Bleeding Espresso

Remember when Lisa Steinke and Liz Fenton, authors of I’ll Have Who She’s Having, guest posted here a while back? Well here is my review of their book:

I’ll Have Who She’s Having by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke is fun, fast-moving read about two sisters who are struggling to find happiness—but looking in all the wrong places.

One is single and the other married, but the big thing they have in common is that neither is feeling particularly fulfilled; their searches lead them both to Tim, a hunky volleyball coach in whom they both see salvation.

As Scooby Doo would say, “Ruh roh!”

I really, truly enjoyed this book. The story is told from several perspectives, which I almost always love and certainly did here; the writing throughout is witty, snappy, and just plain fun to read.

I especially loved all the pop culture references sprinkled brilliantly throughout the book—describing someone as Jack of “Will and Grace” says so much in so few words. Yes, it places the book firmly in the time in which it was written, but it works, especially as those references made me feel like I was hearing the story from a girlfriend over the phone. And I love that in a book.

Great for the beach or a long cold night, this book had me furiously turning pages, deeply involved in the lives of Kate, Kelly, and the gang after only a couple chapters. In fact, I’m kind of hoping for a sequel. Hint hint….

I give it four espresso cups out of five—because I’m trying to convince the authors to fill that fifth espresso cup in a new book. Sequel! Sequel!

Remember you can still enter to win a copy of Too Much Tuscan Wine by Dario Castagno until tomorrow (May 31). The winner will be announced on Tuesday…along with another book giveaway!

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Ricotta fresca (fresh ricotta) is one of my most favorite foods in the whole world.

Our kids Pasqualina and Margherita aren’t old enough to breed and make milk yet, but I’m really looking forward to the day when we can make our own ricotta…because I’m pretty sure the only thing better than fresh ricotta is fresh ricotta made by your own two hands. I’ll keep you posted!

One great way to enjoy fresh ricotta is spread on bread–especially if both are warm–and for this week’s What’s Cooking Wednesday, I’m sharing three of my other favorite ways to enjoy fresh ricotta:

*Breakfast of Campioni*
Ricotta, Strawberries, Bananas, and Honey

This is definitely one of my favorite spring treats. Feel free to use kiwi and other favorite fruits if you got ‘em!

*Fast, Easy, Delicious Lunch or Dinner*
Spaghetti with Ricotta

Sometimes also called Pasta alla Pastora (Shepherd’s Style), all we do is toss cooked, salted pasta with fresh ricotta. You can add grated cheese, parsley, and hot pepper, but trust me, this is fabulous with just the ricotta.

*Scrumptious Dessert*
Gina DePalma’s Ricotta Pound Cake

Remember when I made this a couple years ago? It’s still one of my favorite cakes, and you can find the recipe here. Yum!

Have you had fresh ricotta?

What’s your favorite way to enjoy it?

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Today we’re talking about Dario Castagno’s Too Much Tuscan Wine, his third book following up Too Much Tuscan Sun: Confessions of a Chianti Tour Guide and A Day in Tuscany: More Confessions of a Chianti Tour Guide.

Dario is a London-born son of Italian wine importers who moved to Tuscany with his family at age nine. For many years, Dario gave tours of his beloved Chianti hills, but he quickly became a main attraction himself, particularly after the publication of his first book.

Not one for the celebrity lifestyle, however, Dario quietly stepped out of tour-guiding on a grand scale and now meets with smaller, select groups, speaks internationally about Tuscany, and works on various film and DVD projects. Oh, and writes books.

Check out Dario’s latest news at DarioCastagno.com.

Now, before I get to my glowing review, I want to announce another contest here at Bleeding Espresso. Because I love Dario’s book so much—and because I can’t bear to part with my own copy—I am buying a copy to give away to ONE lucky reader who leaves a comment on this post.

In order to be eligible to win a copy of Dario Castagno’s Too Much Tuscan Wine, leave a comment on this post at or before 11:59 p.m. (Italy time) on Sunday, May 31, 2009. I will draw ONE winner at random from eligible comments and announce the winner on Tuesday, June 2, 2009.

Without further ado:

Don’t you love it when you pick up a book, and you’re 50, even 100 pages into it before you look up again? And then you put it down because you have other things to do but you find yourself sneaking peeks in between tasks, balancing it in one hand while you stir sauce with the other, and, ahem, even carrying it into the bathroom?

I do, and that’s exactly what happened to me with Too Much Tuscan Wine, Dario Castagno’s wildly entertaining book about his experiences with, not surprisingly, too much Tuscan wine.

I know it’s cliché, but I really did laugh and cry through various parts in the book—rather appropriate as a long evening of drinking wine can lead to very similar emotional reactions.

As wonderful as Dario’s tales of friendly challenges (the “truss” wine tour of Siena bars), animal encounters (the snoring boar in the backseat), the “Poolio” (a makeshift poolside version of the Palio), and general drunken debauchery are, my favorite part of the book was the glue that held it all together: the tale of the mysterious Mia, an American editor who contacted Dario via e-mail and urged him on with each new chapter he wrote.

I won’t spoil anything by adding more details, but I can’t stress enough how much I was touched by the magic of this seemingly random e-mail and what came of it.

It probably goes without saying that I give this book five out of five espresso cups, although I suppose wine glasses are more appropriate in this instance.

If you love wine, Tuscany, Italy, entertaining stories, and just really fun reads, get this book. Then pour yourself a nice glass of your favorite red (I’m with you, Dario–no white for me either!) and dig in.

Remember to comment to be eligible to win a copy!

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Last week, P and I celebrated four years together.

Lots of people on both sides of the Atlantic ask us about marriage and when we’ll make it “official.”

We may get around to doing that (and I’ll be sure to let you know!) but for now, we’re just fine with the way things are, so no announcements are forthcoming–not today at least. Every day is an adventure, though, so who knows what tomorrow will bring?

In any event, I refer to P as my marito (husband) in conversations with others, and he calls me his moglie (wife)–or more often, his mugliere in Badolatese. And as far as everyone is concerned, his parents are already my suocera and suocero; I also have lots of cognati e cognate (brothers- and sisters-in-law).

Also, this is what my left hand looks like each and every day:

P gave me the white gold band when we had been together for about a month or so way back in 2005, and the diamond engagement ring is just that–but it was my grandmother’s, given to her by my grandfather in the early 1940s. She gave it to me several years before she passed away, making sure that I would be the one to have it.

No, the two rings don’t remotely match, but that seems rather perfect for P and me, who are, in many ways, polar opposites. We’re alike in some important ways too, and just like P and me, the two rings meet somewhere in the middle–I love how the silverish tones shine together–and somehow just work.

And that works for us, too.

Happy Love Thursday everyone!

P.S. I have already contacted the 5 La Bella Lingua winners:

Paola of Always Italianissima

Kazbell

Peter Leonard

ann-marie

Syrahsuzie

Congratulations!

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Since goats really don’t enjoy being alone–and since I can’t possibly stay by Pasqualina’s side every minute of the day even though I would love to–we went ahead and got her a playmate.

Meet Margherita:

Yes there was some headbutting the first day, but since then, the girls have been getting along quite well; I even peeked in on them one night to find them sleeping with Pasqualina’s head resting on Margherita’ bum.

They often sleep together in this little “cuccia” in the wall of their new pen:

Yes, P built them a brand new pen in our new garden area, so now they have their own outdoor space; I think Pasqualina especially appreciates the fresh air since before she was inside most of the day. Here she is ruminating:

Margherita has really taken to us rather quickly, which surprised me since she’s already three months old and wasn’t used to getting petties all the time (she comes from a herd of 100 or so goats). Oh but she *loves* petties now!

And indeed, our little ‘Rita and little ‘Lina have been getting along quite well:

We’re all looking forward to many fun, faaaabulous times together.

That’s all from the kids today!

Mwaaaaaaaaaah!

P.S. I will announce the winners of La Bella Lingua on Thursday, May 21 (contest still ends the 19th though); there’s still time to enter!

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