Tuscany is a vast region of unique and tasty vegetables, fish, meat, poultry, cured meats, and cheese waiting to be explored. But why wait? To help you set up your pantry, Divina Cucina and Stefano Conti have assembled a Tuscan Kitchen Starter Kit. Click here to order this fabulous package of goodies for setting up a Tuscan kitchen in your home!

Panforte (Sienese dessert) llessandro Nannini's dessert shop in Florence is one of my favorite places to try this specialty. His products are brought in daily from the shop in Siena where panforte is celebrated. Nannini's coffee is also Divine! Here's my recipe. (Nannini's is top secret!) 1 pound unskinned mixed toasted nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, and walnuts) 2 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice mix (the Sienese recipe for the spice mixture has a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and coriander) 1 teaspoon finely ground pepper 1 tablespoon bittersweet cocoa powder 1 cup sugar One-half cup honey 1 pound mixed dried fruits, figs, apricots, candied orange peel, or prunes (I've even found candied melon!) 1-1/2 cups flour 1/2 cup powdered sugar Mix the fruit and nuts together and toss with the flour, spice mixture, and cocoa powder. Heat the sugar and honey together until boiling. Let boil for 1 minute. Take off the heat and stir in the dried fruit mixture. Prepare a 9-12 inch round baking pan. Line with parchment paper. Pour mixture into pan. Bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees. Let cool. Dust with powdered sugar. Serve in tiny slices with a glass of sweet dessert wine or a good cup of coffee. You can also make a more flavorful topping by combining the same spice mixture and cocoa powder with the powdered sugar for the dusting. Serves 12. NEW! Garmugia Watermelon Sorbetto RECIPES Salade de Bœuf à la Parisienne Spaghetti di Vino with Beets Melanzane Grigliate Carciofi Sott'Olio Carciofi Fritti Uove al Diavolo Pesce Finto Green Tomato Pasta Sauce Macedonia di Frutta Fagiolini Mangiatutto Saltati Cinghiale in Dolce Forte Risotto All'Isolana Fettunta Spaghetti di Vino Salame Dolce Cioccolato Caldo Vestri Sugo di Carne Watermelon Ice Osteria Luchin's Polpettone di Patate Federico Bacci's Sage Pesto Frittelle di Riso Romeo Colzi's Ribollita Bollito Misto Yellow Bell Pepper Soup Porcini Pasta Sauce Pappa al Pomodoro Pollo al Mattone Torta di Mele Mimmo's Pasta with Zucchini Erbe Toscane Ricciarelli Tonno e Fagioli Schiacciata con l'uva Panforte Spinaci alla Fiorentina Ribollita Sugo Finto Fagioli all'Olio Panzanella Ravioli Gnudi with Salsa di Noci Arrosto Fiorentino Il peposo alla Fornacina Chicchi Caffè Shakerato Limoncello Nocino Fish in Crazy Water Capresse Click here to send this recipe to a friend!