Thinking Italian tonight? Italy is one of my favorite countries: the food & wine, art, scenery, historic cobblestone streets, romantic atmosphere, and soft language all creates a magic of its own. Check out my recipe links below! And here’s some “food-for-thought” to prime you before you bring those blissful Italian aromas into your kitchen. Excerpt by Elizabeth Gilbert – Eat, Pray, Love :

“There’s a wonderful old Italian joke about a poor man who goes to church every day and prays before the statue of a great saint, begging, “Dear saint-please, please, please…give me the grace to win the lottery.” This lament goes on for months. Finally the exasperated staue comes to life, looks down at the begging man and says in weary disgust, “My son-please, please, please…buy a ticket.”

Spanish Steps, Rome, Italy