I’m reminded of one of my favorite memories of being in Rome

This summer, it feels as though everyone I know (except me) is escaping to fabulous vacation destinations. I am especially “joyfully envious” when I hear of someone visiting Italy. Naturally I ask them to please give my love to Lisa’s and my motherland.

As our LA temperatures rise and I trust people desire a delicious way to cool off, I’m reminded of one of my favorite memories of being in Rome one very warm spring. Staying at the beautiful home of friends, I intended to be their Chef for the duration which didn’t really happen, but my first afternoon in their kitchen yielded an unforgettable experience.

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When I opened their refrigerator, not only did I find a “leg” of prosciutto and an entire wheel of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (which combined cost in America I promised them, would be about $10,000), there was a bowl of fresh sliced strawberries macerating in sugar.

The lemon and orange trees in the backyard were filled with ripe citrus which lent heavenly aromas in the warm breeze. It was about 95 degrees in the shade of those trees.

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“We’re making strawberry-orange lemonade!”

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After buying groceries at the local Farmers Market for lunch

After buying groceries at the local Farmers Market for lunch, we visited a gorgeous bakery where we bought some just-baked bread. Bruno suggested we also get some of their best lemon sugar cookies, “for the lemonade.”

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At the table together, our lunch meal (complete with the Parma prosciutto and cheese) was incredibly delicious. It was however, upstaged, by how amazingly special those lemon cookies were ... dipped in the fresh, blushing lemonade.

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When in Rome, or anywhere you are, I promise that pure summer joy is inevitable when you experience these recipes!

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Dip sugar cookies in lemonade for a refreshing summer treat!

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Until next time, I remain ~

Your Chef and Tour Maestra,

Diane Scalia