Many greetings of a very happy holiday season with a special home made “Panettone”!

Look what a wonderful chocolate "Panettone" cake in the shape of crib gave me my friend Roberta! Thanks my dear, you really are an exceptional pastry chef maitre! You are all invited to a...virtual taste! Happy holidays and best wishes!!

OUR DOG CLEOPATRA AND ...CATS.

What about Cleopatra the curious Fortezza de’ Cortesi dachsund? So brave, amusing and affectinate with all humans, she’s terrible with our cats. The hunter insticts guide her short legs chasing the poor felines who take refuge on the property’s wood trees. She waits adamant barking for hours till exhausted she comes home with his tongue hanging out.

Tuscan emotions, romantic luxury of a relaxing holiday in the countryside

Tuscany is the place where senses re-align to the nature; the smell of the countryside by the season change, the sight of generous landscaping, deliciously rolling lush of olive trees, cypresses vineyards dotted by antic villages, the luscious taste of a fruit picked from its tree, the story of struggle working hands on the roughness of an old "beating" table, the sound of the nature at night.
Enjoy the romance of a luxuriant holiday of idleness, antonym " negotium", forced time to tasks materials, taking the privilege of ample living space to share in a few ......

Cooking class at Fortezza de' Cortesi!!

An experience of savours, flavours, consistence, you will be aware of the essential secrets of cooking, giving you all right instruments to share them with your friends and amaze your guests during your genuine Italian dinner.

I will show you the organic row ingredients we mostly use for our recipes; we ‘ll pick aromatic herbs and vegetables directly from our garden in our organic farm, then I’ll give you some basic information on our self produced saffron DOP and extra virgin olive oil, so that you will have no difficulties to choose the right ingredients from the shelves once back home.

Come and stay with us!!!! ask for more info to: info@fortezzacortesi.com

Saffron special dessert recipe from San Gimignano

Saffron is used in the kitchen for recipes ranging from appetizers to desserts. Here's a delicious pie, "grabbed" from the chefs of our Restaurant Dulcisinfundo of San Gimignano. It is pretty easy, very tasty and got a great final look. Only a few days ago I explained the recipe during my cooking class and it was success!
here is the Ricotta Pie with saffron recipe for 6 people:

Ingredients:
400 g ricotta cheese
250 gr flour
4 eggs
100 gr sugar
1 cup milk
1 / 2 cup sunflower oil
24 g sachet yeast
lemon peel
butter
1 packet of saffron and a half of pure DOP San Gimignano from 0.10 gr
6 stencils impulse

description:
Crush the saffron in a mortar and add it to the previously warmed up milk. Mix well eggs and sugar. Stir in ricotta, lemon peel, oil and milk with saffron. Stir well being careful not to remove the compound. Sift flour with baking powder and mix thoroughly.
Grease and flour the stampini. Pour the mixture in the molds and bake at 180 C° degrees for 40 minutes.
Take out the pies from oven, let them cool, remove cakes from the molds and serve sprinkled with powdered sugar. Decorate as desired.

Saffron in the kitchen

There are several recipes in which saffron can be used. From appetizers to desserts, its peculiar flavor due to the presence of the elements that compose the picrocrocina and its scent made up of active ingredient safranal joined to the beautiful yellow gold color given by crocin, makes it one of the most unusual and versatile spice.

The Romans used it to prepare dishes for cooking game and aromatic wines. Arabs for cakes and breads. During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance it was used for the preparation of "crayons" spices and meat pies, breads, soups, cakes savory, vegetables and legumes in meats and cheeses, fruit and cakes.

Today, appreciated by the best international chefs including those in the restaurant "Dulcis in Fundo", San Gimignano, is used for preparing countless recipes and creative cooking.

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Feel the atmosphere of our Tuscan Retreat, a special place for unforgettable holiday.... beautiful pictures will make you feel here and share with us unforgettable moments in San Gimignano, Tuscany!