Hello, darlings!
Welcome to Mrs Simkins and Miss Windsor’s Italian escapades and RECIPE COLLECTION – Mamma Mia!
Now, gather around the table, knives and forks at the ready; parmesan cheese and olive oil to hand; whilst you gracefully wave the Italian flag – How patriotic! I say darlings, now you’re ready to indulge in our irresistible menu of Italian cuisine.
You see, following the success of our sizzling summer garden party, where we whipped up a plethora of teatime treats for our delightful guests and fellow baking enthusiasts. I say before the end was nigh, Mrs Simkins and I were ‘chomping at the bit’ to whet your palate once again with something a trifle different, yet equally as scrumptious – Now, how could one resist a taste of Italy?
Welcome to Mrs Simkins and Miss Windsor’s Italian escapades and RECIPE COLLECTION – Mamma Mia!
Now, gather around the table, knives and forks at the ready; parmesan cheese and olive oil to hand; whilst you gracefully wave the Italian flag – How patriotic! I say darlings, now you’re ready to indulge in our irresistible menu of Italian cuisine.
You see, following the success of our sizzling summer garden party, where we whipped up a plethora of teatime treats for our delightful guests and fellow baking enthusiasts. I say before the end was nigh, Mrs Simkins and I were ‘chomping at the bit’ to whet your palate once again with something a trifle different, yet equally as scrumptious – Now, how could one resist a taste of Italy?
Darlings, you may already know that sadly Miss Windsor lives miles away from her darling culinary amour. Yet, funnily enough, our lives seem to run almost concurrently, well I dare say, in our case the operative word being ‘synchronicity’ – How fascinating!
For example, a few months ago following a good ol’ rummage around my local vintage shop, I returned home with a stunning cut-glass butter dish. But would you ‘Adam and Eve it’? my darling Mrs Simkins owns exactly the same vessel – By Jove! wonders never cease.
You see I must divulge, that over in Dorset, virtually to the day, Mrs Simkins strangely enough stumbled across the exact same butter dish in her local charity shop. She was thrilled to bits as it was a replica of her darling mother’s and featured regularly on the childhood tea table – Ooooh, how eerie!
For example, a few months ago following a good ol’ rummage around my local vintage shop, I returned home with a stunning cut-glass butter dish. But would you ‘Adam and Eve it’? my darling Mrs Simkins owns exactly the same vessel – By Jove! wonders never cease.
You see I must divulge, that over in Dorset, virtually to the day, Mrs Simkins strangely enough stumbled across the exact same butter dish in her local charity shop. She was thrilled to bits as it was a replica of her darling mother’s and featured regularly on the childhood tea table – Ooooh, how eerie!
Now, what I’m about to tell you is a rather spooky occurrence in the realm of synchronicity! You see, Mrs Simkins and I were terribly excited about our respective summer holidays’. Yet prior to our departure we’d never exchanged a single word regarding our destinations.
Anyway, one day during a jolly old chinwag about our glorious getaways’, we soon realised that we’d both enjoyed a marvellous munch on Italian cuisine – How extraordinary! Of course, then the ‘penny dropped’ – we’d both popped off to Italy, where Miss Windsor sampled an assemblage of Nepalese delights – Well, I never! However, one must admit I was rather enamoured by their simple, yet splendidly satisfying Neapolitan pizza for a tiddly 3.50 euros! |
Also, darlings, during my travels I became quite partial to the frightfully fabulous Garofalo Casarecce Pasta, which is a product of Gragnano near Naples.
Oh, and I must express my sheer disappointment regarding one of my most favourite desserts – the enormously tantalising Tiramisu, which I pecked on during a short jaunt to Pompeii! Well I say, my taste buds were not at all tickled by this classic Italian layered cake. Not only was my experience a soggy one due to the unrelenting heat that affected the creamy layer, but I was also subjected to only a faint whiff of coffee; followed by the culinary crime of NO liquor – Oh, dearie me what a fiasco!
Oh, and I must express my sheer disappointment regarding one of my most favourite desserts – the enormously tantalising Tiramisu, which I pecked on during a short jaunt to Pompeii! Well I say, my taste buds were not at all tickled by this classic Italian layered cake. Not only was my experience a soggy one due to the unrelenting heat that affected the creamy layer, but I was also subjected to only a faint whiff of coffee; followed by the culinary crime of NO liquor – Oh, dearie me what a fiasco!
Now onto my darling Mrs Simkins who swanned around in a gondola, whilst she nibbled away on the very best of Venetian fayre – and for those that need clarification, she dined on a small boat whilst coasting the still waters of Venice. Well, one can only presume that she did! as my beloved is rather fond of Italian food and those elegant vessels that glide on water!
Darlings, due to the moreish nature and first-class reputation of Italian food and drink, Mrs Simkins and I are delighted to share with you our culinary memories and delectable recipes – Ta very muchly!
So, without further ado, please join us at the table for a good ol’ chumble on our delicious pageantry of Italian food – How spiffing!
VIVA ITALIA!
Darlings, due to the moreish nature and first-class reputation of Italian food and drink, Mrs Simkins and I are delighted to share with you our culinary memories and delectable recipes – Ta very muchly!
So, without further ado, please join us at the table for a good ol’ chumble on our delicious pageantry of Italian food – How spiffing!
VIVA ITALIA!
A few words from my darling culinary amour, Mrs Simkins!
Welcome to another Miss Windsor and Mrs Simkins extravaganza. We both enjoyed our summer garden party collaboration so much and it had such a warm reception, that we couldn’t resist another mini recipe collection before the summer ends. Although firmly rooted on British soil for most of the year, Miss Windsor and I both share a love of travel, and this year saw us both jetting overseas on early summer breaks. Funnily enough, it turned out we were both Italy-bound, there within a couple of weeks of each other: me in Venice and Miss Windsor down south in Naples. Perhaps not so strange when you think of it as we both adore Italian food. Whilst not exactly swanning around in a gondola, my family and I arrived in style at our palazzo, in a motor boat from the airport, which gave us a fabulous mini-tour of the city and the Grand Canal before we’d even set foot on solid ground. Although I’d been to Venice before, many years ago as a much younger person, I was still completely over-awed over by all the glorious sights of Venice and couldn’t get over the fact that we were staying in an actual fifteenth century palazzo on the Grand Canal. My children were beside themselves, and even my husband, who had been briefly to Venice on business in fairly recent years, was quietly stunned.
We had the most wonderful time, three days of strolling through the calles and campos and taking it all in. There was plenty of music as well: even some of the gondolas had opera singers on board: suddenly, amazing voices would erupt from the canals and bounce off the buildings, the singers gliding past and underneath the bridges, taking absolutely no notice of the spectators all agog on the banks and the lines of washing strung above their heads. The food was fantastic. We’d try different bars for breakfast: coffees, pastries, fruit and generally gorgeous little things and then go to our usual ristorante, which we’d found on our first morning, for lunch and dinner. It was in a campo very close to our palazzo, with great food and helpful waiters. We felt so at home we kept going back. We enjoyed everything we ate there and the service was terrific: we got to know the waiters and they were lovely. I especially loved the thin crust pizzas with vegetable topping, the freshest rocket or ruccola piled on top, a wonderful simple super-fresh lunchtime salad with tuna, rocket, lettuce, olives, and mozzarella and the way the waiter made sure I had all the dressing components easily to hand. |
Also, I must mention the delicious half bottles of Pinot Grigio and Italian light beer, neither of which we’ve been able to track down back at home, my husband’s carbonara which I tried and meant to order for myself but ran out of opportunities and the tiramisu and small evening coffees. Even the grissini seemed extra fresh and crispy.
Everything was completely wonderful, and we can’t wait to go again. In the meantime, I’ve recreated a couple of the restaurant dishes: you can share them with me, here’s the first one, below. Ciao!
As Miss Windsor says, a glorious getaway indeed.
Toodles,
Everything was completely wonderful, and we can’t wait to go again. In the meantime, I’ve recreated a couple of the restaurant dishes: you can share them with me, here’s the first one, below. Ciao!
As Miss Windsor says, a glorious getaway indeed.
Toodles,