gourmet

By Mark DeCarlo The holidays are a great time to travel to Italy. The crowds are small, the prices are low, but so are the temperatures. If you're not looking for a sun-splashed beach week on the Amalfi Coast, this may be the perfect time to finally take your romantic trip to Italia. Londra Palace Outdoor Trattoria in mid-summer swing Regardless of when you go, no trip to the cradle of modern civilization would be complete without visiting Venice, the most incomprehensively amazing city on the planet. Actually, it's not a city. Venezia is 118 small islands linked by bridges and traversed by gondolas. It's also a great place to walk -- virtually every rambling alley leads to a crooked corner that reveals a new treasure: food, drinks, art, architecture, vistas -- romantic does not begin to describe this improbable world apart. The Republic of Venice has been on the map since the Middle Ages, by virtue of its location, and has stayed relevant because... it's freakin' VENICE! No other city in Europe, or elsewhere, features its same amalgam of water, stone, wine and cuisine. For holiday or honeymoon, the romance and sublime feel of this city is beyond description. We researched and studied everything we ...

Cupcakes are an easy sell. Add Nutella, and they’re a hit. Best of all, swirling the Nutella directly into the white batter before baking creates swirly, chocolatey tops that have no need for frosting – saving you a step. And if you have kids who like to lick the frosting off their cupcakes and leave a sticky stump, the Nutella is baked right in. Self-frosting Nutella Cupcakes 1/4 cup butter, at room temperature 1/4 cup mild vegetable oil 1 cup sugar 2 large eggs 1 tsp. vanilla 1 3/4 cup all purpose flour 2 tsp. baking powder 1/4 tsp. salt 1/2 cup milk or half & half 1/2 cup(ish) Nutella Preheat the oven to 350F. In a small bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder and salt; add half to the butter mixture and beat on low speed just until combined. Add the milk and beat just until combined, then add the remaining flour mixture and beat just until combined.In a large bowl, beat the butter, oil and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until smooth. Divide the batter between 12 paper-lined muffin cups. Spoon the Nutella into a small microwave-safe dish and microwave it for 10-20 seconds, until softened but not liquefied. Drop ...