Tweet Ash Wednesday, the day after Mardi Gras, marks the first day of Lent. For Christians around the world, it is a time of prayer and penance, fasting and abstinence, reflection ...
Spotlight Recipes
Ricotta Gnocchi
Tweet Gnocchi (pronounced neeyo-kee) are small dumplings. They should be light and ...
Pasta alla Norma
Tweet The combination of pasta and eggplant is exclusively associated with southern ...
Mangia Bene!
The Religion of Coffee
In Italy, il caffe, expertly prepared, is more then just a cup of coffee, it is a religious experience. In the neighborhood cafe, (called a bar) daily life begins with a cacophony of sounds. With perfect timing and in symphonic harmony, the hissing of the milk steamer, tapping of filters being emptied, the clattering of […]
Italian Astronaut & Espresso
Samantha Cristoforetti, a thirty-seven year old Italian Air Force Captain and fighter pilot, is the first Italian woman astronaut. Currently working and living on the International Space Station, Captain Crisoforetti, is the flight engineer for Expedition 42/43. It is no coincidence that this mission marked the debut espresso launched into space for its maiden voyage. Designed […]
Fresh Fennel and Orange Salad
Italians characterize fennel (and eggplant) as being either male or female. The “female” fennel has a thick, round, short, stocky bulb that is used raw in salads and also in cooking. The flatter, elongated “male” fennel is primarily used in cooking. The simplest way to enjoy this root vegetable is to drizzle olive oil over […]
Fennel vs. Anise
In the United States and Canada, fennel is sold as anise or sweet anise. Although, they both come from the same plant family, fennel and anise are not the same thing. They are two distinctively different plants. The entire fennel plant (bulbs, stalks, seeds and fronds) can be consumed. Only the seeds of an anise […]
Blood Orange Citrus Caprese
Winter in Sicily is all about the citrus; Oranges, lemons, grapefruit, kumquats, tangerines and citron. The entire island is covered with citrus trees filling the air with their intoxicating fragrance. These winter fruits are perfect plucked right from the tree–no utensils needed. Of course, you may also turn them into marmalade and preserves, squeeze into […]
Venetian Lace
Also, called Florentines, (they originally came from Florence, Italy) these cookies are a Tuscan Christmas classic. Because they contain no flour, they are really more confection-like than cookie. They are crisp, wafer-thin and as delicate looking as a snowflake … or Venetian lace. The three versions in the picture use the same cookie batter, the […]
Italian Wedding Cookies
The plate I have chosen to serve these tender, snowy-white, crumbly cookies, was a wedding gift given to my great grandmother in 1904. (It seemed appropriate). The cookies are very popular and make their appearance at many other occasions, especially during the Christmas holidays. These cookies exist in other cultures as well and you may […]
Roasted Balsamic Onions
Not only is this a great condiment to have on hand in your own refrigerator, it ‘s also a wonderful, thoughtful gift any time of the year. Because it’s so versatile, I often make a double or triple recipe when I know I’m going to be super busy. This allows me to be able to […]
Sicilian Lemon Ricotta Cookies
These are soft, tender, cake-like cookies that have been kissed by lemons. They are perfect when you feel like having a small sliver of cake, but who among us really eats only a sliver? So, I bake these cookies, keep them in the freezer and take out one (or 3) when I want a lemon-y […]
Almond Paste vs Marzipan
In Italy, the terms almond paste and marzipan are used interchangeably. In the United states, however, almond paste and marzipan are not the same thing. It is important to know the difference. Generally, almond paste contains equal amounts of almonds and sugar. It’s used in fillings, batter and dough for many baked goods (pignoli). Marzipan […]
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