Tweet Cacio e pepe (cheese and pepper) is a Roman pasta dish that one can find all over this Italian city. There are only three main ingredients; Pecorino Romano, black ...
Spotlight Recipes
Marsala-Poached Pears
Tweet The Sicilian city of Marsala, (from the Arabic “Mars-el-Allah,” meaning the ...
Ricotta Gnocchi
Tweet Gnocchi (pronounced neeyo-kee) are small dumplings. They should be light and ...
Mangia Bene!
Antipasti with Tonnato Sauce
Tonnato is a creamy sauce that is traditionally used with Vitello tonnato, a Northern Italian dish, that consists of chilled, sliced veal and a tuna sauce spooned on top. The veal is then garnished with capers, parsley and lemon slices. The dish is served cold or at room temperature and is popular as a summertime […]
Burrata & Tomatoes
Burrata is a cream filled mozzarella sack. Invented in Puglia, Italy, as a way to use the scraps of curds left over after twisting balls of mozzarella. The scraps are pulled into shreds then mixed with cream and then wrapped with a thin skin of mozzarella. This simple salad of luscious burrata and tomatoes is […]
Shaved Zucchini Salad
This is a fresh and flavorful raw zucchini dish featuring tangy capers and ricotta salata. The words ‘Ricotta’ means re-cooked and ‘Salata’ means salted. Ricotta Salata is a Sicilian cheese made from the whey part of sheep milk, which is pressed, salted and aged for at least 90 days. It is mild and milky white […]
Fresh Peach Caprese
There is only one authentic Insalata Caprese and it originated in Capri, Italy. Traditionally, tomatoes are used in the infamous dish. Since it is peach season and I have an abundance of the fruit, I thought this would be a delicious twist on a classic. I swapped out the tomatoes for peaches and in place […]
Fresh Tomato & Cheese Tart
This savory summertime tart is a terrific choice to utilize the season’s bounty of fresh flavorful tomatoes. The flaky buttery crust compliments the luscious ricotta and Parmesan cheese filling. A drizzle of Extra-Virgin Olive Oil and balsamic vinegar is the delicious finishing touch. If you don’t have an aged balsamic in your pantry, you can […]
Masseria (farm) Salad
In an unspoiled and sun-drenched corner of southern Sicily is the Baroque town of Noto. Noto, known locally as Il Giardino di Pietra (Garden of Stone), is the most beautiful of Baroque towns. The local limestone of the buildings takes on a soft, peachy golden glow and the effect, especially at sunset, is spectacular! After […]
Citrus & Cheese Butter Toast with Fried Egg and Asparagus
“The Incredible, Edible Egg” is a marketing slogan that was created for the American Egg Board in 1976. I believe that this slogan is so spot on because eggs are nutritious and one of the most affordable and best sources of high quality protein. They are the leading lady in many of the meals I […]
Burro di agrumi e formaggio
If you’ve ever used a compound butter, a mixture of fresh herbs and softened butter, you know that it adds inimitable flavor and moisture as it melts on beef, chicken, fish and veggies. This citrus and cheese butter is just as versatile and brightens up just about anything it touches. Initially, I only smeared it […]
Granita alla Fragola
History tells us flavored ices date back to ancient China, but the first frozen dessert in Italy actually came from Sicily. Arabs brought an icy treat of frozen water, fruit and honey, which evolved to become known as granita. The granita in Sicily is so pure, so flavorful and so refreshing, that during the summer, it’s […]
Orecchiette al Ragu
This pasta dish has a creamy richness with very little fat and serves four generous portions using only half a pound of ground beef. In less than an hour, a hearty meal is on the table. Serve with a simple arugula salad and bruschette. For dessert, Ricotta al Caffe would be a smooth sweet ending. […]
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