italy, my love

ok, i may have had a problem with Italy, but that will be the subject of another post on another blog...
my problem now with this beautiful country is coming to terms with the incredible gastronomic resources it has to offer.
Like chinese food, italian food is family food. It is prepared and food cooked with friends and family.
For it to be good there is only one criteria : the quality of the products used. Because of this unique criteria, italian cooking entertains a very intimate relationship with nature, which must be respected, and followed. It is not innocent that movements such as SLOW FOOD come from Italy. The abundance of products has blessed ths country with a rare luxury : the possibility to eat an incredible variety fresh productsaccording to the seasons.
The dishes are so simple, there is no need to hide/mask/disguise the true value of a product with a thick sauce, zillions of different spices...
If ever you go to Florence go here ...
Ask to meet the mama, and et her to talk about the food she produces.
It's all completely natural and delicious. Unfotunately, she will not sell any of her products as "it is forbidden to sell good things here"...
i did manage however to get this recipie off her. I haven't tried it yet, but i will until i get it right, as few things have blitzed my palet as much as this :

Marmalada al peperoni (pic above) :
750g. red pepper
250g. ginger
1kg. sugar
2 glasses of cider vinegar.
Wash the peppers. Cook them in the vinegar with the ginger.
Once cooked, throw the liquid away and purée the peppers.
Put the purée in a pan and add the sugar. Bring the lot to a boil for 3 minutes.
And there you have it ... easy no ?