065: Paul Cappelli
Living Villa Cappelli
So, full warning, this is not a happy podcast. But I just wanted to say a little about Paul and thank you all for your support. For those of you that don’t know, Paul Cappelli passed away this year after a short battle with cancer. From all of us at the Cappelli family — Steven, Connie, Nikki, Casey, and Logan — we want to thank you all of you so, so much for all your support. His creative, amazing, loving, and bigger-than-life spirit and love for all things Italian will live on in everything we do at Villa Cappelli. Forever. Thank you.
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064: Translating Pasta
Living Villa Cappelli
We take a lot of pasta names for granted. Sure, we all enjoy “spaghetti,” but do you know what it means? How about “penne” or “fusilli”? In this podcast, we talk about the names of various pastas. And in many cases how the name describes the shape. If you want to see actual pictures of the various pastas, check out all the pics in the show notes. Also, at the end the podcast, we give you a few cooking tips on pasta.
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063: Caremongering, the virus, and gardening — oh my!
Living Villa Cappelli
The title pretty much says it all. We talk a little more about the coronavirus in Puglia and how Italians are dealing with things. Luckily the medical system here is very good. We talk Caremongering. A wonderful movement started in Canada. Essentially, it is a movement encouraging acts of kindness or assistance, especially to help vulnerable people, during tough times, like the COVID-19 pandemic. And while it’s not an Italian expression, the sentiment is totally Italian. Typically Caremongering revolves about starting your own local Facebook group. The...
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062: Our experience with the coronavirus in Italy.
Living Villa Cappelli
Not much in the way of show notes for this episode guys. And this might be a trend as we focus more on putting out good audio, and not so much on the show notes, so we can do more podcasts. This episode, we catch you up with what life has been like with the coronavirus here in Italy, and more specifically, Puglia. It is definitely a strange time, but very manageable and fine from our perspective. Do you have a question you'd like answered? Anything we didn't cover? Let us know in the comments. And we'll give you updates very soon in the next podcast. Stay safe everyone! Wash and...
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061: Day in the life of running an Italian Villa
Living Villa Cappelli
In this episode, we try to give you a bit of behind the scenes look at what it’s like to run a villa, especially from the tour and vacation rental aspect. We cover all sorts of topics, including: • Breakfasts, as far as what we serve and why a simple breakfast is never a simple breakfast • Laundry. Again, while for most a load of laundry here and there during their week is a normal chore. There’s nothing normal about it when you have 10 bedrooms of sheets and towels to wash each week. Plus, you have to head down to hang them up to dry, which is another...
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060: Italian Villa Projects
Living Villa Cappelli
In this podcast, we catch you up on the projects we’ve been doing at the villa during our “off time” without guests. From major new interviews to unexpected construction, we’ve had a lot going on.
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The Top 10 reasons to book an Italian villa for your next celebration
Living Villa Cappelli
Have a big milestone birthday coming up? Or perhaps an anniversary? Perhaps you’re just looking to travel with a large group of family and friends. Then booking a villa in Italy might is the perfect way to celebrate with family and friends. Here are just a few of the reasons you should book an Italian villa now! 1. It’s more affordable than you think When you stay in a villa in Italy, it will feel like you’re living in luxury, but it’s very affordable. Definitely more affordable than a hotel or resort. According to Lonely Planet travel site, even a...
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058: Real News, Fake Food
Living Villa Cappelli
In this podcast, we take a dive into the culinary world and explore where there is a lot of “fake food” out there. From doctored extra virgin olive oils and grated cheese to wine and balsamic vinegar, we give you the real news on fake food. Topics we cover: • How we’ve had a few podcast fans visit this year, including Kendra and her new business: • How often we don’t realize the wool is being pulled over our eyes in regards to food. Here’s a list. Do you have others? Let us know in the comments. Extra Virgin Olive Oil • The corrupt...
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057: It's Not Only Rock 'n' Roll
Living Villa Cappelli
We move outdoors to sit among the olive trees for our second part of our interview with rock ’n’ roll royalty Jenny Boyd. We talk music, creativity, and her book . Topics we cover: • We talk about Jenny’s second husband • The British invasion • How Brits saw America a land of opportunity • What musicians drive was during the creative process, what they experience when writing a son • What part drugs and alcohol played in the creative process • If they believed everyone has the potential to be creative and how to express yourself...
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056: Jenny Boyd "Rock 'n' Roll Nobility"
Living Villa Cappelli
We are finally back after a very very very busy summer. But we couldn't resist making some time to sit down with one of our guests, Jenny Boyd, and talk to her about creative and music and her book . Topics we cover: • We introduce Jenny Boyd, a recent guest at Villa Cappelli • She wrote the book It’s Not Only Rock and Roll . • How Paul grew up with the music Jenny had a first-hand account of this music • How Jenny is a part of rock and roll nobility if you will • How music today doesn’t have the same social relevance as it did in the 60s...
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Sun-Dried Tomato Spread is probably a product you're not very familiar with, mainly because, as far as we know, we're one of the few people who make it. So we're making a quick episode, as requested by listeners, to explain this product.
We'll explain exactly what it is, why you might want to use it, and how to use it.
We go into more depth in the podcast, but below are some show notes as well.
What is Sun-Dried Tomato Spread?
Sun-dried tomatoes blended with extra virgin olive oil and spices to create a product that's somewhere between a ketchup and a paste.
We use those mainly just a reference so you know a bit of the taste and consistency of the spread.
It naturally a tiny bit sweet due to the concentration of the tomotoes and it is thick like a tomato paste but has much more flavor than just a paste.
Why use it?
Lycopene.
Sun-dried tomatoes are said to provide the most lycopene, gram per gr
am, than any other food and have 20 times more lycopene than fresh tomatoes.
Plus, the spreads are made with extra virgin olive oil which improves lycopene absorption by the body. That's not counting the extra virgin olive oil benefits!
So in the end, you've got one powerful—yet delicious—antioxidant spread without any sugar, corn syrup or any sweetener of any kind, no any preservatives or chemicals!
Just deliciousness!
Why is Lycopene important and what is it?
(Note: Please see full disclaimer below stating I am NOT a doctor nor nutritionist. This is general information I have found on the internet and curated for you.)
Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant from the Vitamin A (carotenoid) family. Like any anti-antioxidant, it is believed that it may help protect cells from damage.
It's what gives fruits and vegetables their red color, thus you can also find lycopene in watermelons, pink grapefruits, apricots and pink guavas.
I stand corrected from what I say in the podcast in that it appears gac (????) has the highest content of lycopene of any know fruit or vegetable. It's found in southeast Asia, but since most of us have never heard it, much less tried it, 85% of lycopene for most people come from some sort of tomato product. If someone has ever has gac please let me know in the comments!
When you cook the tomatoes, as we do when making the spreads, it actually makes it easier for the body to access and use the lycopene (which is why I believe ketchup is also a high lycopene product).
As for the health benefits, as I said, it's considered a power anti-oxidant which is protects us for free radicals. Several articles I read mentioned tons of things lycopene is being studied to see if it helps, everything from asthma, cancer prevention, coronary artery disease, and the one that got a tone of press, enlarged prostate. It seems not study has definitely proved lycopene's effectiveness in treating any of these ailments. While, there is unclear scientific evidence for all these, that certainly won't keep me from enjoying them.
But, the best benefit, it's just damn delicious!
Sources: Mayoclinic, WebMd, Foodtrients, Wikipedia
How do you use it?
Snack attack!
Put it on a cracker or small piece of toast and you have an instant appetizer or snack! So quick, yet so delicious.
Dip it, baby!
Dip cracker, chips or raw vegetables (or yes, even just your spoon) in a bowl of it and enjoy.
No 
more ketchup!
Use this wherever you would ketchup. Sandwiches, hot dogs, and burgers. You won't be coating your food with a layer of essentially sugar and it gives you a super concentrated, delicious tomato flavor.
Sauce it up!
In stead of tomato paste in your favorite sauce recipe, add the same amount of Sun-Dried Tomato Spread. It acts on the same principle of being a concentrated tomato flavor, but adds so much more flavor.
Bring back the meatloaf!
Use it in your favorite meatloaf recipe in place of ketchup or tomato paste and enjoy.
Any fans out there have another great what they've used our Sun-Dried Tomato Spread? Let us know in the comments!
Oh, and click here to get the Sun-Dried Tomato Spread and here to get the Spicy Sun-Dried Tomato Spread or save and get them both in our Healthy Ketchup Collection.
Note: I should state I am not a doctor nor nutritionist, nor do I play one on TV. This podcast and show notes provide general information and discussion about medicine, health, and nutrition. The words and other content provided in this podcast and show notes, and in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. If the listener or reader or any other person has a medical concern, he or she should consult with an appropriately-licensed physician or other health care worker.
Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or read here or in any linked materials. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor immediately. The views expressed on the podcast and show notes and website have no relation to those of any academic, hospital, practice or other institution with which the authors are affiliated.