Sicilian Girl

Tweet This is a simple pasta dish that can be ready in the time it takes for the spaghetti to cook. The original Roman version uses guanciale (cured pork jowl), Pecorino-Romano cheese and raw eggs. You may substitute pancetta (Italian bacon) or bacon for the pork and Parmigiano Reggiano for the the Pecorino. By mixing […]

Tweet Because the eggs are cooked in a hot and spicy tomato sauce, this Italian dish is known as Uova in Purgatorio. The intensity level can range from mildly spicy to … hot as hell. My recipe is full of flavor with (to suit my family’s taste) just the right amount of heat. Rather than […]

Tweet This is an easy frittata to put together and can be prepared in advance. For a simple breakfast or brunch, I cut them into squares and set them out with a platter of jam-y fig and ricotta bruschette and fresh fennel and orange salad. The frittata reheats nicely too and paired with a cappuccino […]

Tweet When I lived in California, we had an amazing avocado tree that produced an abundance of ridiculously large fruit. Although, I am blessed to have several citrus trees in Arizona, I do miss the avocado tree. Fortunately, we have friends here who have a home in Long Beach, California, that on every visit, they […]

Tweet Stracciatella is an Italian egg drop soup. Traditionally, it is a light soup made with chicken broth, eggs, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and Italian parsley. I have added farfalle pasta (butterfly) and peas to make the soup a bit more substantial. In place of the farfalle, you could use a different pasta such as, cocciolette (small shells) or orzo […]

Tweet Frittata is the Italian word for omelette. I often use the words frittata and omelette interchangeably but, technically they are different. A frittata is flat with the ingredients mixed into the eggs, rather than used for a filling, as in an omelette. The classic French omelette, with its light, fluffy texture, is best consumed immediately […]

Tweet A ridiculously quick and easy way to get a perfect frittata (Italian omelet) for one. It seems I always have leftover roasted or grilled veggies of some kind in the refrigerator. So a healthy and satisfying meal is just minutes away. This is also a perfect afternoon snack (Merenda) and can be enjoyed at […]

Tweet My mother was not a huge fan of fish, so our meals during Lent consisted of vegetables, beans and legumes and of course pasta. The meal that I associate most with this season is Bell Peppers and Eggs. It was never my favorite, in fact I don’t think I cared for it much at […]

Tweet Brunch is just about my favorite way to entertain. It’s both casual and elegant and when the weather is nice, it’s perfect for eating outdoors. Once, for a special birthday party I hosted, I even had a jazz trio entertain my guests. But, in my opinion, no one puts on a better jazz brunch […]

Tweet       Soup for breakfast might sound a bit strange to you, but this is really very good. In the Lombardy region of Italy, there is a very old city called Pavia. It is here that Zuppa Pavese was created by the monks of Certose di Pavia. I call it breakfast soup because, […]