ExperiencePlus! Blog


ExperiencePlus!

  • Galileo’s Daughter: A Drama of Science, Faith and Love by Dava Sobel

    Galileo’s Daughter: A Drama of Science, Faith and Love by Dava Sobel I read this fascinating book during the last two weeks I spent at my families’ farm in Italy this summer, and I must agree with the editor’s assessment… Read full article

  • Zucchini e melanzane sott’olio’ or “eggplant and zucchini marinated in olive oil”

    Zucchini e melanzane sott’olio’ or "eggplant and zucchini marinated in olive oil" Eggplant: Use the fatter or rounder eggplants, and cut into slices about 1 inch thick. Salt them and drain them for at least half an hour. Wash the… Read full article

  • Sommerkylling, or Summer Chicken

    Sommerkylling, or Summer Chicken A delicious entree submitted by Per Schelde, ExperiencePlus! Tour Leader for Denmark. Ingredients (Serves 4 people) 1 5-7 lb chicken, preferably free range 1 stick unsalted butter 1 cup whole cream 1 ½ cups chicken stock-preferably… Read full article

  • Tzatziki, or Greek Yogurt and Cucumber Dip

    Tzatziki A staple for most Greek restaurants, this classic recipe is the perfect snack, appetizer or dip for those delicious Greek Meatballs! Light, refreshing and healthy. 2 cucumbers (or one hot house cucumber) 4 cloves of garlic, chopped finely. 1… Read full article

  • Pasta with Kale

    Pasta with Kale I have found that the I prefer using the sun-dried tomato pesto, rather than the soaked sun-dried tomatoes themselves, as the original recipe calls for. Your choice. 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes or two-three tbsp. sun-dried tomatoes pesto… Read full article

  • Spoke Songs/Metal Cowboy

    cellspacing=”0″ cellpadding=”0″ width=”100%” summary=”” border=”0″> Spoke Songs/Metal Cowboy   Spokesongs (Bicycle Adventures on Three Continents) by Willie Weir     Metal Cowboy (Tales from the Road Less Pedaled) by Joe Kurmaskie   Bicycling is very much a solitary sport: first,… Read full article

  • Baba Ganoush (Eggplant & Tahini Dip)

    Baba Ganoush (Eggplant & Tahini Dip)         1 Medium to Large Eggplant   1 to Four Cloves of Garlic (chopped)   2 Tbsp. Tahini (Sesame Paste)   2 – 4 Tbsp. Plain Yogurt   1 – 4… Read full article

  • The Words of Bernfrieda, A Chronicle of Hauteville by Gabriella Brooke

    The Words of Bernfrieda, A Chronicle of Hauteville by Gabriella Brooke NOTE: For those of you traveling with us to Southern Italy, or simply interested in finding out more about this region, we’ve included an annotated reading list at the… Read full article

  • Ribollita

    This traditional Tuscan soup is the perfect way to get a hefty serving of greens and to turn leftover bread into a hearty dish. The best part, this soup only gets more flavorful with time, make a big batch and… Read full article

  • House of Niccolo; by Dorothy Dunnet

    House of Niccoló by Dorothy Dunnet I have a friend who was so taken with Dorothy Dunnett’s eight volume series based on the travels of a 15th century Flanders businessman and adventurer that she planned a trip around his base… Read full article

  • Risotto Con Scampi

    Risotto Con Scampi   One of the secrets for a good risotto is to coat the rice well with the oil or butter, (and the onions) at the very beginning of the cooking, before you put any liquid. Another is… Read full article

  • Galette des Rois

    Galette des Rois There are two main cakes prepared for this occasion: a brioche type stuffed and decorated with gorgeous candied fruits, and a puff pastry with almond filling. This recipe is for the northern-style pastry and almond cake. One… Read full article

  • Panettone, Italian Christmas Bread

    Panettone, Italian Christmas Bread My father would bring home at least two or three brightly colored boxes -the color blue dominated – inside a delicious, rounded mound of a cake-like, light and spongy mixture wrapped in a clear plastic bag.… Read full article

  • Tapenade

    Tapenade   Olives have been an integral part of France’s Provence region since 600 B.C. when the Greeks first brought olive trees to the area. The universal symbol of peace, the olive also represents rebirth, purity and goodness. Ingredients:  … Read full article

  • Aunt Angiolina’s Bean Soup

    Aunt Angiolina’s Bean Soup This soup has been one of my favorites since I was a child. Although I spent several weeks at the farm every summer when I was growing up, this is a dish that is not made… Read full article

  • Super Easy Bruschetta

    Super Easy Bruschetta This is a quick and easy appetizer that is consistently pronounced wrong by wait staff in restaurants in the US. Say “brew-sket’-ta” not “brewsheta.” Note that the “ch” is a hard “k” sound in Italian, not a… Read full article

  • French Béchamel Sauce

    Ingredients: 3 tbsp butter or margarine 1/3 cup flour 2 cups milk 1/2 cup grated cheese or more salt and pepper to taste la technique Melt the butter or margarine in sauce pan. Add flour and stir with wisk, or… Read full article

  • Pasta making demonstration.

    An Easy, Fresh Pasta Recipe

    An Easy, Fresh Pasta Recipe A former tour leader, photographer, bike mechanic, and web guru extraordinaire came up with a quick pasta recipe. Ingredients: use about 1 cup of flour, 1 egg, and 1 tablespoon of water per person eating 3… Read full article