Sicilian Girl

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 Italians, as a rule, do not eat dessert after a meal, choosing perhaps a piece of fruit instead. However, it is a well-known fact that we find time “between” meals to satisfy our sweet tooth. Biscotti may accompany the morning cappuccino as well as the evening espresso and any time is the right time […]

Tweet Just the mere thought of panettone, the slightly-sweet, Milanese Christmas bread, conjures up the aromas of citrus, vanilla and candied fruit. This holiday bread is traditionally made using a “mother dough” (similar to sourdough). The centuries-old process allows the dough to rise naturally over the course of several days, giving this rich-tasting treat its […]

Tweet Fresh, ripe seasonal fruit is the perfect snack or dessert. My place of choice to find the season’s best is at one of those country road-side stands or a farmer’s market. A few years ago, my son and I came across a cherry festival in the Veneto region of Italy. We devoured our fair […]

Tweet A frozen version of my favorite coffee drink is nothing more than accidental genius. Accidental is the operative word here. I was making several batches of flavored ice cubes (Creamy Milk Cubes, Chocolate Espresso Cubes ) to have on hand for ice coffee drinks. By the time I made my Sweet Cappuccino Cubes there were no more […]

Tweet There are three fruitiness intensity levels of extra virgin olive oil; Delicate, Medium and Robust. As a rule, delicate oils (depending on the cultivar) are made from ripe mature olives and have fruity notes that pair nicely with cheese and desserts. Medium oils have a favorable bitterness and pungency and is what I use […]

Tweet In my perfect world, everyone would have a beloved Uncle Lorenzo who lives in the beautiful Sicilian countryside with groves of ancient gnarled olive trees. Family and friends would gather annually for the “crush” (the making of olive oil) and there would be an abundance of food, drink and laughter. Of course, we would […]

Tweet If I could have but three items in continuous and everlasting supply, my perpetual pantry would contain bread, olive oil and salt … in that order! Fresh olio d’oliva (olive oil) is as essential to me as water. I use it every day so it’s only logical that it is an indispensable ingredient in […]

Tweet Christmas is over and on the first day of the new year many will be making resolutions, that unfortunately only a small percentage will be able to keep. So, what can we do to insure a sustainable change in our lives? Rather than making a New Year’s resolution, I suggest setting an intention instead. […]

Tweet Christians the world over recognize this line from the Lord’s prayer, a prayer I learned in catechism (the Gospel of Matthew version) many years ago and continue to pray to this day. Rev. Dr. Robert Hansel wrote an eight-part series exploring the meaning of this prayer, line by line. I believe the very essence […]