Venezia Nostalgia

This past summer, I had the amazing opportunity to study Italian language and Venetian maritime history in Venice, Italy, through a program at Towson University.  All together, there were 13 of us: our professoressa, 10 students from TU, and 2 more from other schools.   And over three magical, carb-filled, and wine-drunk weeks in Venice (and Florence and Verona, too!), we ate and drank to our hearts' content and bonded into one big happy (albeit a bit dysfunctional) family.  Oh yeah, we also learned some Italian while we were at it.

Our Venice group

 Venice was truly a dreamworld - I still long for every moment of it, and I still miss everyone in our group.  So when our professor invited us all to her house this past week for a reunion lunch, I was ecstatic.  Though not everyone could make it to the little soiree, it was still great to reunite with everyone else who were there.  And of course, what better way to reminisce our time in la Serenissima than over mimosas and authentic, home-cooked Italian food?

Our professor showed us how to make lasagne, risotto ai fungi (mushroom risotto), and pasta al pesto.  I've always though making risotto was complicated, but it actually really wasn't very hard to make at all.  For dessert, we all had a hand in making tiramisu.  My favorite was licking the leftover mascarpone cream from the bowl.  Mmmm...

Molly adding the finishing touches on the tiramisu

Tai making the risotto

Lasagne and risotto ai fungi

Pasta al pesto

Tiramisu :)

Good food and good company - keeping the Venezia nostalgia alive.  It was a much needed reunion indeed.