“Cuochi d’artificio”: Black Cracker Shells filled with Za’atar Hummus / “Cuochi d’artificio”: Conchiglie di cracker nero ripiene di hummus allo za’tar

Food and trends. We can’t deny it for as long as food has been in the spotlight techniques, gadgets, ingredients and recipes have been changing from one year from the other as fashion trend have been since the past decades. We can’t have enough of novelty and our taste for the unknown, the most healthy, the most flavourful product has no end. This time I have been asked to work on the subject of fashion as trends in food. Something quick, easy but with an impact, something that could stand out of the crowd.

Maroggia’s Mill Cookbook: Mustard Flavoured Pita / Il Ricettario del Mulino di Maroggia: Pita alla senape

Flatbreads are amongst my favourite breads. Why? First of all they are already portioned and ready to be eaten on the go for a quick snack or stuffed for an easy lunch to take with you to eat on your mid-day break. They also make the perfect side dish bread, to be dunked in rich gravies, to clean the plate from the tomato sauce that hasn’t been trapped linguine or spaghetti or even to be used instead of cutlery to scoop food from the plate as one would do with a spoon or a fork. No slicing, no morsels, no fuss. For this recipe for Maroggia’s Mill Cookbook I thought to add a little flavour and spice to the dough by simply mixing in some mustard. Heavenly…you don’t need to spread mustard anymore as the flavour is already in the bread! These pitas are pillowy soft, melt in the mouth and keep fresh up to 5 days if stored in plastic bags. You can also freeze them and keep them stored on case of a bread emergency. Simply pop them in the toaster or the oven!

Tuscan Crostini with Chicken Livers / Crostini con fegatini di pollo

Chicken livers…so much I have eaten, so much I love them! I discovered this delicacy during my studies at the university of Florence, and I still enjoy them after so many years. There’s nothing more winter and cuddly. The ingredients are simple and poor. Bread is always in the pantry. Appetizer anyone?

Maroggia’s Mill Cookbook: Pumpkin, Pears and Walnut Ravioli in Vegetable Broth / Il Ricettario del Mulino di Maroggia: Tortelli di zucca, pere e noci in brodo vegetale

I haven’t posted a fresh pasta recipe for Maroggia’s Mill Cookbook in a while http://www.mulinomaroggia.ch and the opportunity now comes along with the new packaging for pasta and pizza flour which has been available in stores since November. Alessandro gave me some samples and I decided to try out a tortelli recipe, since I’ve never had the chance to make them myself. I highly recommend you to try making them on a Sunday afternoon, preferably with some family members who can help you out and with whom you can spend some good times with. Making the dough is a long process and requires some patience but the result repays with a fresh product which is also easily customizable.