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…
This is one of those cakes that doesn’t require a special occasion. Quite the opposite, as it is a favorite everyday kind of cake. The slightly sweet batter isn’t…
I have never tasted better figs than those hanging from the trees in my grandparent’s back yard. Picked at the perfect moment of ripeness, they were soft, sweet, succulent…
Pomegranates, an ancient fruit, dating back to biblical times, flowers between Passover (April 22, 2016) and Pentecost (May 15, 2016) and are ready to pick towards the end of…
Watermelon seems to be the quintessential fruit of summer for many folks. In Italy, there is a proliferation of fruit stands selling this thirst-quenching fruit, by the slice and…
Italians characterize fennel (and eggplant) as being either male or female. The “female” fennel has a thick, round, short, stocky bulb that is used raw in salads and also…
In Italy, the terms almond paste, and marzipan are used interchangeably. In the United States, however, almond paste and marzipan are not the same thing. It is important to…
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 roadside stands or a…
Prosecco, an Italian sparkling wine, is made from grapes in the northern Veneto region of Italy and is the perfect celebratory wine. It is crisp, clean, light and refreshing,…
Frullati (plural) are smoothies, “Italian-style.” During the summer in Italy, you can get this refreshing, cold and creamy drink in any espresso bar. The barista will skillfully make this…
Baskets of bright, fresh sweet raspberries from “Bountiful Baskets,” (a grassroots, all volunteer, food Co-op that distributes produce baskets at a substantial savings) led to more than a few…
Simple and to the point, this dessert exemplifies the type of dish that many Italians choose to end the evening meal. What could be better than a juicy fresh peach…
From tiny villages to large cities, Italy is a country of festivals! Religious, worshiping saints, (and there are many) civic, celebrating the city’s good fortune and sagre, (country festivals)…
The Feast of Santa Rosalia, patron saint of Palermo, Sicily, takes place in mid-July. This annual festival is held to honor the “little saint” (La Santuzza) for saving the…