Franco Manca (or The Best Pizza you'll ever have in London)

Today I had a bad day. A real bad day. To the point where I finally decided to resign from a job I once used to love so much but unfortunately I don't any more and forcing myself to stay is getting in the way of my health and happiness. And yes, I do have a couple more freelance jobs going but with this recession going on, taking such a step is very scary..So, needless to say, when I got home I was not the picture of happiness and positive energy and even though I tried to mask it as best as I could, after all these years together my boyfriend can see right through me. And ALWAYS KNOWS WHAT TO DO TO MAKE IT BETTER.
But tonight he exceeded himself. First, he took me for a long walk in the park as he knows I always feel calmer when I'm in the middle of nature (and hopefully able to see a few cute doggies running around), then, as we sat by the lake watching crazy ducks trying to hit on each other in what I can only describe as a very forceful and slightly uncomfortable to watch way, he told me he would treat me to a pizza at Franco Manca. Which is why I'm actually writing this post.
''PIZZA AT FRANCO MANCA''. Four little words that instantly made me forget everything that happened today and brought the biggest smile to my face. Because as a picky Italian who has tried many pizzerias throughout my 9 years here in London I am well aware that Franco Manca truly is the best pizza in the city.
 I KID YOU NOT. The first time I tried Franco Manca was thanks to a lovely make up artist who lived in Brixton and suggested I gave it a try in their Brixton Market shop. And I've never looked back since.
On top of that, my prayers were definitely answered when not too long ago they opened a new branch just down the road from my house, in Northcote Road. Which is where we went tonight.
It's such  a relaxed and cool atmosphere and it always feels a bit like home for me.

There's something about hearing other people speaking Italian around me and to me in this small but cosy pizzeria that makes me feel some kind of camaraderie you know? AAAhhh...My people...
And it's not just the funny but oh so true uniforms consisting of a white t-shirt with a chubby Italian man in a tank top playing a game of football, it's the relaxed atmosphere, it's Roberto, the waiter that by now remembers my boyfriend's name and my order without mozzarella because I can't have any dairy...
It's these small but wonderful details that make our experience at Franco Manca such a lovely night out.
And of course let's not forget the main reason that brought us here. Pizza. Aaaahhhh...Here, they use a sourdough base that allows the pizza to stay soft and moist until you've had your last slice, unlike other pizzas that can become a bit dry and rubbery by the time you're done.
All the ingredients are fresh and of excellent quality and as appetisers I often order their  big green olives which are the same exact ones that my grandma used to put on the table so we could  munch on them before a meal.
Taste of home and really well priced too?Yes please!

They even make their own organic lemonade which, by the way, is absolutely delicious and reminds me of my summers on the beach as child..Now, I don't drink alcohol but my boyfriend does and he loves the beer they serve, it's called Green Daemon and he says it's a smooth and refreshing ale.

 I normally order Pizza N5 (not to be confused with Mambo N5..) which is what I would call a pizza Napoletana with tomato, mozzarella, garlic, oregano,capers, olives and anchovies. I have mine without mozzarella and it's still incredibly tasty.
Tonight though I felt like I needed a bit of a kick, without the actual help of their chilli oil which, let me warn you, does pack a punch indeed..So I ordered Patrick's favourite : Pizza with Chorizo.
Knowing that I am dairy intolerant, the waiter told us I could swap ingredients around so I requested wild mushrooms instead of mozzarella on mine and it worked beautifully.
They added not one but two types of chorizo: dry and semi-dry. Both out of this world.
 I strongly recommend it to those of you who like a bit of spicy in their life!

The only issue we encountered tonight was a small surprise we found on our final bill, which was still a reasonable £19.70 tip excluded for two chorizo pizzas, a beer and a lemonade (oh, and they always bring you a small bottle of tap water on top of that as soon as you sit down) BUT as we were looking at the receipt we realised that what had previously been offered to us as an alternative topping to mozzarella had in fact been charged as an extra topping. When we asked the waitress, we were told that the register charged us the difference in price between the mushrooms and the mozzarella which we still didn't think was very fair..

Having said that, I must underline that we have been here many times before without any kind of problems and we will definitely go back in the future to enjoy more of their exquisite pizza..
And I sure hope you do too!

Mediterranean roasted butternut squash and sweet potatoes

My parents are visiting this weekend and I'm so happy because honestly, this long winter, interminable cold winds and showers were really starting to get me down and I was really missing home. Yup, I could not see hope for spring or summer weather over here and that's when I start thinking about long queues in the sun outside ice cream parlours in Milan (where my family is) or Rome ( where my oldest friends are), old men sitting at tables outside bars playing cards, drinking coffee while watching the world go by and lots of Vespas whizzing by. Anyway, my point being my parents are here and I'm oh so happy. Yesterday we walked around town all day so when we got home around 7 we were pretty tired to start cooking so we bought some olives, grilled artichokes and eggplants, olive bread and ripe tomatoes and had a little Italian home picnic instead. Plus... I quickly made something that my mom adores but can't have as often in Italy.. Roasted sweet potato and butternut squash. I'm not sure why sweet potatoes are not imported as much over there but hey, it is true as Italians we do already have some pretty awesome tasty vegetables. Even so, I would always find time for sweet potatoes as they are probably my favourite root vegetable!
And my mom adores it too. Probably more than I do as she doesn't get to eat it as often so it's a real treat for her..
So what follows is my quick recipe for roasted butternut squash and sweet potatoes with Italian dried herbs, ready in 30 min, just the time for you to get changed when you come home from work, lay the table, have some bits and pieces as antipasto like we did or prepare any other quick main that would go well with this side dish.
Now, I know it would be so much better to have a proper whole butternut squash, cut it in half, roast it etc.. But I'm not going to lie to you, after a long day I really cannot be asked. Maybe on a Sunday when I'm relaxed and have all the time in the world, but after a busy weekday including working and studying I buy a bag of ready chopped butternut squash and sweet potatoes so I can just dress them and pop them in the oven. Yes I do. So if sometimes you're a bit lazy like I am but still want yummy food quickly then read on, otherwise.. Look away now.x

RECIPE (for 2 hungry people or 4 small sides)

1 Pack Chopped Butternut Squash and sweet Potato ( or just butternut squash and then you can peel and chop 1 big sweet potato)

1 1/2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper
1tbsp Mediterranean dried herbs ( mine is my grandma's mix, she never remembers what's in it, bless her, but I think a mix of oregano, thyme, rosemary should do the trick.)

Just pop the chopped squash and potatoes on a bowl, add oil and herbs and
season with salt and pepper.
Mix it up, put on a baking tray and in the oven at gas mark 6 for 30 min BUT take the tray out and mix everything up after 15 min before putting them back in again for the remaining time.

Take out of the oven and serve!x

Brixton Farmers Market

Yesterday it was a gorgeous sunny Sunday so we went to Brixton to check out the Farmers Market I was recommended from my colleague at Conscious Food, a lovely organic food company I freelance for. The market was a bit small but I think a couple of the regular stalls were missing. The ones present though had some really tasty food. My happiest discovery was Global Fusion, a Creole Vegan Bakery stall which made big and delicious veggie fritters, delicious bread and INCREDIBLE homemade cakes.

I left with a very generous slice of Chocolate Mud Pie for £2 and a Veggie Fritter, also pretty big for £ 1.50. I shared both of them with Patrick (aka my boyfriend), who's often very sceptical about healthier foods, but he absolutely loved both and so did I.

The veggie fritter is not something I'd have every day as it was quite oily, it was after all fried, but it was soft and moist with lovely fresh greens and tender sweet potatoes. There was a hot sauce on the side which Patrick tried and as a lover of spicy foods he really enjoyed it, it was hot but not overbearing.

As for the cake...Aaahhh..The cake. CHOCOLATE MUD PIE. Pure, intense, moist chocolate heaven.That's all I can say.
I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND IT.
If you prefer fruity desserts, they also had a lovely looking organic peach crumble which I'm going to try next time I head there, plus many other treats with different kinds of fruit in them.

There was a little bit for every taste and the best thing is that all the products were both vegan and soy free so I could have anything I wanted. Yey!
Cheap, intolerance friendly, delicious food.That's my kind of bakery..

Other stalls were selling some lovely fresh seafood, cheeses, free range eggs that you could choose and put in your box, meat, wonderful fruits, vegetables and also flowers..

I picked up some beautiful apples (£1.80 for a bag) and some fresh sage for my tea (£1 for a big bunch) from Perry Court Farm.

And from the Manor Farm stall  I also got some gorgeous red onions (my mom always said "if you need to use onions  always use red ones"), a big celeriac (£1.10) to make a delicious salad and 3 bunches of
Oh So Pretty daffodils for £1. Amazing.
They had many other vegetables to choose from so pop by their stall when you get to market and fill up your basket!

Then we headed to the Happy Herefords stall as Patrick was starting to get a bit hungry and he got  a really tasty sausage with herbs in it, served in a bun with onions and sauces.
 Their meat is grass fed, naturally reared and tasted amazing. They also offered hamburgers  and were selling steaks and other cuts to take home with you.
My diet is mostly plant based but I eat meat as long as I know where it comes from and  ideally it should be grass fed. Well, this company ticked all the boxes.

I was so pleased with this small but buzzing market full of fabulous local produce and I'm definitely going back next Sunday for more organic goodness! And you should too.x

Beauty Foods Face Mask

I know this is not a breakfast, lunch or dinner recipe BUT it's  made with 100% edible ingredients and it's really good for you so I thought it would be a good idea to post it.
It's a face mask suggested to me by my nutritionist, yes, I'm not only studying to become one but am seeing one too and I'm learning lots of new interesting things like this beauty tip.
I'm 100% Italian but 9 years here in England with very little sun, lots of wind and cold weather have had a toll on my skin which is now ultra-sensitive and rosacea prone. I know. Fun times.
This is a super fresh and natural mask with lovely ingredients: oatmeal is very helpful for dry skin, banana is nourishing and full of vitamins, manuka honey has antibacterial properties  and adding 1 capsule of probiotic helps fight the bacteria in your skin and as a consequence helps with breakouts.
I have tried a few masks that are out there and there's always some ingredient that ends up not being too good for you but there are no surprises in this one and my skin is still thanking me for it.
WARNING: It's the messiest mask I have ever tried. My nutritionist did say it but man, I was not prepared for this..Forget the idea of looking like one of those smiling, gorgeous models on Glamour with their mud mask on and colourful pyjamas having a pillow fight in a field of sunflowers.
This is going to be ugly. I looked like Robin Williams in Mrs Doubtfire when he put his face in cream pie and bits of it were falling in someone's coffee cup. So MAKE SURE your hair is pulled back, you're leaning over a sink and ideally alone in the house..Actually the recipe made enough for two so you can have a girlfriend over and just laugh at each other in the process..But when your skin will be soft and glowing...Who will be laughing then ah?
Anyway, enough said.  Here we go:

INGREDIENTS:

Half a banana (you can also substitute with avocado)
1 probiotic capsule (I used GI Flora from Allergy Research)
1 heaped tsp of Manuka honey
1 dessert spoon of Oatmeal (grounded oats)

Just mash the banana and add all the other ingredients

Mix well, apply to face and leave for 15 min. then remove with a hot cloth or simply warm water.
PS: I added 1 more tsp of oats to give it a bit more consistency.

Spinach and Walnut Penne

As some of you might know, I'm not only a nutrition student but first and foremost an actress and as much as i love this unstable job with all my heart, it also means that I'm often on a very tight budget..
Oh, the glamorous life...Anyway, having only a small amount of money to spend doesn't necessarily mean that you can't prepare tasty food that's also good for you.
Enter Abel and Cole's Spinach and Walnut Penne.
I actually made this for Easter lunch when we had two of our dearest friends over and they both really liked it which made so happy!
Unfortunately this recipe isn't on the Abel and Cole Website but you can find it in their cookbook.
It saved my life so many times so I had to write a post about it. I'm currently off dairy so mine is a vegan version which means I omitted  the grated Parmesan but if you have no problem with cheese then by all means add some at the end.To be honest the sauce is so creamy and filling that i really do not miss anything else.. Also I add more spinach than the original recipe as I LOVE my greens!!!

RECIPE  (serves 4)

500gr WholeWheat Penne
1/2 Mug Walnuts (standard tea mug)
4 Mugs of freshly chopped spinach
Salt and Pepper
Extravirgin Olive Oil























Cook your penne in salted boiling water (I use Hymalayan salt but regular sea salt is absolutely fine), mine take about 10 minutes but just follow the instructions on your pack.

While the penne are cooking, pop your walnuts in a food processor and grind them to a soft breadcrumbs consistency, then slowly add some cooking water till you reach the consistency you want.I like mine smooth and creamy. I would suggest to keep some cooking water on the side in case it gets a bit dry when mixed with the pasta.
1 minute before your pasta is done add the spinach.
Drain penne and spinach, add the sauce, season with salt and pepper and drizzle some lovely olive oil then
mix all together, serve and enjoy!Whoop!xxx

Loving Chicken Soup

It happened. After many days of strangers coughing on me on public transports, days of cold winds and pouring rain, I am now sick and writing this post from my bed as I can't watch tv because everything sounds like an explosion in my head at the moment.
So I'm being constructive and using this time to let you guys know about my Loving Chicken Soup. My mom's recipe actually, she explained it to me on the phone a few days ago when I started feeling like I was coming down with something..And it's so simple and comforting, just like a hug. Exactly what you need when you're down.

Recipe:
2 Carrots chopped
2 Celery Sticks chopped
1 onion chopped
1 garlic clove chopped
1 medium potato or 3 small ones chopped in small cubes
2 organic chicken breast chopped in small cubes
1 big handful of spinach chopped
Salt and pepper
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp vegetable stock
Enough boiled water to cover the vegetables plus 1 cup more.

Put the oil, carrots, celery, onion and garlic in the pan on a medium heat and season with salt and pepper. Leave for about 5 min or until they soften making sure you stir every now and then.
One they're soft you can add the water, stock and potatoes and leave for about 15 min. Finally, add the chicken and leave for 3 to 4 min, make sure it's cooked through. I normally take a bit out after 3 min and if it's soft and cooked I immediately add the spinach and leave for 1 more minute before turning off the heat.
Serve in your favourite bowl and remember to drizzle a tiny bit of oil before you eat..

Love Frittata

I'm guilty.That's right, I'm one of those people that buys way too many fresh vegetables in advance and then doesn't get around to using all of them and by the end of the week an evil smell coming from the refrigerator reminds me how much food is rotting in my veggie drawer...
But all of this is going to change, first of all because I've seen this sign on a van the other night that said LOVEFOODHATEWASTE and it reminded me of how much I actually do waste.And yet I still complain I have no money, it's all spent on food...Well instead of buying too much, dear Valentina, try and actually use up what you have left first and only then buy more food!
So that's what I did yesterday and something wonderful happened..My first very own recipe!No food blogs, no cookbooks, just a phone call to my mom to make sure i was going in the right direction..Bear in mind I'm Italian and the call to my mother would have happened even if hadn't been cooking so i thought i might as well put it to good use..
And so my super duper colourful Love Frittata was born. I've just decided to call it like that first of all because as I was cooking it I sure did put lots of love into it, as I do with everything I cook, I truly believe food tastes so much better if your heart is in it.Not literally.
Secondly because I did bake it in my heart shaped pan, which I really adore and find makes everything look super cute but not as cute as my boyfriend who tasted it as well and gave me his seal of approval.Success!
I used all the vegetables I had left and they worked so well together I decided this was one for the blog.
I had it for dinner and the day after for lunch but it can also be easily eaten as part of a delicious brunch with friends.

So here it is:

RECIPE:
2 Sweet Potatoes, chopped
1 Courgette,chopped
1 Leek,thinly sliced
A handful of spinach, chopped (all I had left in the bag..)
A handful of fresh parsley, chopped
2 garlic cloves
2 tbsp extravirgin olive oil
1tsp dried Mediterranean herbs mix (my grandma gave me mine, I think it's rosemary, origano and thyme.. )
4 eggs
A pinch or two of pink Hymalaian salt (that's what I  had at home but sea salt is perfect as well)
Black pepper to taste

Turn the oven on at 220c, 425F or gas mark 7 (that's what i use as i have a super old gas oven).

First,put the chopped sweet potatoes in a bowl with 1 tbsp of oil, plus a pinch of salt and pepper and some dried herbs but don't worry if you don't have them, it'll work just the same. Toss it all together and then pop it on a baking tray and in the oven for 25-30 min or till the potatoes are nice and soft,half way through move them around so they can cook evenly.
Once they're done, take them out and lower the heat to gas mark 4, 180c, 350F.

Put the garlic cloves in a pan with the oil and when the garlic starts to brown a little, add in the chopped courgettes on a medium heat and kept stirring every now and then for about 10 min till they become soft, add the leeks and let those soften too and last add spinach and parsley and stir for about 2 minutes before turning off the heat.

Put all 4 eggs in a bowl with salt and pepper and whisk.

Now get a baking pan and put all your vegetables in and add the eggs,mix all together and put in the oven for about 20 minutes or until the top is firm.

Take out of the oven and Buon Appetito!

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.xxx