Sicilian Girl

Tweet A potato salad in Italy is quite different from a salad by the same name here in the states. Consisting of boiled, cooked and peeled potatoes, this salad is simply dressed with olive oil, garlic and parsley, then seasoned with salt and pepper. Because it’s served at room temperature, it can easily be prepared [...]

Tweet Passoli e pinoli (currants and pine nuts) are commonly used in many Sicilian dishes. Currants are black Corinth grapes that have been dried like raisins, only they are much smaller (not to be confused with fresh, red currants, related to the gooseberry). In baking, currants and raisins are generally  interchangeable. However, the smaller size [...]

Tweet Focaccia, once the food of peasants, is simply a bit of leavened dough flavored with fresh herbs, olive oil, sea salt and whatever your imagination can afford. Seasonal ingredients can turn this rustic bread into a delicious edible plate, making eating out of hand the preferred utensil. They have become quite popular in the [...]

Tweet A peppadew is a sweet little pepper, about the size of a cherry tomato, with a spicy attitude. They are commercially grown, processed and packaged in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. They can be found in the grocery store, usually near the deli section in the olive bar. If you are looking for [...]

Tweet The best way, in my opinion, to eat un fichi (a fig), is fresh off the tree, that was how I experienced my first taste of this short-lived seasonal fruit. My grandmother had many fruit trees in her backyard, the messiest, being the fig. When the fruit is ripe, (which seems to happen all [...]

Tweet   We know that lemon and chicken compliment each other, but add fresh and fragrant Limoncello to the recipe and your guests will compliment you ! Limoncello (lee-mohn-CHEH-loh) is an Italian lemon liquor, and is grown  along the lush hillsides of the Almafi Coast. Authentic Limoncello is made from Sorrento lemons. You will almost [...]

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 The Isle of Capri, Italy, situated in the Bay of Napoli, is probably most noted for the Grotta Azzurra, (Blue Grotto) a sea cave that is filled with a brilliant blue light. I was lucky enough to visit this magical place before it became the tourist attraction it is today. If you climb the [...]

Tweet Fettunta Toscana is a traditional Tuscan style bruschetta, grilled rustic bread with tomatoes and basil. The quality of the ingredients are paramount for this simple yet satisfying snack (Merenda). Thick, crusty, chewy, country bread, fresh from-the-vine plump and juicy tomatoes (or at least perfectly ripe), a few cloves of fresh garlic, sweet basil and [...]

Tweet Ettore Boiardi, born in Piacenza, Italy came to America when he was just 16 years old. He started his career in the kitchen of the Plaza hotel in New York City, working his way up to head chef. His first restaurant, Giardino d’Italia, was so well received, his customers wanted to be able to [...]