Category: Cooking Appliance

By Lucie Herring

Luxury hotel, used by Mario Testino for fashion shoot, set to launch its first international cookbook!

Its all happening at the uber-luxury Tuscan retreat, Castello di Vicarello this year. First Mario Testino graced the property with his presence to capture Lara Stone on film for Vogue USA, and now the owner is about to release her first international cookbook – My Tuscan Kitchen – Seasonal Recipes from Castello di Vicarello.

Aurora Baccheschi Berti, the owner and wonderfully eccentric manager of Castello di Vicarello in Maremma (southern Tuscany) opens her castle to the reader through this book, offering a window into the world of a traditional Tuscan Kitchen. Shes organised her favourite recipes by seasons and labelled them according to course – My Tuscan Kitchen offers more than a hundred recipes, bursting with fresh, seasonal flavour that you can literally smell and taste right off the page.

The recipes to easy to learn yet they evolve into sumptuous dishes like Cream of Lettuce Soup; Lamb Baked in Milk; Aromatic Herb Salad; Sweet and Sour Fried Zucchini; Sweet Cream Gelato; Pork Braised with Apples; Risotto with Red Radicchio; and many more!

Aurora hones all of her recipes in her twelfth-century castle kitchen at Vicarello where she prepares meals for guests using the vegetables, fruits and herbs found in her kitchen garden and inspired by the surrounding wild countryside. Speaking of the importance of the kitchen in a traditional Italian home Aurora states: A friend once said that Vicarellos kitchen is its lobby, and its true. This is where guests congregate, glass of wine in hand, to see whats cooking and to snack on our savory wild boar sausages. This makes perfect sense to us, as the kitchen really is where it all happens.

Castello di Vicarello is a very special, very unique retreat. So much more than a hotel, it is more like an upmarket homestay where guests are welcomed like long lost friends. Vicarello prides itself on an organic lifestyle, using local and seasonal produce in its menu, and to add to the wellness attitude of the retreat, traditional yoga classes are taught by Indian born Yoga master Vinod Kumar. In keeping with their spiritual approach, Vicarello does not charge for scheduled yoga classes, all that is asked is a contribution, usually around 30 per person.

Delicious recipes, fine wines, a gastronomic Mother Earth character for a host and an Indian yoga master all make Castello di Vicarello the ultimate haven for those in search of a little indulgence and a lot of relaxation.

Castello di Vicarello is a seven suite retreat in the Maremma region of southwest Tuscany close to Siena and Grosseto, with 360 degree views over the rolling Tuscan countryside of olive groves and vineyards.

My Tuscan Kitchen: Seasonal Recipes from the Castello di Vicarello

By Aurora Baccheschi Berti

Written with Anne Hanley

Photographs by Beth Evans

Foreword by Julian Niccolini

ISBN: 978-0-8478-3593-5 / Price: 22.50

Rizzoli New York

Publication Date: April 2011

About the Author: By Aurora Baccheschi Berti

Rizzoli New York

Rooms at

Castello di Vicarello

start at 380 per room per night B&B. For more information on Castello di Vicarello please visit

Castello di Vicarello

or call (+39) 0564 990447

Source:

isnare.com

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How to Choose the Best Yogurt Maker By Atica Brewton

Many people who are seeking a more healthy diet and lifestyle are contemplating what is the best yogurt maker for their budget. There are many different brands to choose from with a plethora of options and price ranges. Although there are many to choose from, the difference between competing yogurt makers is minimal. All you need is a device that will maintain the yogurt mixture at the required temperature for a set amount of time. Honestly, the best yogurt maker is the least expensive and most reliable appliance that fits your budget.

Many consumers choose the least expensive option and just won’t buy a yogurt maker. I don’t think these people are cheap, but I do think they should explore their options. Instead, they will use their oven for heat. This is a viable option but it will end up costing you in the long run because of how much electricity is required to keep an oven heated for at least 6 to 8 hours. I recommend they purchase a yogurt maker instead because it is more energy efficient and won’t use nearly as much electricity as their oven. I must repeat that they best yogurt maker is the most inexpensive option.

Another option I’ve heard from several people is to use a microwave convection oven. Once again, this is a large appliance that draws tons of electricity so your power bill will be affected from leaving the microwave on for several hours. Also your microwave is tied up and can’t be used while your yogurt is heating. Some people would be annoyed by the constant noise of the microwave. It just seems easier and more hassle-free to invest in an inexpensive yogurt maker.

There are several ways to make yogurt using alternative heat sources. All of these options are legitimate and can yield a wonderful tasting snack. I recommend that you follow whatever method works best for you. I like to keep things simple and worry-free. The less utensils I dirty during the process, the better. Since I make yogurt several times per week, this works best for me. In my opinion, the best yogurt maker is the most user-friendly and inexpensive device available.

The author’s website Yogurt Maker Enthusiast features tips on finding the best yogurt maker, how to use yogurt makers, yogurt starters and homemade yogurt recipes.