A few years ago my husband and I met up in France where I was travelling with a girlfriend and we had a very romantic trip through Italy. It was a wonderful trip from which I hold many lovely memories but my most enduring memory is the stunning Italian scenery and my catch cry of “beautiful” whenever I gazed upon the incredible views.
Beautiful Tuscan Hills
We stayed in the old part of Florence for several days, visiting the galleries and the churches and enjoying many a good meal. Aron enjoyed a traditional Florence Steak and it was here he started his Tiramisu ‘crawl’!
I loved the terracotta rooftops, the vista from the Duomo and the food markets, to name just a few highlights. Of the food we ate there I particularly enjoyed a chicken dish I had one night in a small trattoria close to where we were staying near the Uffizi Gallery.
Chicken dish in Florence 2012
I recreated this dish on my return home and this is my version of that special meal I enjoyed that hot summer evening in Florence. It is based on Chicken Cacciatore or ‘Hunters Chicken’, with the lovely herbs, juniper berries chilli and olives which form it’s base. It is light but full of flavour & it’s also such an easy dish to make.
Tuscan Chicken
What food inspiration have you taken back home from your holidays?
Bon Appetit
Kathryn 👩🍳💙
Tuscan Chicken
A rustic country chicken dish
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic (pealed and cut in half )
- 8 chicken drumsticks
- 1 tbsp Fresh Sage leaves
- 1 tbsp Fresh Rosemary (striped from stem)
- pinch Chilli flakes
- Tuscan Seasoning (1 tsp sea salt, 1 tsp fresh thyme, 1 tsp fresh rosemary, 1 garlic clove, pinch chilli flakes, 1 tsp juniper berries – all ground in mortar and pestle)
- 1 cup Dry White Wine
- 3/4 cup Black Olives (Pitted)
- 1 tbsp Tomato Paste
- 420g Tin crushed tomatoes
- 180g Artichoke hearts (Cooked – jar or tin)
- 1/2 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
- 1/2 cup Water
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Heat half (1.5 tbsp) of olive oil in heavy based pan
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Add the onions, whole cut garlic, sage leaves and rosemary. Cook until fragrant but not coloured.
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Add chilli flakes stir through and remove the mixture from the pan
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Season the chicken with the Tuscan seasoning
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Add the remaining oil in the pan (1.5 tbsp)
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Over a low to medium heat brown the drumsticks
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Return the onion mix to the pan with the chicken
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Increase the heat, add the wine to the pan and cook until reduced.
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Reduce the heat and add the tomato paste, olives, crushed tomatoes, balsamic vinegar & artichoke hearts.
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Add the water and cook for 30 mins over a low heat until chicken is cooked through
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Check seasoning and adjust to taste
I can see why you would want to recreate the chicken dish, it sounds so very flavorful.
Yes Karen…it was very tasty…you can’t go wrong with such fresh flavours 😊
Beautiful. We went to Italy in maybe 2009 and toured the northern half. We felt obligated to visit certain cities, like Venice and Florence, although we’re more agri-turismo village dwellers. I didn’t think i’d like either Venice or Florence, but i’m an idiot. Both are so stunning, in different ways. Of course I still enjoyed venturing off into the countryside, but I’m glad we didn’t ignore the cities. Rome – eh, didn’t do much for me. We did what one is supposed to do there, but i was happy to leave. It was like being in NYC! so noisy!
Feels like ages since I have had time to look at my WordPress account. I saw some of the posts of your trip and it took me back to very happy memories of our honeymoon. I am torn between Italy and France…but I think in my heart, France wins out. Today is a catch up day for me, I am looking forward to reading your posts which have been calling me from my in-box!
Aw, that’s so sweet. I love every country I’ve visited in Europe, or whatever it’s called today. But there’s something about France…
Yummy as usual – and healthy too !!
That holiday was the best – the first part in France and then the second part in Italy…it was great going back through the photos 💙