What’s Stu Cooking

Just got back from Kim’s birthday trip to Tuscany. Gastronomic highlights included:

• Pizza in Pisa: Down a side alley away from the tourist traps I found a small pizzeria that was full of locals - proof enough that it was going to be special. And it was.
• Il Pozzo in the Garfagnana: After a casual drive through the mountains north of Pisa, we stopped off for lunch at a village restaurant, Il Pozzo. I think we were the only tourists having lunch there that day and the place was full. I’d have to say that this was the best taste of Tuscan food we had. Sam’s Gnocchi was amazing. Kim had perfectly charred beef ribs cooked in a wood burning oven that was visible from the dining room. I had farro salad and sausages with white beans.
• Florence: Expensive. We just snacked on sandwiches.
• The Coast: At the resort, Kim had a wonderful seafood foil bake with several kinds of fresh fish plus baby zucchini, tiny clams, and prawns. On the following day we walked along the seaside in Marina di Pisa and Tirrenia. I had a one of a kind panini with wild boar ham, cheese, asparagus cream and truffle cream.
• Gelato: Oh yes.

If you ever go to Tuscany and plan to make a gastro-tour, I highly recommend the book Tasting Tuscany. It’s a tour guide and recipe book in one.

I only wish we had a few more days holiday…

Me: What pizza do you want Sam?
Sam: I’ll have the Hot Shot.
Me: Let’s see, that has pepperoni, peppers, onions, and chilies… That has hot chilies on it, Sam. Why don’t you choose another.
Sam: No, I want the Hot Shot.
Me: It will be very spicy-hot. Pick another pizza.
Sam: I like spicy food. I want the Hot Shot, that’s the only one I want. I’m not picking another one.

Me: OK, alright, if you insist. Time to teach son a lesson.

Pizza arrives
Me: you might want to pick a few of those chilies off that slice. Looks like there are quite a lot of chilies on there, Sam.
Sam: No, I like hot chilies. Takes a big bite. Oh… hoooo, hoooo… Erm, it’s good. Takes another bite. Whoo… fire… coming. out. of. mouth. Reaches for water.
Me: Oh, you got to be tough now and eat this pizza you just *had* to have. Smiles wickedly
Sam: Eyes widening. OK, I will.

Second slice
Sam: Takes a nibble. I think I’m full now.
Me: We’ll just pick those chilies off then, shall we?
Sam: Yes, please!

This how my grandma used to fix Shredded Wheat for me when I was a kid.

1. boil the kettle
2. break up 2 or 3 bricks into a bowl
3. pour boiling water over the bricks and immediately drain
4. sprinkle on 2 spoonfuls of sugar to taste
5. add a splash or two of milk and mix into the shredded wheat

For an even richer consistency use half and half or light cream in place of the milk.