Sardine and Barley Grain Bowl
This is a light but satisfying dish to be enjoyed in the heat of summer (when I don’t feel like cooking) or as a modest, meatless meal during Lent. I…
Main Dishes (Secondi Piatti)
Mediterranean Grain Bowl
After I was married, the first house my husband and I bought was only a couple of miles away from my mother. Quite often I would stop by for a…
Mediterranean Lemon Chicken
In this delicious dish, chicken thighs marinate in olive oil, white wine, lemon, and Herbs de Provence. The chicken is then transferred to a skillet and as the chicken cooks…
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…
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,…
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…
Super Bowl Chunky Chili
Many years ago, when my husband, Jack, and I were first dating, he invited me to a Super Bowl party he was hosting. Now, you would think this strong,…
Anchovy Spaghetti
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Recipes, such as, Cacio e pepe, Capellini and Clams and Spaghetti alla Carbonara, are what I call “Pantry Meals.” Even when the cupboards and frig are seemingly bare, just…
Braised Beef with Shallots & Carrots
Braising, a method of slow cooking in liquid, takes advantage of tougher (and usually less expensive) cuts of meat and has been around for centuries. Chuck roast, a budget-friendly…
Chicken with Roasted Lemons, Olives & Capers
Lemons, olives and capers are classic staples in the Sicilian pantry. Individually, they bring additional flavor to many a dish. Now, put them all in one bowl and you…
Masseria (farm) Salad
In an unspoiled and sun-drenched corner of southern Sicily is the Baroque town of Noto. Noto, known locally as Il Giardino di Pietra (Garden of Stone), is the most…
Orecchiette al Ragu
This pasta dish has a creamy richness with very little fat and serves four generous portions using only half a pound of ground beef. In less than an hour,…
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…
Lemon-Roasted Asparagus & Ravioli
Spring is the season for asparagus. Crops are harvested from late February to the end of May, with April being the height of the season. This is a simple…
Andouille Pasta
My mother, who was born and raised in New Orleans, used a spicy sausage in certain dishes, such as, jambalaya, but never with pasta. So, I decided I’d give…
Meatballs and Sauce
My maternal grandmother did not cook from recipes. I never saw her open a cookbook. To my knowledge, she didn’t have any. The meals she prepared were committed to memory.…
Polpettone con Ricotta
I have made various types of meatloaf and I have made meat rolls using flank steak (braciolone), but I have never made rolled meatloaf before now. Polpettone con Ricotta…
Stuffed Bell Pepper Soup
As a child, I remember my mother preparing stuffed bell peppers on numerous occasions. It’s one of those recipes that you can prepare in advance, tend to four children,…
Melanzane alla Parmigiana
Whenever my son, Joe, and I try a new Italian restaurant, the “one dish” that is a make-or-break decision to return, is eggplant Parmesan. The ingredients should compliment one…
Mediterranean Beef Stew
This richly-flavored stew, served on a bed of ancient grains, will awaken your taste buds and take them on a Mediterranean journey. Ladle into shallow bowls and serve with…