Strawberry Crostata
To me, Spring just screams strawberries! I serve them fresh with a splash of balsamic vinegar, toss them into salads, add them to my fruit pizza, and strawberry bruschette. And…
Recipes
Blackberry Breakfast Bruschetta
Bruschette are the perfect small bites (merenda) and are great anytime of the day. These nourishing small meals are defined by the season and what’s in my pantry. They…
Cannoli Cake & Ice Cream
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A special cake for a special occasion, inspired by the quintessential Sicilian dolce, cannoli. This elegant cake was the perfect ending to a lovely ladies’ luncheon. The accompanying ice…
Castelvetrano & Ricotta Salata Antipasti
Castelvetrano is a town in the province of Trapani, Sicily, and it is here where I first tasted the olives of the same name. Castelvetrano olives are firm, a pale…
Pasta with Creamy Provolone Sauce
Provolone is an Italian cheese made from cow’s milk. The flavors can range from mild and sweet to sharp, based on the amount of time it ages. This sturdy cheese…
Holiday Mincemeat Cookies
When it comes to the topic of mincemeat, it seems that most folks either like it, don’t care for it or have no idea what it is. Mincemeat is a…
Lemon Risotto
Prior to the beginning of the 20th century, most lemons consumed in America were of the Italian variety and imported from Messina, Sicily, Siracusa, Sicily, and Sorrento, Campania. The Mediterranean…
Parmesan Wafers with Tomato & Bread Soup
A few crumbles of a good quality Parmesan is a delight to savor. I have taken this Italian treasure of a cheese and turned it into wafers that are a…
Parmigiano Reggiano
Parmigiano Reggiano, is one of Italy’s gifts to the world of food and is an essential staple in many kitchens around the globe, including mine. It’s unmistakable aroma, milky taste…
Vanilla Pecan Biscotti
Vanilla has a recognizable, pleasant aroma and scent and is understandably the world’s most popular flavor. Last February I had the opportunity to visit a family-owned vanilla farm in Hilo,…
Vegetable Panini
When it comes to making panini, (Italian for sandwiches), it begins and ends with the bread! I prefer using Ciabatta, an Italian rustic looking bread that is available in loaves…
Apple Bacon & Pecan Salad with Creamy Provolone Dressing
I love a good salad! And I am not talking about a plate of iceberg lettuce with bottled dressing! There are a multitude of easy-to-find ingredients that add flavor,…
Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
There are many cultures in which an egg drop soup is made. Chinese cuisine offers a version, also known as egg flower soup, the Greeks make theirs with avgolemono…
Mediterranean Lentil and Bulgur Salad
Lentils are one of the world’s oldest health foods. This little lens-shaped legume came to the Americas in the early 16th century. During World War II, people began to…
Marinated Baby Artichokes
Native to the western and central Mediterranean, the artichoke is a domesticated variety of the wild cardoon. Cardone, in Italian, is a thistle and looks like large stocks of…
Easter Monday
Easter Monday, known as la Pasquetta in Italy, literally means little Easter. It is also known as ‘Lunedì dell’Angelo‘ (‘Monday of the Angel’) – the day to remember the…
Sicilian Cannoli
I remember the cannoli my grandmother used to make and I am so very grateful that I have her “handwritten recipe” for this iconic Sicilian sweet treat. I use…
Pear, Pecan & Gorgonzola Salad
This past New Year’s Day, I made this sensational salad with caramelized pears. It’s really good! Today, I only have one pear and am in a bit of a…
Rosemary Lemon Sea Salt
Rosemary, native to the Mediterranean region and a regular ingredient in Italian cooking, is one of my favorite herbs. While living In Tucson, I had several huge plants. These…
Double Cauliflower with Chard and Onions
Inexpensive and readily available, cauliflower is a nutritional powerhouse. It is high in vitamins C and K, potassium, manganese, folate, fiber and cancer-preventing glucosinolates. If you are (currently) not…