DECK THE HOLIDAY'S

    Tuscany draws you with an irresistible air to Arezzo transforming a land into a theater filled with a lifestyle of tradition, culture and cuisine. Arezzo which is about 80 kilometers from Florence hosts the  Giostra del Saracino  or the joust held at the Piazza Grande. This medieval festival displays facets of its old world charm, its famous history, tradition and its tasteful cuisine.     Held on the first Sunday in September, the procession of La Giostra del Saracino winds its way right down to the Piazza Grande. Originating from the ancient Crusades, this Saracen joust began in the Middle Ages. The Christian Crusaders battled with the Islamic tribes or the Moors of the North African Arabs in an attempt to drive them out of Europe. This Baroque joust started between the 15th and the 16th centuries and gained popularity. But during the 18th century, the royal air that surrounded it declined and lost its notoriety. A brief...

Chocolate cake - pumpkin  with orange cream Or maybe ..  Halloween cake? ..  Chocolate, using pumpkin puree, cream with a delicious creamy orange (really great!).  Sprinkled with cocoa or cinnamon.  recipe requires advance preparation pumpkin puree, pumpkin in the cake but did not feel -  taste of cocoa and orange.  Instead of a cake can make a whole bunch of cupcakes :-).  Recommended! Ingredients for two tops chocolate - Pumpkin: 1 and 2/3 cup flour 2/3 cup and 1 tablespoon cocoa 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg half a cup of buttermilk or kefir 1 cup pumpkin puree * 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 160 g butter 1 cup caster sugar for baking 3 eggs All of the ingredients should be at room temperature. The vessel Sift flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, spices. In another bowl combine the buttermilk, pumpkin puree, vanilla extract. In m...

   Because of the long and storied  history of Halloween , there are many Vintage Halloween traditions that have been associated with the holiday for many years. Halloween, or All Hallows Eve   as was called long ago, has a very special history all its own. The many vintage Halloween customs set this Halloween apart from many other special occasions. The origins of many vintage Halloween traditions are both very colorful and diverse. What we know as modern day Halloween traditions and festivities are rooted in the Vintage Halloween traditions from the original All Hallows Eve   celebrations from centuries long ago.    All Hallows Eve actually evolved from an even older tradition. The pagan festivial, Samhain , was celebrated by ancient Celtic people for many years before it evolved into All Hallows Eve. When Celtic immigrants began entering North America in large numbers during the 19th Century, they brought the ...