Tweet In Italy, the baking of bread is called l’arte bianco (the white art). Bread provides nourishment and sustenance through the life-giving, almost magical properties of yeast. Bread is to ...
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!
Andouille Pasta
My mother, who was born and raised in New Orleans, used a spicy sausage in certain dishes, such as, jambalaya, but never with pasta. So, I decided I’d give it a try. Using the ingredients I had on hand I came up with this recipe. This is a very flavorful pasta dish to wake up […]
Pistacchio Biscotti
Pistacchio Di Bronte, the pistachio grown on the western slope of Sicily’s Mount Etna, is harvested only in odd years. If you missed 2019’s crop, the next harvest will be in 2021. Pistachio trees are alternate bearing, producing heavy crops every other year. Farmers remove the flower in “off” years to allow the tree to […]
Meatballs and Sauce
My maternal grandmother did not cook from recipes. I never saw her open a cookbook. To my knowledge, she didn’t have any. The meals she prepared were committed to memory. The cooking that took place inside her small kitchen was a direct result of what was in her pantry and the fresh fruits and vegetables that […]
Creamy Carciofi Soup
Artichokes (carciofi), can be enjoyed in many ways. I have grilled, stuffed, and fritattafied (not a real word in any language) them. One of my husband’s favorite artichoke recipes is this soup. The ingredients are generally staples in my house, so this simple to prepare soup is ready in under an hour. The creamy consistency […]
Cuccidati Kisses
So, you’ve made dozens and dozens of Sicilian Christmas cookies and have just a bit of fig filling left. What do you do? As I see it, you have three options; You could make a smaller batch of the dough and make more cookies (not happening). Or, you can take whatever amount of filling you […]
Risotto al Finocchio
Risotto should always be made with a short-grain rice because it absorbs the broth without the grains loosing their bite. Carnaroli, vialone nano and arborio are the main varieties. Carnaroli is the most expensive, vialone nano is preferred by Venetians and arborio is probably the best known and most readily available. Fennel is a common […]
Sicilian Pizza
When visiting Palermo, Sicily, a “must do” on everyone’s list should be to explore the bustling outdoor markets. Last year, while exploring all that Sicily had to offer, that’s the first thing Jack and I did when we got to Palermo. The Ballaro, the Capo and the Vucceria are in central Palermo, each a cacophony […]
Honey Roasted Fennel
Fennel, a favorite Italian vegetable, customarily eaten raw with a bit of salt, sees the year’s second crop in Autumn. We enjoy it in soups, salads, a creamy bowl of beans and even as a beverage. If you’ve never tried this versatile vegetable, this is a perfect recipe for you. Roasting fennel softens the crisp, […]
Chickpea Soup with Tomatoes & Pasta
My family loves soup! We have our favorites, depending on the season and the time of day. During the heat of summer we enjoy, creamy tomato basil, chilled summer spa soup, zucchini lemon, or an Italian gazpacho. Conversely, the cold winter months require a hot and hearty cup of comfort food. A few of our […]
Rustic Ricotta Biscuits
Ricotta is not actually a cheese, rather it is a byproduct of the cheese-making process. The creamy curds of ricotta are rich in protein, are an excellent source of calcium and high in selenium, an important antioxidant. Since ricotta usually comes from animals raised on pasture, it provides a good amount of omega-3 in its […]
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