Fresh eggs are a huge part of our household. My FIL raises chickens and supplies with dozens of fresh eggs so I can appreciate this episode.  I was wowed by the care he puts into caring for the chickens and it’s no wonder he’s called the Egg Man, and the best around at that. Enjoy the episode and if you missed the others, you can catch the other two webisodes of Into the Heart of Italy over at Yahoo Shine!

This guest post is brought to you by my mom who told me not to tell you that she submitted this recipe but I am ’cause that’s how I roll.  Here’s my Mom’s Tortellini Soup!

INGREDIENTS:

• 3/4 lb cooked hamburger or Italian sausage crumbled
• 1 can Italian recipe stewed tomatoes (ie..Del Monte)
• 1 can (14 oz) beef broth
• 1 package tortellini, cooked al dente
• 1 can Italian green beans
• 2 green onions, sliced

DIRECTIONS:

Combine hamburger, tomatoes, broth and 1 3/4 cups water; bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to low; stir in tortellini, green beans and onions.  Gently cook until heated through.  Season with salt and pepper.  Sprinkle with grated Parmesan Cheese if desired.

Makes 4 servings (about 2 1/2 cups each)

TIP: If you don’t have Italian stewed tomatoes…I use regular stewed or just diced tomatoes in a can and add some Italian seasoning.

My whole family loves Insalata Caprese, a simple tomato and mozzarella salad. We first enjoyed it while stationed in Vicenza, Italy. It makes for a delicious, light and easy meal. Perfect for brunch. Or maybe even a tea party. Come on, I’ll show ya how to make it.

Put on your apron! Gather up some big, beautiful red tomatoes. Grab a big ol’ hunk of mozzarella cheese, the soft and squishy kind that comes in a ball. Get some olive oil and red wine vinegar. Put it in some cute little vintage oil and vinegar dispensers if you like. And you’ll also need some parsley and Italian seasoning. You’ll notice that I went all out and broke the grocery budget with expensive and fancy brands. OK, not really. I just went to the Wal-Mart. To make up for your generic brand groceries, get out your prettiest platter.

Everything tastes better on some pretty burgundy china. Now slice the tomatoes up. Make them a little on the thick side. And place a single layer of them on a platter.

Next, cut up the mozzarella into some thick, chunky slices. Doesn’t it look just like butter? It almost tastes like butter. It incredibly smooth and creamy. And it practically melts in your mouth.

Put a slice of cheese on top of each tomato. Then drizzle olive oil over everything. Don’t be shy. Don’t be afraid to drown the tomatoes in the olive oil.

Next, drizzle some red wine vinegar over everything. I just have to say- I love setting a pretty table. Fancy china. A nice tablecloth. It takes a simple meal and turns it into something special. A vintage Wilendur tablecloth will make anything taste better. You should try it some time. Go ahead. Spoil yourself a little.

Then sprinkle everything generously with parsley and Italian seasoning. You can plop a few Kalmata olives on there too if you like. Stick it in the refrigerator for a bit to chill it and to let the flavors all mingle together for a bit. Doesn’t this look just lovely?

You can substitute Insalata Caprese for your typical tossed salad. Or you can make a meal of it all by itself. It makes a wonderful brunch. Which is how we served it. It goes well with Cucumber and Onion Salad, cantaloupe melon slices with slivers of prosciutto and focaccia bread. And don’t forget a tall ice cold glass of sweet tea to wash it all down with.

Buon apetito!

Guest post by The Apron Queen herself, a mom of 3 children and wife to paratrooper.  You can find her blogging about Texas life at Confessions of an Apron Queen and see her very cool vintage aprons at Rick Rack Attack!

There must be a million cookbooks out there but in this gift guide, you’ll find some you recognize and some you won’t.  I encourage you browse them and find one that’s perfect for your recipient.

I am only including images for the cookbook section.  The reason is, if the cover can’t spark your interest, chances are the recipes won’t either;)

Back to the 2008 Holiday Gift Guide Table of Contents

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Texas Hometown Cookbook

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Sirens Feast Edible Odyssey

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Eat, Shrink, and Be Merry

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Georgia Hometown Cookbook

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Carmine’s Family Style Cookbook

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A South Florida Culinary Adventure

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Casserole Crazy

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The Little Black Apron

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The Tea Drinker’s Handbook

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500 Fast 5-ingredient Recipes

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Hello, Cupcake!: Irresistibly Playful Creations Anyone Can Make

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Alton Brown’s Gear for Your Kitchen

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The Best of Bloodroot Volume 1: Vegetarian Recipes

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Quick & Healthy Recipes and Ideas

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O, The Oprah Magazine Cookbook

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Cookbook Maker

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The Cast Iron Way To Cook

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Back to the 2008 Holiday Gift Guide Table of Contents