Cooking With Pamela Sheldon Johns

On December 19th had a great time at a wonderful cooking event featuring the 

well known cooking instructor Pamela Sheldon Johns.  

I have wanted to meet Pamela since so many of my friends have taken her food and wine workshops in Italy where Pamela lives.  Lucky me to have this opportunity so close to home.  What a fun filled night we had.

My friend Mary and I arrived early and Pamela was already busy preparing

 the "pici" dough for our pasta making adventure.

This "Tuscan Peasant Cooking" meal featured the following menu:
Pinzimonio - Crudite` with olive oil dip
Crostini dello Cortile- Crostini from the Farm Courtyard (topped with organic chicken livers)
Pici Aglione con Le Briciole-Hand rolled pasta with spicy tomato garlic sauce and toasted bread crumbs
Involtini di Maiale-Pork rolls stuffed with ricotta and spinach
Polenta di Mais, Corn Polenta
Zucca al Forno- Baked Pumpkin
Mele al Forno, Amaretti stuffed Baked Apples

Lovely wines and prosecco to accompany the many tasting treats

I love all the stories Pamela shares about her life, how she came to live in Italy and her wide range of experiences as a chef.

This is Pamela Scott **who arranged this lovely event  "An Evening of Food and Wine" .  This was a wonderful fund raiser for "Five Acres" in Pasadena.**  What a nice effort for a great cause. Thank you to both Pamela's for this lovely evening.

Delicious olive oil tasting from Pamela's own olive vineyards.

Loved watching Pamela work her magic with herbs and her "mezzaluna"

Added surprises,  friend Mary on the left, met up with some old friends

We all had fun making "Pici" the tuscan hand rolled pasta

 

A great evening, wonderful food and many good lessons on Tuscan Peasant cooking. After dinner we were all gifted with a copy of Pamela's newest book "Cucina Povera". "The recipes in this book were collected by Pamela during the more than 20 years she has spent in Tuscany."

It's always fun to learn a new cooking skill but even more enjoyable  to
learn from someone like  Pamela who has the real "feel and  genuine love" for the Italian people and their expertise in the preparation of delectable  food.  She presents with such joy and enthusiasm.  If you are planning a trip to Italy  you should definitely consider a side trip to her agriturismo* for a cooking workshop and a lovely tour of the tuscan countryside. You'll be in for a real treat!

*See www.Poggio-Etrusco.com for more information on Pamela Sheldon Johns

** Pamela Scott  pscott@foothillenterprises.com  for information on tours to Italy (she has 30 years experiences in helping to plan trips and Italy is one of her specialties)

***For more information on Five Acres  http://www.fiveacres.org/