Umbrian Cooking at La Villa

Our cooking lesson with Rosetta, a local Umbrian cook was a treat. We clustered round the kitchen table and spent 4 hours preparing the evening meal of Umbrian specialities. Had Barry chopping and Shawni stirring and making gnocchi. I may just be tempted when I get home to make gnocchi.

Menu

• Zucchini flowers fried in a beer batter



• Gnocchi with a vodka, pomodoro and pancetta sauce



• Roast loin of pork with home made apple sauce



• Zuppa di Inglese, custard rum desert

Loads of laughter and learnt heaps at the same time.

Sauce for the gnocchi:

• Fry finely chopped onions in olive oil



• Add chopped panchetta to the onions



• Skin and remove the pips from 12 ripe tomatoes



• Add little few chilli



• Add 3/4 cup of vodka, stir in and flambe the alcohol



• Add tomotoes to onion, vodka and panchetta mix



• Add 180g fresh cream



• Add fresh parsley and grated parmigiano

Rich and rustic food, quite yummy...

To counterbalance all the wonderful food experiences Fred and I are also loving the hiking from La Villa. Each day we take to the country roads and walking trails and enjoy the endless views across the fields. Nothing quite like stopping at a hilltop village like Citerna for a pastry and cappucino before walking back, even walking seems about food.