The best thing about living in a foreign country is the number of great people you meet. Expats abroad tend to form an alliance based on a mutual understanding, or in many cases misunderstanding of the new society and having that network is an invaluable source of comfort for many of us.
 
The second best thing about living in a foreign country is the new food … especially in a country like Italy, where fresh produce and homemade dishes are celebrated and appreciated. And expected!
 
So when you put best thing #1 with best thing #2 and you find a fellow expat who is not only a good listener and helpful friend, but who is also a fantastic chef with mouthwatering recipes … well, you’ve hit the mother load.
 
And so we have.
 
Judy Witts Francini has been a Tuscan chef for 25 years and although we have yet to meet in person, I’m looking forward to the day we can shake hands, or well, we are in Italy, so kiss cheeks, share a glass of wine and she can cook for me. (What? She’s a pro?)
 
Until that day, though I’ll have to get by with her new cookbook “Secrets From my Tuscan Kitchen.” And let me just say, I think I’ll manage just fine.
 

 
The cookbook is a collection of 93 of Judy’s favorite Tuscan recipes and features pasta and risotto dishes, second plate meals, recipes for homemade bread and pasta and an extensive dessert section.
 
I’ve already jumped into the book and prepared a few summer favorites while my husband is planning ahead for the cold-weather months to try some of the heartier Tuscan stews and soups … and he’s been eyeing her homemade gnocchi recipe, as well.
 
The recipes are in American measurements, but the front-of-the-book conversions make it easy to whip up these treats, regardless of which continent you are on.
 
So if you are looking for a new cookbook that won’t gather dust on your shelf, head over to DivinaCucina and order your copy today. Or better yet, buy two and share one with the Tuscan wanna-be chef in your life.
 
Buon Appetito!
 

I can’t remember the last time I procrastinated writing a post until my morning “deadline.” You see, being the highly organized and somewhat anal-retentive blogger I am, I like my posts prepared at least a day in advance. It allows me to take more time with each post, edit it thoroughly and sleep in a bit.
 
But that didn’t happen this morning.
 
Maybe it was Gloria. Maybe it was Ike. Maybe it was fate.
 
I skimmed the headlines this morning and thought you might be interested to hear the latest regarding Italy’s national airline, Alitalia and whether they are going to survive the week. But the negative vibes and downright juvenile drama is just too much for a Monday morning.
 
So I moved on to Italylogue where Jessica provides a rundown of the latest Italian news, fun facts, festival updates and conspiracies. But she does it so well there is nothing for me to add. So I won’t try.
 
Then I stumbled across this.
 
One of my new favorite bloggers, City Girl at City Girl Lifestyle wrote a touching Love Thursday post last week where she highlighted Lattes and Lipstick, a blog whose author has raised more than $16,000 for  alternative cancer treatment for her husband by selling an online cookbook for $1.00.
 
$16,000. One dollar at at time.
 
It is an emotional story, not only of spousal love or undying faith, but of what a community – like our own blog community - will do for people we’ve never met. We hear stories of how hatred, jealousy and greed tear apart our world, but human kindness is alive and well and thriving. It was a poignant start for my week and I hope you will consider purchasing a Friends of George Cookbook, as well. It’s the best dollar I ever spent.