mangiare bene -- to eat well

today in school, the kids and i continued our architecture watercolor paintings, traveling to the city of Pisa, Italy. we learned everything about "Torre pendente di Pisa", or The Leaning Tower of Pisa. did you know, that if not for war and upheaval over a few hundred years, that this modern marvel would have collapsed long ago. true story.


i have been craving italian food ever since.
i'm pregnant. craving is an art.



try making these meatballs. it's my favorite recipe and the creator is someone i look up to greatly.

and use your leftovers to make these little sandwiches for dinner.

whole wheat kaiser rolls, some provolone, and fresh parmesan. broil it for a few minutes with the tops off to melt the cheese and give it a gooey caramelized color.

served here with a simple fresh cucumber pickle.

2 small cucumbers

1 red bell pepper, sliced

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 tsp pickling spice

1/3 cup vinegar

freshly chopped mint or oregano

pinch of salt

water to cover

combine all and refrigerate. best served the day after, but can be eaten right away.

a perfect summer cooling compliment to the meatball sandwiches.

cheers! eat well!