Palline all’Arancia
In Sicily, even before the making of pastries and confections became a source of income for the convents, the tasty treats as gifts were an acceptable currency by which…
Desserts (Dolci)
Lavender Biscotti
From vanilla pecan to triple chocolate pistachio, the majority of biscotti I make include some type of nut. This biscotti is different. It still has the crisp crunch of the…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
Palline al Cioccolato (Chocolate Balls)
These little chocolate balls, a thoughtful gift for your favorite Valentine, are a variation of Palline all’ Arancia. This is one of the very few confections in which the…
New Orleans Beignets
The Crescent City is known for many “sweet” things, such as, King Cakes, a brioche-type pastry, which is a huge part of Mardi-Gras traditions, Sfinci, creamy ricotta-filled puffs of…
Mincemeat Christmas Cake
My paternal grandmother made this cake every Christmas. The recipe was given to her by a very dear friend on December 2, 1953. We didn’t know what was in…
Sardinian Spice Cookies
Papassini are traditional Sardinian spice cookies and without a doubt, the best spice cookie I have ever eaten! The combination of citrus, raisins and spices, produces a depth of…
Ossi di Morti Biscotti
In the Roman Catholic Church, All Soul’s Day, which was established by Pope Boniface IV, specifically commemorates the departed faithful who have not yet been purified and have reached…
Fruit & Nut Chocolate Clusters
Dried fruits, nutritious nuts and crunchy granola, all covered in chocolate make for the perfect treat for our after dinner walks in the woods. Many years ago, the year…
Granita alla Fragola
History tells us flavored ices date back to ancient China, but the first frozen dessert in Italy actually came from Sicily. Arabs brought an icy treat of frozen water,…
Ricotta “Cake Mix” Cake
Over the years, I have made various types of cakes with ricotta (even pancakes), such as, almond ricotta cake, blueberry breakfast cake and lemon ricotta cheesecake. This cake is…
Asparagus Tart
Asparagus is my favorite spring vegetable! When tossed with ravioli it becomes a lovely light lunch and combined with lemony chickpeas creates a perfect picnic salad. If I’m in…
Cuccidati Crostata
Every year it seems our stash of Sicilian Christmas cookies are gone way too soon. So, this past Christmas, I saved some of the filling to make another small…
Triple Chocolate Pistachio Biscotti
I have posted many biscotti recipes over the life of this blog. There are traditional family favorites as well as those I’ve been inspired to create. Although a few…
Pistacchio Biscotti
Pistacchio Di Bronte, the pistachio grown on the western slope of Sicily’s Mount Etna, is harvested only in odd years. If you missed 2019’s crop, the next harvest will…
Cuccidati Kisses
So, you’ve made dozens and dozens of Sicilian Christmas cookies and have just a bit of fig filling left. What do you do? As I see it, you have…