Dreamy Chocolate Easter Eggs

I sure hope the Easter Bunny finds his way here with one of these!

It's that time of the year again where not only are the spring flowers and buds starting to spring up, but  Italy has been hit and blanketed by a tidal wave of chocolate eggs of every persuasion. This area is known for its chocolate and this time of year chocolatiers are still hard at it. The eggs you find here are quite an art form and almost a shame to eat.

 

But most people manage to soldier on...

 

 It really is quite a sight.

 

Almost to beautiful to eat.....

well almost...

Then we have the colorful wrapped ones. They come in every size with trinkets for all, to amuse for a day or two till they fade into another memory of an Easter egg treasure from yet another year.

then the sun, the Foehn winds and now our first spring Porcini

Yes I could go on speculating about the weather but all I can really say is that it has been strange indeed. We desperately needed the rain so our lovely risotto rice can flourish this year, and we seemed to get it even if it was torrential for 4 days or so. Then the unrelenting warm winds from the the south battered all life forms as we know them. Everything in the flower boxes and garden looked beat up and parched after 3 days of that. Anyway, now we're back to summer even if it is May and the clusters of song birds are singing in the day and the progression of wildflowers are moving along up here at a bit of altitude.
Although we received substantial rain, the higher peaks across the valley from us were quite white again, but already the sunning is winning and the snow is melting off quickly. In spite of it all, my intrepid mother in law managed to find the first porcini of the season a couple of days ago. We made quick work of it after its moment being photographed and went rather well with some "riso nero" I had prepared. Sweet chewy black or what looks to me, purple rice from our organic grower friends, "Il Frutto Permesso" ( the permitted fruit), made for a satisfying and simple lunch. The sweetness of the rice offset the earthiness of the wild mushroom and whetted my appetite for a few more the forests gifts. Happpy hunting.

Buona Pasqua!

Let the chocolate extravaganza begin. We went to Pinerolo for the local market and to wander about town. The last minute food buying frenzy was well underway and hard to not get caught up in it. So after fighting our way thru the crowds to mull over the fruit and veg offerings along with a indulgence in purchasing a fine mixture of seafood to be done up in a packet of parchment paper later, we made our way to my favorite pastry shop and chocolatier in the old town of Pinerolo, Ferraud. It was an orgy of exquisite tortes, miniature pastries, chocolate creams and gigantic hand made and decorated chocolate eggs and bells. I wanted to sample it all, but settle for a small selection of pastries with cappuccino with friends. It was another great day out . Now tomorrow the family eating marathon begins and the promise of a picnic on Monday to finish off the charming after Easter bank holiday of Pasquetta on Monday. Let the games begin. I hope your holidays are filled with lots of chocolate and friends and family too!