Guest blog : Leigh vs Laundry

My guest blogger is a dear friend from college, who does an incredible & very witty blog about her life as a mom & home maker. She is absolutely hysterical, creative, has two darling little boys and a fabulous husband. Please visit her blog Leigh vs Laundry and make sure to click on the "Follow" icon to stay informed and entertained on her happy life and extraordinary journey ! I want to be like Leigh when I grow up. Grazie tutti, Ciao!

COME AWAY WITH ME

I live vicariously through the lovely Christy who gallivants her way through Italy. Her life, to me, is so inspiring. How she chose to move to Florence with such a sense of hope and adventure. I love to read her blog and find how she is or what she is discovering on her journey. A guilty pleasure of mine is to pretend that I live in an old Italian apartment far away from my home, like she does.

While I am loading the dishwasher, folding laundry, or doing any other mundane task, I like to imagine that I am planning a dinner party at my sweet apartment for some new found Italian friends. I make up a menu, pick out flowers for the table, and even imagine going to an open air market to fetch the ingredients. It makes me feel so exotic.

So, maybe I have a tendency to romanticize things but I am okay with that. So, in my tiny pretend Italian kitchen, I would prepare one of my tried and true recipes...

pasta with asparagus, chicken, and gorgonzola

1/2 pound fresh asparagus
1/2 pound linguine
1 tablespoon butter
1 cup thin strips chicken
1/2 cup heavy cream
red pepper flakes to taste
1 and 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped shallotsdash of nutmeg
2 ounces Gorgonzola cheese (crumbled)
1 tablespoon fresh tarragon 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Trim and clean the asparagus. Cut into 1 and 1/2 inch lengths. Blanch in boiling water; set aside. Cook the linguine until al dente, drain, and set aside. Melt the butter in a large skillet. Stir-fry the chicken until browned. Whisk in the cream, red pepper, shallots, and nutmeg. Add Gorgonzola cheese, stir until melted. Add the tarragon, asparagus, and linguine. Toss well. Place on a warmed platter. Serve with Parmesan cheese.

Oh, and desert would be the lovliest.
These little grapes are so fun to eat
as you pop them into your mouth and swoon over each bite.

Grapes rolled in almonds and ginger

1 package cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon finely chopped crystallized ginger
15 to 10 seedless grapes, washed and thoroughly dried
1/2 cup almonds, toasted

Blend the cream cheese and ginger in a bowl with an electric mixer. Stir the grapes into the cream cheese mixture to coat. Chop the toasted almonds finely. Roll the grapes in the almonds. Place them on a wax lined plate. Chill until firm.

Of course, this would all be topped off with wine and fantastically stimulating conversation, in Italian, of course. I really must thank Christy for being so brave and for sharing her experiences and observations. I always knew that she would do amazing things and I love to go with her on this soul searching journey.

Even if it is only in my daydreams.