Archive for 2012

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Philip Mazzei and the Declaration of Independence

Posted July 3, 2012 By Adri

Philip-Mazzei-Bust-398x600-766

Philip Mazzei
b. December 25, 1730 – d. March 19, 1816

 

Tutti gli uomini sono per natura egualmente liberi e indipendenti. Quest’eguaglianza e necessaria per costituire un governo libero. Bisogna che ognuno sia uguale all’altro nel diritto naturale.
-Philip Mazzei – Virginia Gazette, 1774

 

All men are by nature equally free and independent. Such equality is necessary in order to create a free government. All men must be equal to each other in natural law.
-translation by Thomas Jefferson

 

These are the words of Philip (Filipo) Mazzei, Italian emigre, surgeon, businessman, friend and neighbor of Thomas Jefferson. It is so easy for us to think that everyone who lived in the United States prior to the Revolutionary War hailed from England. That is, however not the case. Read more… »

10 Comments so far. Join the Conversation
Filed in History, Musings, Personalities | Tagged: , , , , ,

Mirtilli Mandorla Pops

Posted June 30, 2012 By Adri

Blueberry Grappa Pops

Blueberry-Grappa-Pop-640x419-1861_757

I was inspired to make these pops as I looked through my copy of People’s Pops by Nathalie Jordi, David Carrell and Joel Horowitz. The authors are the owners of New York City’s People’s Pops. They manufacture thousands of Pops per week, but it was not always that way.

Blueberry-Grappa-Pop-640x300-1843_759

Like so many artisanal producers, they started out small using the very same home pop maker I do. Although their equipment has been upgraded, their Pops are the same. They are still made from best quality fresh fruit, vegetables and liquor and sweetened with simple syrup just as they were on Day One. Read more… »

16 Comments so far. Join the Conversation
Filed in Books, Dessert, Recipes, Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,

Crostata di albicocche e amaretti

Posted June 23, 2012 By Adri

Apricot and Amaretti Tart

Apricot-Amaretti-Tart-640x439-2334_739

Summer stone fruit is coming in, and if you want to dress it up, try this crostata. It’s apricot season now, but if you miss the window, fear not. This crostata will work beautifully all through summer – plums, peaches and nectarines are great here. And once fall and winter bring a chill to the air, try apples and pears. This is the original all weather dessert. Read more… »

6 Comments so far. Join the Conversation
Filed in Dessert, Recipes | Tagged: , , , , , , , , ,

Punch Abruzzo Float for Father’s Day

Posted June 16, 2012 By Adri

William Crocetti

Well, Father’s Day is here, and I hope you all spend a wonderful day with your dads. My dad, William Crocetti, passed away many years ago, but I think of him often. That’s him in the photo. He enjoyed fountain specialties, so I thought I’d create something special in his honor. Of course, I looked first to Punch Abruzzo, the wonderful liquore from Italy. It is great over ice cream, and with its rum and coffee notes, spice and orange, is perfect in a float.

Here’s to you Dad. You would have loved this! Read more… »

8 Comments so far. Join the Conversation
Filed in Dessert, La storia di Crocetti, Personalities, Recipes | Tagged: , , , , ,

Liberation of Rome – June 4, 1944

Posted June 3, 2012 By Adri

Spaghetti Carbonara

LiberationOfRomeWWIIA-640x506-190313_727


Citizens of Rome, this is not the time for demonstrations. Obey these directions and go on with your regular work. Rome is yours! Your job is to save the city, ours is to destroy the enemy.


So read the Allied leaflets that fell from the sky early on the morning of June 4, 1944. D-Day was just hours away. Italy and much of Europe lay in ruins, her great capitals and cities reduced to rubble. Monuments and buildings that still stood were pockmarked by bullets, testament to a continent ravaged by war. In less than a year the Third Reich would fall, consigned forever to history’s dung heap.

The Allied communique sent later in the day to Washington and London was considerably shorter – The Allies are in Rome. The Italian campaign had begun ten months earlier with the landing at Salerno. After brutal fighting, the American Fifth Army under General Mark Clark advanced to Rome, and entered unopposed. Read more… »

24 Comments so far. Join the Conversation
Filed in History, Musings, Recipes | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,

On the Occasion of Italy’s National Day

Posted June 2, 2012 By Adri

Italian FlagAmerican Flag

Press Statement

The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State, United States of America



On the Occasion of Italy’s National Day – Festa della Repubblica



On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I am delighted to send best wishes to the people of Italy as you celebrate your national day this June 2. I send my deepest condolences to the family and friends of those who lost their lives in Tuesday’s earthquake. The United States stands by the Italian people as you rebuild and recover.

As we look forward to 2013 as the Year of Italian Culture in the United States, we reflect on the history and shared values that have bound our nations and peoples over the centuries. Americans have long been drawn to Italy to marvel at the art, admire the antiquities, and rediscover their heritage. For years, Italian-Americans have enriched and enlivened American culture in ways large and small.

Our two countries are working together for the future peace and prosperity of our world. As you celebrate this special day with the warmth of good food, family, and friends, know that the United States stands with you.

Washington, DC
June 1, 2012
PRN: 2012/874

Be the first to comment
Filed in History, Musings, Personalities | Tagged: , , , , , , ,
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »
Content Protected