Tweet Bold and vitally refreshing, this sweet coffee cooler is a traditional Sicilian summer treat. As the summer starts to sizzle, granita di caffe is the typical breakfast in Sicily. ...
Spotlight Recipes
Lemon Sorbet with Candied Basil
Tweet Lemon Spaghetti and fresh Limonata are just two examples of why ...
Ricotta Gnocchi
Tweet Gnocchi (pronounced neeyo-kee) are small dumplings. They should be light and ...
Mangia Bene!
Lemon Honey Vinaigrette
This recipe is a versatile, slightly sweet, yet tart dressing that compliments a variety of fresh fruits and leafy greens. For a heartier meal, toss spring greens with the vinaigrette, place a piece of grilled salmon on top and spoon additional dressing over the salmon. Garnish with lemon slices. Ingredients: 1/4 cup […]
Panzanella Salad
Italians waste nothing … not even stale bread! Bread salad is a perfect example of la cucina povera, peasant food. Only a few humble ingredients are needed to turn yesterday’s bread into a satisfying meal. Use summer’s juiciest, vine-ripened tomatoes, a chewy, rustic, country bread, a good red wine vinegar and your best fruity, robust […]
Light Basil Pesto
Pesto is an Italian sauce that is a specialty of Genoa, Italy. It is never cooked (or heated for that matter) and is made with fresh basil, extra-virgin olive oil, garlic, pine nuts and cheese. Pesto’s primary purpose (and only purpose if you ask a Genoese) is to sauce pasta. Purists will tell you the […]
Cannoli Ice Cream Pie
A thin shell of crispy, delicate pastry dough, fried to a golden perfection and then stuffed with a creamy ricotta filling is a Sicilian specialty. Cannoli can be found all over the island and enjoyed any time of the year. Not feeling like making the shells and wanting a dessert to beat the Arizona heat, […]
Fennel Salad with Creamy Dressing
Called finocchio in Italian, fennel has a mild, sweet aroma and a taste reminiscent of black licorice. Quite often it is simply eaten raw, thinly sliced with a bit of sea salt. The crunchy bite of fennel pairs perfectly with the creamy dressing for this salad (which can also be used to make coleslaw to […]
Toasted Coconut Biscotti
This rich, buttery, coconut cookie recipe was inspired by a family wedding that took place in Kauai this past February. Just as toasting nuts brings out their flavor, the same is true when toasting coconut, while also adding a distinctive crunchy texture. Paired with budino di ricotta, a luscious cold pudding, this would make an […]
Arugula Salad with Warm Balsamic Dressing
Whether you call it arugula, rucola or rocket, this wild peppery plant has grown in the Mediterranean since Roman times. Rucola, the Italian name, is an edible herb and is as common place to Italians as basil and parsley. This nutritious green, high in vitamin-K and folic acid, can be used in appetizers, such as […]
Raw Garlic vs Cooked Garlic
Have you ever wondered why some recipes call for chopped garlic while others list minced, sliced or even whole cloves? When using fresh raw garlic it’s important to know that “how” you cut it directly affects the flavor intensity. When you cut into a raw garlic clove, you are rupturing the cells. The finer the clove is cut […]
Creamy Beef Stew
Some of my family’s favorite dishes are the ones that are the easiest to put together and either simmer on top of the stove, such as stufato di manzo or balsamic braised chicken that bakes in the oven. These one-pot meals fill the kitchen with mouth-watering aromas that get your stomach juices flowing with anticipation […]
Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake
Cheesecake is one of those desserts that you’ll find in many eateries from casual cafes to fine-dining restaurants. Typically served with a graham cracker crust, the classic dessert is silky smooth and so rich and creamy, that just a sliver of a slice will do. My ricotta cheesecake is prepared without a crust, is lighter […]
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