Sicilian Girl

Tweet Roasted, stuffed, grilled and fried, are just some of the methods Italians (particularly southern Italians and Sicilians) use to turn this versatile vegetable into a vast variety of dishes. The smaller, baby eggplants of summer are the perfect side-dish for picnics and potlucks or simply to enjoy al fresco at home. Our recent trip […]

Tweet Whether this frittata is paired with a hot cup of coffee and fresh oranges on a cold winter morning or a refreshing ice tea and vine-ripened tomatoes on a warm summer night, you will enjoy a delicious, healthy and satisfying meal.       Ingredients: 1 pound Brussels Sprouts 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil […]

Tweet We eat a ton of vegetables in this house. Most of the time these vegetables are roasted, grilled, sauteed, marinated and eaten raw but, every now and then, they get fried. I cook zucchini this way when I want to serve it as a side dish, offer it for breakfast in place of potatoes […]

Tweet Hash became notably popular during and after World War II, due to the rationing of fresh meat and for many, it came in a can (Hormel corned beef hash). When I was growing up, we never wasted food and leftovers on one night could easily find their way into breakfast the next morning. Hash […]

Tweet Romas, beefstakes, heirlooms and cherries, so many tomatoes, so little time. Recently, I purchased several pounds of tomatoes which I intended on using in a variety of recipes. “Intended” being the optimum word, life got busy and other than slicing and tossing into salad greens, making Panzanella Portabello’s and Fettunta Toscana, I still had […]

Tweet A sandwich of Italian sausage, onions and peppers is typical street food of my beloved Sicily. I have served and eaten it on many occasions, from various local and regional Italian Festas (festivals) to football parties and BBQ’s. Herein lies the dilemma, what to do when this is the main event at your gathering […]

Tweet My Caprese bite is a natural for merenda, just that one perfect bite of a classic! They are easy to make and great to have on hand for a quick snack. Add a few olives, bruschetta and a chunk of salame and it’s a satisfying small meal. This is a wonderful appetizer and is […]

Tweet In Sicily, Ricotta di Pecora, (sheep ricotta) is made from the milk of the local sheep, it is not a cheese but a fresh dairy product made from the whey leftover from the making of other cheeses. As with most Sicilian cheeses, ricotta reflects the seasons. In the months from November through May, when […]

Tweet Delicious dishes don’t have to be complicated, as is the case with this classic combination of melone e Prosciutto (melon and Prosciutto). Starting off many an Italian meal, this special ham and melon duet have been singing their salty-sweet song for a very long time. Now, I don’t usually like to mess with perfection, […]

Tweet This is the mini version of my Orzo-Stuffed Peppers. Just the right size for merenda (snack). Serve them as a delicious first course or bring a tray of peppers to a cocktail party and watch them disappear (use red, green, yellow and orange  peppers for a colorful presentation). Mini-stuffed peppers are a welcome addition […]