Sicilian Girl

Tweet This is one of those cakes that doesn’t require a special occasion. Quite the opposite, as it is a favorite everyday kind of cake. The slightly sweet batter isn’t fussy and can be prepared in just a few minutes. Top with fresh pears (or other soft fruit, such as peaches) and a scattering of […]

Tweet I have never tasted better figs than those hanging from the trees in my grandparent’s back yard. Picked at the perfect moment of ripeness, they were soft, sweet, succulent and bursting with flavor! Figs are seasonal, making their appearance in early summer and again in early fall. Every year I have high hopes of […]

Tweet Pesche arrostite e gelati is a great solution when you have more peaches than you can eat and they are all ripening at the same time! Roast a few or an entire sheet-pan, as they will keep in the refrigerator for several days (much longer than if they were sitting on the kitchen counter). […]

Tweet If you can peel an orange and boil water you can make candied orange peel! I feel very fortunate to have several citrus trees in my yard and I take full advantage of the bountiful harvest. There’s something special about picking fruit fresh off the tree to enjoy on a moments notice and I […]

Tweet I have said many times that dishes do not have to be difficult to prepare nor costly to be delicious. A simple bowl of poached dried figs nestled on a cloud of luscious, creamy, ricotta is richly satisfying. Served warm, this is a comforting dessert on a chilly winter evening. And paired with a […]

Tweet Pomegranates, an ancient fruit, dating back to biblical times, flowers between Passover (April 22, 2016) and Pentecost (May 15, 2016) and are ready to pick towards the end of summer. This autumn fruit was a symbol of prosperity and abundance and used to celebrate the fall harvest. Pomegranates, the rather strange looking round red […]

Tweet Last summer, an unexpected trip out of town, found me with a refrigerator full of fruits and vegetables that I did not want to go to waste. So, I roasted the carrots, mushrooms and eggplant and fried up the bell peppers. The fruit was a no-brainer, as it went into the freezer. The berries could […]

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 Watermelon seems to be the quintessential fruit of summer for many folks. In Italy, there is a proliferation of fruit stands selling this thirst-quenching fruit, by the slice and in cups. Summertime is also the season of picnics, barbecues and backyard dinner parties. So, rather than bring your “usual” fruit salad, why not up […]

Tweet 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 […]