This October in our Village

How are things going for you?

As a child growing up in Australia I have fond memories of my godmother Zia Maria feeding me fresh ricotta on top of crusty Italian bread, a drizzle of olive oil and sprinkling of sea salt. Or sometimes she’d treat us with a bowl of ricotta simply mixed with a little bit of powdered sugar and cinnamon. Delicious. These wonderful early experiences eventually led me all the way to Sicily to attend the famous Sagra della Ricotta (Ricotta cheese festival) in Vizzini.  And there, I was lucky enough to try the fluffiest cheese in the world.

Now, I’d like to share this experience with you via my big announcement; I am launching a new community platform and celebrating with the below, free and online ricotta cannoli masterclass.

Villagio is growing into a community that will provide inspiration and opportunities for us all to slow down, connect and live healthy and wholesome lives in our villages, wherever we may be living around the world. We will soon be inviting you to access the platform and join in the community forum, online cooking classes, book clubs, book for travel experiences and more.

But for now, thank you for being an early and supporting part of this journey. One that we will take together, with lots of great food, experiences and connections along the way.

This month, we are cooking… Ricotta Cannoli

In our 45 minutes together, we’ll talk all things ricotta and I will teach you the secrets to making the most delectable cannoli. You can either cook alongside me in your kitchen or just sit back and watch as I show you how.

With the festive season approaching my family are discussing how we are planning to gather and what food we are all going to cook!. These conversations take me right back to those special celebrations where the Sicilian Cannoli would take centre stage appearance!

Cannoli is a a delicate deep fried pastry shell filled with a sweet ricotta creamy filling sprinkled with a touch of icing sugar. No one is allowed to ‘sneak one’ from the fridge - so tempting! As it is typically served after a celebratory meal alongside espresso or a glass of sweet sparkling wine. 

Sicilian Ricotta Cannoli

In the meantime, have a a go at making my Ricotta Gnocchi with Sugo di Pomodoro. It’s a crowd pleaser and so easy to make and prepare in advance.

This month, we are reading Now and Then by Tessa Kiros

The most delightful and much loved food writer Tessa Kiros launched her new book this month. It is a heartfelt personal memoir, places traveled and gorgeous collection of more than 150 recipes that Tessa is cooking now and across her life. I am looking forward to making her Cheesecake with Chocolate Crust which has a hint of ricotta cheese in the filling.

This month, we are building our Village

  1. Pay an impromptu visit to someone that you care about and spend quality time with them. Have a cup of coffee. An hour will be enough. Just turn up empty handed. You are the gift that they have been longing for.

  2. Ring a friend and invite them to go for a walk with you. Your mind and body will thank you for the natural movement, human connection, and fresh air.

  3. Give someone a rest. Ring a loved one and offer to take care of their child for a few hours. Take them to the park. Enjoy the gift of rest, relaxation and joy.

Please visit my Villagio instagram page for weekly inspiration on how to build your village.

This month, we are meeting a local Sicilian cheesemaker at the Sagra della Ricotta in Sicily

A few years back I traveled to Sicily to attend the famous Sagra della Ricotta (Ricotta cheese festival) in Vizzini.  This two day celebration of cheese, gastronomy and folklore boasts a five decade long tradition. I was curious. Why would a small town in Sicily make a fuss of this cheese? And, why on earth would I travel all that way for ricotta you ask?

When I arrived in Vizzini, I woke up early to the sound of bus loads of Italians and travellers across Italy and the world arriving in droves. Literally! As I slowly walked toward the piazza I noticed plenty of food on display ready for the taking, lively parades of traditional music, flag bearers and Vizzinese dressed in full costume. A complete feast for your senses! Che festa! (What a festival!)

The local cheesemakers cook fresh ricotta the old fashioned way using large drums that sit on top of a wood fire. These fluffy curds of ricotta float to the top and are scooped out fresh on to plates and served with crusty bread. Oh my. A spine tingling moment. I have just devoured the fluffiest and tastiest ricotta I have ever experienced in my life. Salty, sweet, creamy. I can still taste it now.

I enjoyed watching this proud community gather and spend time together. So many families and friends linking arms and walking side by side. And families of multiple generations manning stalls and proudly sharing their heritage and talents. It’s the togetherness and feeling of belonging that makes it all worthwhile.

If you would like to visit this Sicilian festival in 2024, look out for the dates which are typically scheduled around late April and work around the Easter festivities. Definitely worth a visit.

Until next time…

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Ricotta Cannoli

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