July 12, 2016
Italians have mastered the art of dining alfresco with incredible simplicity, but yet sophistication. It comes down to having the freshest and best ingredients available. You don't need more food, you need better food that will leave your taste buds singing and your body fueled for all the fun things you want to do this summer!
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January 24, 2016
The ideal place for a better life includes days filled with sunshine, but a year with four distinct seasons; an area with easy access to big cities, but not so close population, traffic and pollution infringes on your daily life; a place where old traditions still reign while new technology is catching on; acres and acres of farmland secure fresh, clean food to eat within zero kilometers....and the best Italian extra virgin olive oil!
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April 22, 2015
Everyday is Earth Day at Casal Cristiana Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil here in Italy ..... There is no excuse to not conserve energy. It's practically handed to us with this climate, Italian ingenuity and common sense. How can we not celebrate?
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February 01, 2015
Cook like the Marchigiani. You may be asking yourself .... who or what is the Marchigiani? It is the people of the Italian region of Le Marche of course! Now that we have that cleared up, the one thing culinary enthusiasts know about Italian cuisine is that top quality and seasonal ingredients are critical for simple, but spectacular meals. There are actually very few rules when it comes to cooking Italian food, however a tremendous number of opinions exist depending upon who you ask, what region you are sourcing, and of course, tradition. This may have you contemplating methods and ingredients but as far as I'm concerned, that's what makes cooking fun! It's a shame when dishes become so complicated it puts you off and even in Italy, we don't have all day to cook.
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September 01, 2014
In honor of the American Labor Day this weekend, I am dedicating this blog to my Italian friends, who continue to work, seek employment and strive to be resourceful in the midst of Italy's continuing financial crisis and to compete in a global market while protecting their country's heritage and traditions. Italy just would not be the same without slow food, regional cooking, musicians, and artists of all kinds. I hope they can keep it alive as the world becomes smaller with technology.
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August 25, 2014
It was a whirlwind and fantastic 30-day trip to the West Coast this summer visiting friends and sharing Casal Cristiana Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil (CCEVOO) through numerous events, dinners and tastings. The cool, green forests and valleys of vineyards of the Pacific Northwest certainly contrasts with our life in the sub-tropical Italian region of Le Marche where it is blue as far as the eye can see with little separating the Adriatic and the sky. The air, energy and vistas are charged so differently.
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July 16, 2014
This summer marks two years living in Italy and this July is the First Year Anniversary for Casal Cristiana Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil (CCEVOO)! We embarked upon our new venture with great enthusiasm, aiming to share our love of real extra virgin olive oil and to bring the Ponzi Italian-American connection full circle. From the Balcony of the Adriatic to the Heart of Oregon Wine Country, Join us on Saturday, August 2nd for our 1st Year Anniversary Celebration Dinner at The Dundee Bistro.
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June 23, 2014
Everything is better in the summer; the sunshine and warmth, colorful flowers, blue skies and explosion of fresh fruits and vegetables! It seems everyone is happier with beautiful weather and food that flourishes so easily for our enjoyment. It's not a chore to make healthy and delicious meals when flavor is at our fingertips.
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June 17, 2014
Here's a peek into our Italian life for the last month, it's been challenging and exciting! So in case you are not on our email list, "ecco lo!" Here it is! Enjoy!
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May 12, 2014
It's never too early or too late in life to take the lead of your own health. So many different health fads come and go but if you take a look at history, our European ancestors found a cure to many ailments. Going back to the Roman times, it was discovered that pressing the olive fruit created a lovely oil that not only tasted wonderful, but it had health benefits too!
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April 17, 2014
The week leading up to Easter in Italy is an occasion of much fanfare and numerous events. This holiday is dominated as a religious celebration but that does not stop the Easter Bunny concept one bit. Chocolate Easter eggs of all sizes (gigantic ones nearly as tall as me) are filled with surprises for the lucky recipient. The grocery store aisles are packed with varying themes and quality.
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April 02, 2014
Life is a dance between observation and participation. Making choices from information we've gleaned and the experiences we've lived all determine that decisive moment for grand and monumental decisions like marriage, children, college, etc. down to what appears to be simple choices like ... what goes in the grocery basket, selections from a menu and quite possibly determining good (and real) extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). In the end, it's not all that simple ... or is it?
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The ideal place for a better life includes days filled with sunshine, but a year with four distinct seasons; an area with easy access to big cities, but not so close population, traffic and pollution infringes on your daily life; a place where old traditions still reign while new technology is catching on; acres and acres of farmland secure fresh, clean food to eat within zero kilometers....and the best Italian extra virgin olive oil!
