Sicilian Girl

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, [...]

Tweet Because Sicily has an abundance of sheep grazing her hillsides, the Island is quite famous for it’s sheep milk cheeses. Ricotta Salata is one of them. Ricotta means “recooked” and is a cheese making process rather than a “type” of cheese. Many Americans are familiar with ricotta that’s used in dishes like lasagna or [...]

Tweet In the mid 1980′s I taught cooking classes for the Adult Education Department at our community college. One of the favorites was Brunch, The Perfect Way to Entertain. One student, the only man in the class, surprised his wife on their anniversary with the entire brunch menu. At our next meeting, he informed his [...]

Tweet Fritatte are a staple in my home, usually made on top of the stove in a skillet. Cooked on one side then gently inverted  on a dinner plate. Next it’s slid back into the skillet (cooked side up) to continue cooking. However, there are times when I need to prepare dishes the night before [...]

Tweet An indescribably delicious, light and slightly sweet souffle. I love making this dish when I have overnight guests because everything can be prepared the night before. You can use individual souffle dishes, custard cups or a large baking dish if you’re serving a crowd. Souffles can sometimes be intimidating but this is not the case [...]

Tweet Some say this famous San Francisco specialty was devised by a San Francisco chef as a variation on the Italian frittata. Others insist it was created as an after-hours snack by dance-band musicians during the 1920′s. A third theory attributes the dish to miners who frequented the city’s riotous Barbary Coast district in the 1850′s. [...]