It’s hard to believe that I’ve written 1,000 posts. I hit the mark a few days ago and to celebrate this occasion I’m doing another give-away. This sensational book-Cooking With Italian Grandmothers– written by Jessica Theroux will take you right to Italy and into the kitchens of twelve different women.
The book chronicles a year in her life spent traveling throughout Italy and spending time listening, observing and cooking with grandmothers. Besides being full of very authentic regional recipes, the story of Jessica’s time in the various kitchens is a good read. Why didn’t I have this idea?
Thank you all who follow my blog-to those who have been with me from the start and to all you new readers. I appreciate each and every one of you. This blog has brought new friends into my life and has given me the opportunity to get back to Italy more frequently and visit places I may have never seen.
Leave me a comment between today (June 15) and Friday June 22 at 9pm Pacific time to be entered to win this great book.
Panini Girl 
June 16, 2012 at 12:25 am
Thank you for your time…and your inspiration. All is worthy of being read through your blogging. One day I wish to go where you have walked….with my husband and experience the food, architecture, landscape and the ‘old’ charmed country life.
Keep it up…!!! Thank You!!
Very truly yours, Kate Radcliffe-Lang
June 18, 2012 at 10:29 pm
Kate-you are quite welcome and I hope you and your husband can enjoy Italy as much as I have.
June 16, 2012 at 1:16 am
Congratulations on a great milestone! I’m pleased at my 23 and counting effort so I know 1000 is a genuine labour of love! Yours is the only Italy blog I subscribe to – you are my eyes and ears in Italy
Best wishes for another 1000 great posts
Kind Regards
Jo Karnaghan from frugalfirstclasstravel
June 18, 2012 at 10:24 pm
Jo-you’ll be there before you know it! I can’t believe I’ve been doing this for 4-1/2 years.
June 16, 2012 at 1:28 am
Love your blog and what a fabulous idea for a cookbook! We discovered Lucca last fall and I enjoy reading your posts about this fabulous town!
June 18, 2012 at 10:23 pm
Denise-I love the way the women in this book opened their kitchens and some times their hearts up to the author.
June 16, 2012 at 2:53 am
What a wonderful accomplishment…I am humbled by your dedication and passion for your subject! Wow….1,000 posts….awesome achievement and such interesting and heartwarming writing.
June 16, 2012 at 3:35 am
Hooray for Grandmothers who allow others in their kitchens! I never had such a one, but I plan on being one! What a splendid idea to go from one Italian kitchen to another.
Congrats on your millennial writing accomplishment. I always enjoy what you share. E
June 18, 2012 at 10:22 pm
Eliza-it means a lot to me that you read my blog!
June 16, 2012 at 5:41 am
Congrats on 1000 posts! What a delicious boom to celebrate with.
June 18, 2012 at 10:21 pm
Natalie-thank you and I am so glad to have found your blog.
June 16, 2012 at 5:48 am
I would love love love to have a copy of “Cooking with Italian Grandmothers” by Jessica Theroux!!! I spent many summers in my mother-in-law’s home in Italy and i am in love with Italian food and home-cooking.
I am enjoying this blog very much. Thanks, Cindy
June 18, 2012 at 10:21 pm
Cindy-you are lucky to have a mother-in-law in Italy!
June 16, 2012 at 6:01 am
I have always enjoyed your blog. We have spent time in Lucca and love it like you do. Thank you for sharing with us. It makes us feel like we are there with you.
Nina Sgriccia
June 18, 2012 at 10:20 pm
N.isn’t Lucca just the most charming town? I really miss being there.
June 16, 2012 at 6:26 am
1000 posts – that is impressive. Congratulations! All the best for the next thousand.
June 18, 2012 at 10:20 pm
Cathy-I think I need to run right back to Italy to get more material for the blog!
June 16, 2012 at 6:53 am
Congratulations, Panini Girl on 1,000 posts! Your love for all things Italy is inspiring! Bravissima!
June 16, 2012 at 12:27 pm
Congratulations Janie on 1,000 on posts, all inspiring, yummy, educating and mostly Italian-so glad I stumbled on your blog…its brought you into my life!
June 18, 2012 at 10:14 pm
Linda-it is amazing that our blogs brought us together!
June 16, 2012 at 2:14 pm
Hi Panini Girl, what a fabulous achievement , well done and thank you so much for bringing Italy too us , a very very enjoyable blog đŸ™‚
June 18, 2012 at 10:14 pm
Anne- so nice to hear from you. It’s been fun having a blog and making new friends.
June 16, 2012 at 3:36 pm
Just found your blog, I’m addicted! My husband and I travelled to Italy last spring for the first time, can’t wait to return, cheers!
June 18, 2012 at 10:13 pm
Melanie-thank you for stopping by. One trip to Italy is all it takes to get hooked on such an incredible place.
June 16, 2012 at 4:10 pm
Big congrats on 1,000 blog posts! I know what an achievement (and how much work) that is. Here’s to the next 1,000!
June 18, 2012 at 10:12 pm
Nancy-to be honest the 1,000th post kind of snuck up on me. I think Palma is probably up to 2,000!
June 16, 2012 at 7:09 pm
Congratulations!!! I don’t think I’ve even hit the 1000 word mark on my blog yet!! Well done and what a journey, Bx
June 18, 2012 at 10:11 pm
B.-you are back in business with your blog and I can’t wait to see what’s coming up with your new project cooking your way through Elizabeth David’s book.
June 16, 2012 at 7:31 pm
Wow-1,000th blog. That is dedication. Have enjoyed everyone. Thanks for sharing your passion and experience. Italy is never far away with your blog.
Grazie mille
June 18, 2012 at 10:18 pm
V Girl-the blog keeps Italy alive for me too until the next trip.
June 17, 2012 at 9:40 pm
Congratulazioni Janie! Your love of food and our Bell’Italia makes it a pleasure to follow you! You are a big inspiration for me. Grazie! Just keep doing what you’re doing. Jxxx
June 18, 2012 at 10:09 pm
Janine-grazie a te! I enjoy your blog just as much. Some day I hope we can meet up in Italy.
June 17, 2012 at 11:35 pm
Love your blog. Would love to travel with you one day (as does your cousin Chris). I should have spent more time in the kitchen with my Italian grandma but had other things on my mind back then. Too bad!
June 18, 2012 at 10:08 pm
Diana-thank you for the compliment. Maybe you and Christina will come along one day and we’ll have a blast! I never really paid that much attention to my grandmother either when she was cooking until it was time to get a meatball from the pot on Sunday morning!
June 18, 2012 at 6:32 pm
Congrats on 1,000 posts — looking forward to the 1,000.
June 18, 2012 at 10:03 pm
Mike-thank you-if I make it to another 1,000, I’ll be thrilled.
June 18, 2012 at 10:49 pm
Congratulations on your 1,000 post!!
June 19, 2012 at 2:49 pm
Linda-thank you so much!
June 19, 2012 at 3:08 pm
WOW! That is really a milestone! Congrats, and yes, we DO indeed enjoy reading. Keep ’em coming!
June 19, 2012 at 5:04 pm
Congrats on your milestone. It is always a pleasure to visit your site.
June 19, 2012 at 11:58 pm
congrats janie!! love your blog, the recipes and my daily trip back to everything Italian with you
June 20, 2012 at 5:08 am
I sigh repeatedly while reading your blog. You love some of our favorite stops when we go to Italy. But, have gou hung out in the Pienza area? A fantasy is at least a month in Lucca e Pienza, andiamo in bici.
June 20, 2012 at 3:51 pm
That’s a lot of posts you’ve covered and I’m sure you still have a lot more to say, to do, to eat, to tell us. Keep on keeping. This cookbook is a treasure too. I took it out from the library and truly savored it.