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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Much of the baking my grandmother did (usually biscotti) included almonds in some way. The almond tree was brought to Sicily by the ancient Greeks, who considered it to…
In the United States, many of us learned about Thanksgiving in grade school. We were taught that the fifty-three pilgrims (the only colonists to survive the long voyage on…
It seems to me that no sooner have the last of the trick-or-treaters gone home to sort out their bounty and I have polished off any remaining Halloween candy,…
Piazza San Marco, in Venice Italy, is typically filled with tourists (and pigeons) during the summer months. But, in February, this well-known Italian square is the heart of Carnevale,…
For many of us, family traditions are a big deal and most of them are centered around special foods, particularly during the holidays. The Christmas season is filled with…
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…
I don’t know about you but, when the weather gets cooler, I have an urge to fill the kitchen with the intoxicating aromas of soul satisfying soups and stews…
Sugar and spice and everything nice, that’s what holidays are made of. I can’t imagine holiday baking without the aromatic fragrances that our favorite spices provide. Spices are derived…
I really like Brussels sprouts. I enjoy them for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I realize not everyone is a fan of this healthy cruciferous vegetable and most folks either…
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…
Canned clams are an economical, low-fat source of protein and can be used to make soups, stews and pasta dishes. I use wild-caught, Maine Whole Cherrystone Clams for this…