little bridges.

There are also a series of carved stone pieces along the street.  These are not ancient symbols but more recent carvings by local sculptors. Meant as parking stops, they make for fun viewing and in a pinch can serve as a low bench. 

The walk ends at a busy street near the old city walls.  Best to turn around and walk again down the Rue des Teinturiers, headed back toward the center of Avignon.

You’ll be sure to spot some things you missed earlier!

Can you spot this creature above one of the shops along Rue des Teinturiers?

A Walk Through Avignon

Much as I love living in Italy, I also enjoy traveling to other places. France is a particular favorite, and Avignon, in the Provence Region of France, is a wonderful city to visit.  I was first introduced to the Avignon many years ago when I spent a few days there before embarking on a river cruise on the Rhône and Saône Rivers, headed north through central France.  I’ve returned a couple of times since and always find it fascinating for its history, culture, architecture, beautiful squares and local cuisine.  And while there are many museums, churches, and historic sites to visit in Avignon, a good place to begin when visiting the city is simply by taking a walk.

Here are some of the highlights for first time visitors on a walk through Avignon:

The Pont Saint-Bénézet is a medieval bridge famous as the subject of the French song Sur le pont d’Avignon.  Can you hum it?  “Sur le pont d’Avignon, l’on y danse, l’on y danse”.  Only four of its arches stand today (out of the original 22), ending in the middle of the river Rhône.  It is one of the most recognizable symbols of Avignon and a UNESCO World Heritage site.  View it for free from the riverbank or pay a fee to walk (or better yet dance) on it.  After viewing the bridge, it is a short walk through the massive city walls and into the historic center.

Pont Saint-Bénézet, Avignon (photo from Pixabay)

The Palace of the Popes is a huge Gothic building in the historic center of Avignon.  Built in the mid 1300’s, it served as the residence for 9 Popes during the years when the papacy moved from Rome to Avignon.  Today it is a museum and a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

I mostly admire the palace from the outside, standing in front of it in the large Place (Square) du Palais.  The square has with wonderful views of the palace and the cathedral with the gold statue of Mary on top.  First time visitors might take a break from their walk around Avignon, buy a ticket and go Inside to find frescoes, chapels, and interesting architecture but no furnishings.  Guided tours (or self-guided with an app) help explain the rooms and the history. 

The Place de l’Horloge (Clock Tower) is Avignon’s central, and very lively, town square.  The large square is shaded by trees and ringed with cafes, restaurants, and wonderful architecture. Look for both the City Hall and the Opera House here as well as just a glimpse of the clock tower which gives the square its name. 

Place de l’Horloge

This is also where the beautiful, old, carousel is found.  If traveling with kids, this two level carousel will delight  them.  Even without children, it is fun to watch the carousel go round and round.

Church of Saint Pierre

 A small, charming square sits in front of the Church of St. Pierre, one of the oldest and smallest churches in Avignon.  The façade is remarkable for its ornate carvings, twin spires, and stunning wooden doors.  There is an impressive bell tower too.  A small art gallery and the Restaurant L’Epicerie is also found in this square. It’s a great place for lunch or dinner. In good weather the outdoor seating provides a view of the church’s facade.

From Place St. Pierre it is a short walk (past some good shopping) to Les Halles, Avignon’s fabulous food hall.  Making a detour through Les Halles is a gourmet dream.  Also a good spot for lunch with its many little eateries.

Place Pie, with Les Halles on the left

A walk though Avignon includes some of the city’s many beautiful doors and windows.

Some of the windows are old and shuttered, some have pretty window boxes. Others are the famous painted windows.  These trompe l’oeil windows are a connection to the theater festival held each summer.  So don’t forget to look up at these “false windows” to see the some fun scenes.

The last stop on an introductory walk through Avignon is my favorite spot in town – the Rue des Teinturiers (Street of the Dyers). 

Though a part of Avignon, the Rue des Teinturiers feels like a different place and a different century.  I will write more about this fascinating street in an upcoming post.

This pretty door opens to the B&B Le Limas, a small but charming place to stay in Avignon

Keeping Busy on Cold Winter Days in Tuscany

Watching kids enjoy the giostra (carousel) on nice days is a good pastime.

It’s important to make the most of the cold January days in Lucca, even the rainy ones. 

While the heavy periods of rain have definitely kept me indoors at times, lighter rains and clear periods see me heading out for walks, window shopping, photography, meeting up with friends, watching the giostra (carousel) go round and round, and looking for general inspiration.

The monthly antiques market was a great diversion in between rain showers on a cold and cloudy day earlier this month.  Many of the vendors are the same from month to month, but a scavenger hunt to search for new and unusual finds is always fun.  

Cooking is a good rainy-day activity and, after finding some really nice guanciale in the market, I’ve been working on perfecting my pasta carbonara skills. But sometimes eating out is a good rainy-day activity too.

Pasta is cold weather comfort food and Macelleria Pucci is a butcher shop / restaurant that makes a great southern Italian spaghetti with polpettini (little meatballs). Lunch there with friends was a treat as it is unusual to find this dish in northern Italy. I requires lots of rainy afternoon walks to balance out those pasta calories!

Catching up with friends after being away from Italy over the holidays has been great too.  Lucca has lots of cafes, perfect for meeting over a cup of coffee, pot of tea, or glass of wine.  The indoor cafes are warm and cozy and have led to some great chats about world issues with locals at the next tables.  It is always interesting to get the Italian perspective on US and World events.  And it is great for practicing my Italian.

 A stop at the Saturday flower market, on one of the few sunny days this past weekend, brought a touch of spring and some bright color into my apartment, a necessity on these winter days.

The Saturday flower market in Piazza San Michele is great in any season

One of my favorite winter cold weather activities is planning spring travel and I’ve been busy doing just that.  Spring in Emilia- Romagna and Umbria is a welcome thought on these cold days. And the planning is almost as much fun as the travel will be.

 My book club selection for the month is The Stolen Lady by Laura Morelli.  It has transported me to Florence in the late 1400s and Paris in the 1930s.  A great escape on a cold or cloudy day.

 And for real escapism, day dreaming about spring blossoms is hard to beat.  Photos can make the gray skies fade away and bring a reminder that spring is just around the corner.  I think that readers in the frigid parts of the US and Canada might appreciate these reminders as much as I do.  Stay warm everyone!