Tweet Advent marks the beginning of the church’s liturgical year. It is a season of joyful expectation, hope and preparation for the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ. The traditions ...
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!
Holiday Mincemeat Cookies
When it comes to the topic of mincemeat, it seems that most folks either like it, don’t care for it or have no idea what it is. Mincemeat is a combination of apples, raisins and citrus peel, blended with sugar and spices to be used in cooking and baking and remains one of the most […]
Lemon Risotto
Prior to the beginning of the 20th century, most lemons consumed in America were of the Italian variety and imported from Messina, Sicily, Siracusa, Sicily, and Sorrento, Campania. The Mediterranean climate with its sunny hot days and cold nights, coupled with the volcanic soil around Mount Etna, gives the Sicilian lemon a typical sweetness and […]
Parmesan Wafers with Tomato & Bread Soup
A few crumbles of a good quality Parmesan is a delight to savor. I have taken this Italian treasure of a cheese and turned it into wafers that are a perfect pairing with a few olives and a chunk of rustic bread for a simple merenda or a special accompaniment to soups and salads. Requiring […]
Parmigiano Reggiano
Parmigiano Reggiano, is one of Italy’s gifts to the world of food and is an essential staple in many kitchens around the globe, including mine. It’s unmistakable aroma, milky taste and versatility lends itself to many dishes. My grandfather, however, preferred his favorite merenda, by the chunk (room temperature of course), with his afternoon glass […]
Vanilla Pecan Biscotti
Vanilla has a recognizable, pleasant aroma and scent and is understandably the world’s most popular flavor. Last February I had the opportunity to visit a family-owned vanilla farm in Hilo, Hawaii. This biscotti recipe is my inspiration from that experience. In the tropical rainforest of Paauilo Mauka, is where I began my sensory journey to […]
Vegetable Panini
When it comes to making panini, (Italian for sandwiches), it begins and ends with the bread! I prefer using Ciabatta, an Italian rustic looking bread that is available in loaves and rolls. It is different from other breads because it is made from a lean yeast dough, meaning that there is no fat present in […]
Apple Bacon & Pecan Salad with Creamy Provolone Dressing
I love a good salad! And I am not talking about a plate of iceberg lettuce with bottled dressing! There are a multitude of easy-to-find ingredients that add flavor, texture and color to create incredibly delicious salads. Ingredients, such as, seasonal fruits and vegetables, fresh greens, grains, beans, legumes, fish, meat, poultry and seafood, pasta, […]
Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
There are many cultures in which an egg drop soup is made. Chinese cuisine offers a version, also known as egg flower soup, the Greeks make theirs with avgolemono (a mixture of eggs and lemon used to thicken soups and sauces), and stracciatella, the Italian egg drop soup from Rome. As I had a bowl […]
Mediterranean Lentil and Bulgur Salad
Lentils are one of the world’s oldest health foods. This little lens-shaped legume came to the Americas in the early 16th century. During World War II, people began to see it as a low-cost, high-protein meat substitute. Both my mother and grandmother served them often. Two of my favorites are lemon-y lentil and Chickpea Soup […]
Marinated Baby Artichokes
Native to the western and central Mediterranean, the artichoke is a domesticated variety of the wild cardoon. Cardone, in Italian, is a thistle and looks like large stocks of celery. My grandmother used to coat them in breadcrumbs and fry them. They were amazing. Unlike an artichoke, you eat the stems not the flower buds. […]
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