Continued Travels...

Tuscany....I must.go.back. Some highlights include the countryside, rolling hills, great food, wine, and art. From Lucca to San Gimignano to Sienna to Montepulciano to Livorno to name a few...


 

Source: flickriver.com via Chris on Pinterest

My first memory of Tuscany was at the age of 10, when my family was searching for a bed and breakfast - a place in Livorgnano was recommended...such wonderful memories! It was just recently that I looked into the history of the place:

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Livernano is an ancient place where Etruscans used to live - their high point in the Tuscan culture was reached 2500 years ago (in 500 BC).  It was later occupied by Romans who gave its name. Livernano later served as a fortified border post between the wars of Sienna and Florence (2 of the states in Tuscany)...wow..

When the wars had come to an end, Livernano turned into a quiet farming village. The last farmers left in 1953 - after Tuscany suffered poverty when share-cropping was abandoned (at the end of WWII).  It was in 1990 when the restoration was complete (my family and I were there around '94-95).  It is now a working farm comprising of 38 acres, producing wines (with 9 grape varieties on its vineyards), olive oil (about 1000 olive trees), honey, vegetables, and fruits. I have this memory of the wonderful breakfast they served every morning with fresh fruits, jams, and breads.  

There is a Romanesque church on site that dates back to the 11th century. 

It is such an incredible place and I hope to go back one day.

Livernano is a just a short drive from Siena.


Siena...famous for its Campo Square (Piazza del Campo).

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The Campo was paved in 1349 and is and was the principal public space in Sienna.  It is famous for the Palio (horse race that is held twice a year).

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Also a short drive from Livernano is Montepulciano, another medieval and Renaissance town...this town is known for its 'Pici' pasta (a hand-rolled, thick spaghetti-like, homemade pasta usually made with only flour and water).  

It sits high on a 605m limestone ridge, so there are views such as this from the town.

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A lovely copper maker has his workshop on one of the side streets in Montepulciano...

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 He makes beautiful copper pieces for the kitchen, and we were able to watch him at work when we were there.


 




A couple of his beautiful hand-made sauce pans...




And finally, Montepulciano is known for a little restaurant looking out into the vineyards with wonderful Panna Cotta, a very simple yet delectable dessert.


It is actually quite easy to make...the recipe below adds 'Vin Santo' to the berry sauce.


recipe found at: 
 http://www.foodwinecook.com/535/food-and-wine-of-montepulciano-tuscany-italy/ 

2 envelope of unflavored gelatin
1/2 cup milk
2 1/2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract or the seeds from a vanilla bean

Place gelatin, sugar, milk and cream into a 4 qt. pot on the stove to scald. Then simmer slowly until all the sugar and gelatin are dissolved, mix occasionally with a wire whip. Turn off the fire, and mix in the vanilla extract. If using a vanilla bean, slice the bean lengthwise and scrape out seeds into cream and simmer all together.) Pour the cream mixture into ramekins or custard cups.

To unmold, carefully run a thin paring knife around edge of the ramekins, and then dip bottom of each ramekin into hot water for a few second. Wipe the outside of the mold dry. Place a 6 or 7 inch serving plate over the top of a ramekin. Invert the panna cotta onto the plate and carefully lift off ramekin the plate. Garnish with the topping. There are many different toppings, generally a cooked fruit or a
combination your choice.

Strawberries, blueberies and Vin Santo Topping

2 tablespoons butter
1 cinnamon stick
**2 pint baskets strawberries, coarsely crushed
¼ cup Vin Santo
1 tablespoons granulated sugar
Optional 1/2 teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper to give it a little bite

Melt the butter in a saucepan and add the sugar and the cinnamon stick, cook until the sugar begins to melt. Add the strawberries to the butter and cook until the sugar is dissolved. Add the Vin Santo and bring to as boil. To plate the desert, spoon the strawberry topping over half of each panna cotta.

**If you wish you may use other fruit or a combination of fruits, such as strawberries and blue berries.

What is Vin Santo you may ask? ---- it's an Italian dessert wine that is traditional in Tuscany. Basically, the grapes are dessicated over time allowing the sugars in the grapes to become more concentrated.  It is amber in color and often served with a biscotti-type of cookie called 'Cantucci'.




 




Lucca, another part of Tuscany, is famous for its Renaissance-era city walls. It became a Roman colony in 180 BC. Not long before that in 56 BC, Julius Ceasar, Pompey, and Crassus reaffirmed their political alliance called the First Triumvirate. Pretty recently, in 1805 (just kidding...well, I guess it's pretty recent compared to those 'BC' dates..), it was conquered by Napoleon.

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Streets of Lucca...

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To be continued...