Mary Louise Morris, Mindfulness Coach and Mentor
I am 55 years old and I’ve led an adventurous and rather unconventional life. I have studied many philosophies – spiritual, psychological and intellectual. These are the things that I have learnt about life which have informed my happiness and resilience.
Read MoreI tortellini, the famous egg pasta stuffed and folded in the characteristic ring shapes, originated in Emilia Romagna, between Bologna and Modena, both of which still vie for their ownership.
Read MoreMary Louise Morris, Mindfulness Coach and Mentor
Living in lockdown presents many challenges to all of us. One of them may be loneliness –and not necessarily because you live on your own.
Read MoreLa sfogliatella riccia is the queen of the Neapolitan cakes. A true masterpiece of Roccocò art which also happens to be delicious. So heavenly you almost don’t want to ruin it by biting into its layered, crunchy shell- shaped pastry, but when you do, oh my!
Read MoreThe Ragú, (O Rraú in Neapolitan dialect) is a rich tomato sauce cooked with various cuts of meat. It most likely derives from the French dish ‘ragout’ which was a mutton stew without tomato, as confirmed by the chef Vincenzo Corrado in his book ‘Il Cuoco Galante’ of 1773, with the addition of tomatoes, much later, in the mid-nineteenth century.
Read MoreThe ‘torta caprese’ is a deliciously moist and soft chocolate cake that takes its name from the island of Capri where it is said to have originated. It is flourless, so it’s gluten free, but no less tasty for this.
Read More‘When someone is happy in Naples, they pay for two coffees – one for himself and another for someone else. This is like offering a coffee to the rest of the world.’ This quote from the philosopher, Luciano De Crescenzo is one of my favourites because it captures the way we Neapolitans feel about our coffee.
Read MoreIl gelato all’anguria is a very refreshing and tasty ice cream, and reminds me of the hot summer days and evenings of my happy childhood.
Read MoreThe parmigiana di melanzana is another glorious Neapolitan dish, a constant presence in the summer, delicious warm with its melted mozzarella, as well as cold.
Read MoreThe Babá, with its unmistakable mushroom shape, is one of the classics of Neapolitan pastries - a sponge cake soaked in a sticky, sweet rum syrup.
Read Moreby Mary Louise Morris, Mindfulness coach
If you are a parent you will know how your job description has expanded dramatically in the last few months. Overnight you’ve become a teacher, therapist, carer, caterer/cake maker and entertainer.
Read More‘SEO sucks,’ I say to Welsh Sue from my makeshift desk in a shack on the north Kent coast.
‘Tough,’ says Sue from her lofty music studio in Penarth. ‘Are you having fun with your keywords?’
Read MoreCrocché, also known in Naples as crocchette di papate or panzarotti, is another classic dish. This delicious cylinder of potatoes stuffed with mozzarella, covered in breadcrumbs and fried, is traditionally served as antipasto or secondo (second dish).
Read MoreSpaghetti alla Puttanesca literally means ‘whore’s pasta’. Many stories exist about the origin of this dish but I don’t think it had anything to do with prostitutes. I believe it was invented in the 1950’s by Sandro Petti in his restaurant O’ Rangio Fellone (The Spider Crab), at the island of Ischia…
Read Moreby Mary Louise Morris, Mindfulness coach
What do you think of when you hear the word Optimism?
Do you think of those endless inspirational quotes on social media or that friend who always looks on the bright side, no matter how dire the situation?
Read MoreI am an Italian and grew up in Naples; the chaotic, colourful, mad city in Southern Italy. My passion for food and cooking comes from my family. My mother is a great cook and so was her mother.
Read MoreI’m sitting on the warm grass in West London’s Wormwood Scrubs, having an impromptu SEO Masterclass from my friend Welsh Sue, who once did some SEO for a removal van company in Tooting.
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