Camille Aubray, Camille Aubray's blog, Camille Aubray's recipes, COOKING FOR PICASSO, THE GODMOTHERS novelCamille AubrayCOOKING FOR PICASSO, Camille Aubray, author, THE GODMOTHERS a novel, Mediterranean recipes, Mediterranean vacation, springtime in Italy, springtime on the French Riviera, recipes, rigatoni recipe, sausages and rigatoni recipe, Colette French author, Colette, cocktail recipe, armagnac, sidecar cocktail, Cointreau, author Camille Aubray, springtime, recipes for spring, Alisyn Camerota

HAVE A MEDITERRANEAN SPRING WITHOUT EVEN LEAVING HOME by Camille Aubray

Camille Aubray, Camille Aubray's blog, Camille Aubray's recipes, COOKING FOR PICASSO, THE GODMOTHERS novelCamille AubrayCOOKING FOR PICASSO, Camille Aubray, author, THE GODMOTHERS a novel, Mediterranean recipes, Mediterranean vacation, springtime in Italy, springtime on the French Riviera, recipes, rigatoni recipe, sausages and rigatoni recipe, Colette French author, Colette, cocktail recipe, armagnac, sidecar cocktail, Cointreau, author Camille Aubray, springtime, recipes for spring, Alisyn Camerota
HAVE A MEDITERRANEAN SPRING WITHOUT EVEN LEAVING HOME by Camille Aubray

RivieraTerrace@CamilleAubrayLLC

Springtime comes early to southern France and Italy, with a joyous burst of everything new--a stronger sun, a soft blue sky, singing birds and the first new flowers and vegetables of the year. In fact, I think New Year's Day should really be the first day of Spring, when we start thinking about eating outdoors again.

But even on the Mediterranean coasts, this season can be tricky--warm and balmy one minute, then suddently a cool gust of wind comes along and sends you scurrying for shelter. The French author Colette warned against "those deceptive spring days" when you come home suddenly exhausted, feeling a little feverish and moaning, "I don't know what's wrong with me." Colette says, "Well, I know. You need a little glass of orange wine" which she made with oranges and armagnac.

So today, I'm posting some recipes to take you to the Mediterranean, right in your own kitchen! Because I've had many letters from readers around the world who tell me, "I didn't even have to hop on an airplane to go on vacation—just reading your books transports me, and I feel like I'm with a trusted friend to guide me around these fascinating places. But why don't you share the recipes for all those great meals in your novels?"

Voilà, as my French characters would say, and Ecco as my Italian characters would. Here are some cozy recipes for spring, inspired by the people and meals in my books.

Pasta dishes are great for this time of year, even before the first asparagus raises its lovely head. I was thinking of the plucky main character in THE GODMOTHERS ( https://www.amazon.com/Godmothers-Novel-Camille-Aubray/dp/0062983709 ) to create "Sausages and Rigatoni alla Filomena".

SausagesAndRigatoniAllaFilomena@CamilleAubrayLLC

It's quick, easy and so versatile: You can have it with a glass of red wine to warm you up on a chilly, rainy night, but, if the day is warm and fine, you can have it with a cool glass of white wine. For side dishes, use the season's vegetables as they become available: spinach or chard or peas or asparagus.

I've also made my own cocktail recipe, inspired by Colette's. I hope that these recipes whisk you off to a sunny, happy place without ever leaving home!

"Sausages and Rigatoni Alla Filomena": http://www.camilleaubray.com/recipes-1/2023/3/28/sausages-and-rigatoni-alla-filomena-by-camille-aubray .

"Camille Aubray's Sidecar Cocktail À La Colette": http://www.camilleaubray.com/recipes-1/2023/3/28/camille-aubrays-sidecar-cocktail-la-colette .

Camille Aubray is the author of THE GODMOTHERS: https://www.amazon.com/Godmothers-Novel-Camille-Aubray/dp/0062983709 and COOKING FOR PICASSO: https://www.amazon.com/Cooking-Picasso-Novel-Camille-Aubray/dp/0399177663 . Website: camilleaubray.com .

All Text and Images ©CamilleAubrayLLC