Sicilian Girl

Tweet I am always looking for alternatives  to replace breakfast potatoes. When I made Cauliflower Greens Restelli the other day, I had an “Ahah” moment. Now, that dish is delicious on it’s own, but I wanted to use it in an entirely different way as a substitute for country-style potatoes. So … I followed the […]

Tweet This recipe was created by a sous chef at the St. Louie Union Train Station, for the droves of Italian immigrants passing through in the late 1800’s. I came across it while reading Appetite for America. It is the story of Fred Harvey, a young immigrant who worked his way up from dishwasher to […]

Tweet Six days of food, wine and music, sounds like a recipe for a great week to me! Celebrating it’s 34th year, the Scottsdale Culinary Festival’s “Great Arizona Picnic” is the place to indulge your taste-buds and give back to the community. (100% of net proceeds go to local arts programs).  I have just returned […]

Tweet If for no other reason, (and I have many) I would live in Sicily for her abundant source of fish. The catch varies with the seasons and the waters. There is a Sicilian saying, “If you want to eat fresh fish, you mustn’t have a tight wallet”. Swordfish commands a high price due to […]

Tweet This is a classic Sicilian vegetable dish. It can be prepared with spinach, chard, mustard greens (or any other leafy greens). Nutritious and delicious this recipe literally takes only minutes to prepare. The currants (or raisins) add just the right amount of sweetness, provide generous amounts of potassium and are full of antioxidants. Pine nuts […]

Tweet Cooking with fresh herbs is like icing a cake. Say you’ve made this delicious carrot cake and it is really good. Now, you spread on the luscious cream cheese icing and really good just transformed into really great! Using fresh herbs in your recipes will complete the dish … it’s the icing on the cake. […]

Tweet   Need to satisfy a cannoli craving? Don’t have time to make the traditional shells? These Cannoli Bites are the sweet sollution to satisfy your desire for this Sicilian treat. The filling is my maternal Sicilian grandmother’s blue-ribbon recipe. The amaretti crust, although different than the cannoli pastry, adds the crisp texture you’d get […]

Tweet   Perfect for Colazione or Dolci (breakfast or dessert). This fruit kabob (spiedino) is a colorful addition to the table and of course it’s paired with Cannoli Cream for that extra special yumminess factor.         Ingredients: Cannoli Cream recipe Your favorite fruit Wooden skewers   … or maybe you prefer this […]

Tweet When it comes to dessert, Italians usually opt for fruit at the end of a meal. The wonderfully rich desserts that the country is famous for are generally saved for special occasions. I enjoy fruit for dessert too … but why not make it even better and add a touch of the traditional Sicilian […]

Tweet Ah, the cannoli, a masterpiece of Sicilian pasticceria! This dolce (dessert) is a crisp tube shaped pastry shell filled with a luscious sweet ricotta cheese filling. Dusted in confectioner’s sugar with chopped pistachios adorning each end, this is the queen of Sicily’s desserts. I am forever grateful that I am in possession of my […]