My Beautiful Fortress in Italy.

Thanks for stopping by. This space is devoted to our life in the Italian countryside. In the furthest northern part of Tuscany. A region known as Lunigiana. I am a photo/prop stylist and author.

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What’s happening at La Fortezza this week?

Let’s all test a recipe from my new dessert cookbook!

This week, I worked on my upcoming dessert cookbook. I am in the final testing phase. I am almost finished! I’ve finally come up with the title!

La Dolce Vita, Beloved sweets served at the table of La Fortezza in Tuscany.

It's pretty exciting. I spent last week testing recipes, all while hosting a retreat.

As we tested recipes throughout the week, our guests loved being our guinea pigs and reviewing all the desserts and sweets we served during their stay, like the Pistachio Semifreddo, Plum Cake, and the breakfast cakes and rolls. This week, I made Peach Upsidedown Cake. Our peaches had seen better days, so I decided to substitute plums. I mean, it was a revelation. We will serve this delightful cake for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It is so scrumptious. I love sending recipes from the new book to friends to test. How about you all test this one this week? Won’t it be fun to be part of the process? Test the recipe below, and let me know what you think. Usually, recipes are reserved for paying subscribers, but why not shake it up this week? Thank you for helping out. I can’t wait for you to try it.

Torta Rovesciata , Plum Upside down Cake

Serves 6-8

Ingredients:

For the caramel:

¾ cup sugar

3 tablespoons water

½ cup softened butter + 1 tablespoon for the pan

¾ cups of sugar

3 eggs

½ cup milk

1 ¼ cup 00 flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 cup amaretti cookies crumbled

¼ cup chopped almonds

4 ripe plums (*you can use peaches)

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F

Butter an 8-inch spring form pan. Line the bottom of the pan with a round of parchment.

In a 1-quart heavy bottom pot, add sugar and water into a saucepan and caramelize slowly over low heat and stirring. When the color is amber, pour it into the bottom of the springform pan.

Place the butter and sugar into the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix until fluffy at medium speed for about 3 minutes; add the eggs and milk and continue mixing until the mixture is light. You will have to scrap the bowl several times. Set aside.

Break the Amaretti cookies into crumbles using a Ziploc bag and a rolling pin. Place the cookies into the bag and whack them with the rolling pin until they are in large crumbs. Cut the plums into wedges. In the bottom of the pan, arrange the wedges on top of the caramel in a fan pattern. (*note the caramel will harden) Sprinkle the almonds and amaretti cookies over the plums. Pour the batter over the plums and bake for 40- 45 minutes until the toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 20 minutes. Then, place a platter on top of the pan, flip the plate onto the counter, open the collar, and carefully remove the parchment. Serve warm with vanilla gelato or without for breakfast. Keeps in on the counter covered for 2 days.

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ARE YOU BOOKING A LA FORTEZZA RETREAT IN 2025?

PICK YOUR DATES!

WE ARE NOW taking reservations for 2025 Custom La Fortezza Retreats: If you’re interested in planning your custom retreat in 2025, please email our guest liaison, Gen, and she will get you started.

Check the calendar and start planning. Every retreat comes with a pasta cooking lesson and a custom itinerary!

*Remember that the earlier, the better! So you can get your desired dates next year.

Contact Gen to reserve your place in 2025: Gen is our La Fortezza Guest Service Liaison: genesis.carlina@gmail.com

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MY LATEST YOUTUBE VIDEO:

All About Annette YouTube, This week on Move to Italy: I break down the pricing of homes in the area. We also added a funny AI soundtrack to the video; I think it’s hilarious. Let me know what you think in the comments—happy house hunting in Italy.

Thanks so much for watching my YouTube Channel, All About Annette. Please share my channel with your friends.

The channel has 6900+ subscribers! I am beyond thrilled! Now, let’s get to 10,000 by the end of this year…Please like and subscribe, and ring the bell to be notified when new videos are released.

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Book News: “Great Summer Read”…I’ve sold thousands of copies thanks to YOU!

If you love The Talented Mr. Ripley, you’ll love my latest novel. I have taken a big detour from my memoirs to write my first book of fiction. You won’t be able to put it down. I promise. My first self-published book!

IT’S FLYING OFF THE AMAZON SHELVES!

The Killer Menu is a delicious murder mystery.

Order: The Killer Menu, By Annette Joseph

Finding love and a family is never easy, but it's terrifying when you’re Henry Miller. Henry is a deliciously charming chef—talented, handsome, and intensely obsessive. Henry's extreme measures to insert himself into the lives of his girlfriends take readers on a chilling journey from the streets of Paris to the chic restaurants of Italy and the vibrant Cuban enclaves of Miami. As we delve into the mind of the reluctant murderer, it becomes clear that his habits of love and loss create a recipe for disaster. Come meet Henry and decide for yourself: Do you like him Or hate him?

*Being a paid subscriber gets you exciting La Fortezza updates you won’t want to miss.

If you’re not a paid subscriber… you’re missing all my off-the-beaten-path Italian travel hit lists. Plus, Retreat and excursion news and special offers, discounts on some of my favorite products, and giveaways—not to mention new recipes to try every Friday.

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