Sicilian Girl

Tweet Asparagus is my favorite spring vegetable! When tossed with ravioli it becomes a lovely light lunch and combined with lemony chickpeas creates a perfect picnic salad. If I’m in the mood for a small bite, prosciutto-wrapped asparagus enjoyed with a refreshing glass of  Prosecco or limonata is a splendid way to take pause and […]

Tweet A crostata is simply an Italian free-form pie or tart, typically filled with a fruit jam or fresh fruit. I like to make them for their ease in preparation, (doesn’t even require a pie pan), as well as their rustic look. For a quick and very easy dessert, you could even use a refrigerated […]

Tweet Sometimes I’ll make scones and occasionally I’ll whip up a batch of muffins or biscuits but, as a rule, if I want to serve something sweet in the morning, especially if I’m feeding a crowd, I’ll prepare breakfast cake. These are quite often made with fruit of the season, such as, Italian apple cake and […]

Tweet Who among us doesn’t enjoy a great pastry or coffee cake? Whether it’s a small wedge with that first cup of coffee in the morning or a generous slice shared with a friend in the afternoon, cake and coffee just go together. The combination of creamy mascarpone filling, sweet berry preserves and a toasted nut […]

Tweet As a rule, when a recipe calls for toasted nuts, it really is non-negotiable. Toasting intensifies their nutty flavor and whether the nuts are whole, sliced or slivered, you can taste the difference! If I only needed a small amount to sprinkle on a salad or use as a garnish, I would toast them […]

Tweet Seasonal fresh fruits are nutritious and delicious any time of the year but, I find the berries of summer to be a special treat. They can be added to yogurt, cereal or granola, used in or on your favorite pancakes, transformed into jams or baked into scones. I usually just serve them plain or with […]

Tweet Focaccia, once the food of peasants, is simply a bit of leavened dough flavored with fresh herbs, olive oil, sea salt and whatever your imagination can afford. Seasonal ingredients can turn this rustic bread into a delicious edible plate, making eating out of hand the preferred utensil. They have become quite popular in the […]

Tweet The best way, in my opinion, to eat fichi, meaning figs in Italian, is fresh off the tree. That was how I experienced my first taste of this short-lived seasonal fruit. My grandmother had many fruit trees in her backyard, the messiest, being the fig. When the fruit is ripe, (which seems to happen […]