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…
Pies and Tarts
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
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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…
Lemon Pistachio Crostata
Crostate is an Italian term for pies and tarts. They can be rustic (free-form), in recipes such as, crostata di pesca, blackberry balsamic crostata and caramelized onion and fig…
Pumpkin Tart with Biscotti Crust
This tart has all the flavors of your traditional holiday pumpkin pie but, with an Italian twist. Rather than making a pie with the typical pastry dough, I decided…
Cannoli Ice Cream Pie
A thin shell of crispy, delicate pastry dough, fried to a golden perfection and then stuffed with a creamy ricotta filling is a Sicilian specialty. Cannoli can be found…
Blackberry Balsamic Crostata
Seasonal fresh fruits are nutritious and delicious any time of the year but, I find the berries of summer to be a special treat. They can be added to…
How to Grate Nutmeg
Nutmeg, the healthy spice that takes a back seat to your everyday spices for much of the year, comes out swinging during the holidays. This seemingly seasonal spice is…
Lemon Ice Box Pie
This type of pie was named after the “ice box” it was stored in to keep cool. Prior to World War II, the majority of Americans did not have…
Crostata di Ricotta (Easter Pie)
“Natale con i tuoi, Pasqua con chi voui” Christmas with your family, Easter with whomever you please. This old Italian saying sings the truth. Colorful, flavorful and full of…
Candied Sweet Potato Tart
The art of making desserts is a great source of pride for the Southern hostess. Armed with heirloom recipes and an intuitive sense that company may be dropping by,…
Bittersweet Chocolate Truffle Tart
I have been making this tart since 1990 and it’s no coincidence that it is the same year Alice Medrich’s cookbook, Cocolat, came out. For those of you who…