Potato bread of Garfagnana

Alex — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 16:38:18 +0000

Here is the recipe for a good Garfagnana potato bread :

Ingredients:

200 gr. potatoes
500 gr. flour
25 gr. brewer’s yeast (1 cube)
20 ml extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon salt

Preparation:

Boil the potatoes in salted water. Dissolve the yeast in a bowl of warm water. Add some flour (about 50 gr.) and just leave the mixture to rise for about an hour. Peel the potatoes that you previously boiled and mash with a fork or with a potato masher. In another bowl, pour the remaining flour, the yeasted mixture, oil and salt. Create a ball, let it rise for about 2 hours in a warm place. Bake (220°) the bread for about 25/30 minutes in an already hot oven .

Potato bread is good for some days.

Electric bike sharing in Garfagnana

Alex — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 11:58:28 +0000

An innovative electric bike-sharing service will soon allow all visitors and locals to move within this territory in an environmentally sustainable manner. This interesting project of the Union of local municipalities will allow everyone to discover the natural and architectural beauty of Garfagnana with electric bicycles which will be included in special shelters located around the area, near railway stations or in the most important places of local villages. The shelters of bike parking and charging will be made of wood, in the name of so-called philosophy of “zero km or short chain”, with materials taken from local forests; these shelters can be also powered by photovoltaic panels on the roof. This project will have a positive impact on tourism attracting many visitors and hikers, during the less busy periods too.

It will also be possible, through a special web platform, to see the available bikes and to book them online.

Chestnut pancakes

Alex — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 18:21:28 +0000

Ingredients for 8 people:

200 gr. chestnut flour
1 tablespoon of sugar
1 pinch of salt
water (as needed)
olive oil

Preparation:

in a bowl, dissolve the chestnut flour with water, taking care that no lumps are formed, add sugar and salt and mix well. Heat the oil in a pan and when it’s hot, pour the mixture in it, using a spoon and creating small circle pancakes. Serve hot.

Pancake accompaniment:

the chestnut pancakes are perfectly accompanied with fresh ricotta cheese and a good dessert wine (such as the sweet tuscan wine called “vin santo”).

Garfagnana literary event dedicated to mistery/detective stories

Alex — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 10:23:15 +0000

On Saturday November 24th , in the picturesque location of the Montalfonso Fortress , in Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, the event “Garfagnana in Giallo” (now in its fourth edition), dedicated to detective and mistery books will take place . The event is organized by the Journal of Castelnuovo, Prospettiva and Abel publishers ,Gal Garfagnana, under the patronage of Castelnuovo Garfagnana town administration . Starting from 18.30 there will be the presentation of several books: “L’eretico” by Carlo A. Martigli (Longanesi editions), “Le strade di sera” by Enrico Luceri (Hobby & Works), “Occhi viola” by Fabio Mundadori (Ego) and “Adriatico.Gli occhi del Puma” by Luciana Quattrini (Prospettiva publisher). At 21, there will be a themed dinner “Murder mistery dinner”

The event can also be followed on Twitter (# GIALLOGARFAGNANA).

http://garfagnanaingiallo.wordpress.com

Chestnut events (October/November 2012 in Garfagnana)

Alex — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 10:51:59 +0000

Chestnut Festival

From Friday 19th to Sunday, October 21st, Careggine

Mushrooms, chestnut and pork festival

Sunday, October 21st, Sillano (Lucca)

Chestnut in the old town – 9th edition

Sunday, October 21st, Colognora (Pescaglia)

Wine Festival

Sunday, October 21st, Riana (Fosciandora, Lucca)

Chestnut inside the old fortress

Sunday, October 21st, Verrucole Fortress (San Romano in Garfagnana)

Autumn Festival

Sunday, October 21st, Pieve Fosciana (Lu)

Chestnut festival

Sunday, October 21st, – Castelnuovo di Garfagnana

Chestnut Festival

Sunday, October 21st, Lucchio (Bagni di Lucca)

Chestnut fest

Sunday, October 28th , Bolognana (Gallicano)

Chestnut fest

Sunday, October 28th, Gallicano (Lucca)

Chestnut under the porch

Thursday November 1st and Sunday November 4th , town center Castelnuovo di Garfagnana (under the town porch), from 14:30

Chestnut Festival (cultural and gastronomic events )

Sunday November 11th , Lupinaia (all day)

Chestnut Festival (cultural and gastronomic events )

Sunday November 11th, Sillicano (Camporgiano) – all day

Ricotta cheese and chocolate cake from Garfagnana

Alex — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 13:26:24 +0000

ingredients:

Base of the cake

250 grams of sugar
500 grams of flour
100 grams of butter
3 eggs
1 pinch of yeast

Cake topping

400 grams of Ricotta cheese
180 gr. of sugar
3 eggs
100 gr. of candy
120 gr. chocolate cutted into small pieces
1 cup of anice liquor (we use “sassolino” liquor)

Preparation

Mix the ingredients for the base of the cake till you get a homogeneous mixture. Roll out the dough and place it into a (previously greased) baking pan.

Mix the ingredients for the topping and, at the end, add the chocolate cutted into small pieces.
Pour the mixture over the cake base in the pan. Bake for about 40 min., Temp 180 ° ( check the level of cooking with a toothpick). Remove from oven before it finished cooking, cover the cake with whipped egg white sugared cream . Return to oven until it gets a nice brown color.
Serve with a good “Vin Santo” (typical tuscan liquor).

Week of commerce 2012, Castelnuovo Garfagnana

Alex — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 13:31:01 +0000

One of the most interesting summer events in Garfagnana is the “week of commerce” of Castelnuovo Garfagnana (settimana del commercio in italian) to be held in the squares and streets of this town from August 14th to 26th. Like every year, the program is very rich, providing several events : some of them are dedicated also to children (such as: “cartoons under the stars“, an outdoor cinema for kids, themed games, fun and entertainment with clowns, horse rides with the Scirer’s Ranch horses); several evenings are dedicated to good music with various local bands as protagonists (from Organic Groove band with their blues to the typical 30′s music played by the good Menage a trois ft. L & K band, from the rock played by the Bonne Esperance, the Dedamalu and The Salamanders bands to the songs of Queens, Beatles and several italian singers like Vasco Rossi, i Nomadi, Renato Zero and Ligabue.
Some evenings will be dedicated to local foods & wine and to cooking shows, other evenings will be dedicated to dance, fitness and martial arts. Some medieval events and street artists shows are also scheduled. Don’t miss the Vespa day with many Vespa enthusiasts and Vespa clubs coming from every part of Italy.
From August 14th to 26th, the shops in the town center of Castelnuovo Garfagnana will be also open from 9 p.m. till midnight .

Detailed program of the various events: www.settimanadelcommercio.com

Photos – www.settimanadelcomercio.com -

Summer 2012: events in Garfagnana

Alex — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 07:55:45 +0000

Summer is the time of “sagras” (local food event), concerts and other folk events. Here you find an updated list of Garfagnana events for this summer.

Red “crostini” of Garfagnana

Alex — Wed, 02 May 2012 16:39:33 +0000

Typical and simple Garfagnana appetizer

Ingredients for 8 slices of bread:

1 cup of tomato puree
1 clove of garlic
5 laurel leaves
1 teaspoon of anchovy paste
1 tablespoon of capers
2 tablespoons of vinegar
2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper
8 slices of toasted bread

Place the laurel leaves in a cup of vinegar the night before.
Chop finely the laurel leaves and mix them in a blender with the other ingredients until you get a thick sauce. Let rest in refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
Spread tomato sauce on toasted bread .

2012 Azalea exhibition in Borgo a Mozzano

Alex — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 18:14:47 +0000

Next April 14th and 15th 2012, the twenty-seventh edition of the exhibition/market of Azalea will take place in the village of Borgo a Mozzano (in Lucca province). Visitors will have the opportunity not only to see the magnificent azaleas and to buy some of them from local producers but also to walk on the squares and the streets of this ancient village which will be beautifully decorated and flowered for the occasion. The “green thumbs” will also find in the market area many retailers of farming accessories , gardening equipment and garden furniture. The urban gardens and the flower market zone will be flanked by food stalls and handicraft objects market. There will also be additional events such as shows of street artists and local bands. Games and outdoor entertainment for children will be available too. Entrance to the exhibition will be free.

More details on the official website (in italian)