Woohoo! After a long chilly winter, spring has finally sprung here on the East Coast. It has been a frosty end to the winter. I, for one, am ready to toss off those layers and head to the kitchen to make lighter, brighter meals. The earth is vibrating ready for new beginnings. Until those fresh…
Christians around the world, during Lent, are supposed moderate their diets and have simple meals meant to invoke contemplation and a period of waiting for Easter. Italian tradition has come up a way to cheat a little – a roast that looks on the outside to be a simple, humble meal, but on the inside…
One of the greatest things about Italy are the local “sagre” (singular – sagra). Sagre or food festivals are a staple of the regions of Italy with a strong farming culture. Italian sagre focus on ONE thing and every variation there of: fava beans, porchetta or mortadella to name some examples. Bigger, broader sagre happen…
Winter will not quit here in the East! Snowed again last eve and we are expecting another few inches tomorrow nite. My dear brother out in sunny California keeps reminding me of how wonderfully warm it is in LA this time of year. I keep reminding him that I am much closer to Italy than…
Valentine’s Day has just come and gone but there are plenty of evenings to cook a great meal for that special someone. Osso buco is a dish that comes from the Lombardia region of Italy; the region surrounding Milan. It’s really simple to prepare. You just need to find a good source for the veal…
Wow, it is cold here on the East Coast! Winter has finally arrived in these parts with temperatures that have not been seen in a century (although it is supposed to be 30 degrees warmer in a few days…amen sister!). The local news is warning everyone to stay inside but I have never been one…
Our family has never been big turkey fans, especially me. Too many bad memories of my mom’s dry, tasteless bird on the big day. Don’t get me wrong – my mom was an absolutely awesome cook. But let’s just say that turkey was never her forte (along with meatloaf – but that is a story…
One of the true pleasures of being in Italy this past spring was the bounty of local seasonal vegetables. I remember fava beans, fresh peas, baby potatoes, arugula and so much more. But what I remember the most are baby artichokes, or carciofini. Tasting of pure springtime, there was no better side dish than these…
Growing up we called it “pasta fasul”. This warm and comforting thick stew was frequently on the table when the weather turned cool in autumn and downright freezing in winter. Now that the fall weather has arrived in L.A., I made a batch with the last gasp of tomatoes I had from the summer (You…
Ciao tutti! Summer has been a magical whirlwind of travel, guests, family and friends. With my new kitchen now fully up and running, I have loved getting to know its rhythm whether the finesse of using the new range or the simplest of tasks in figuring out how best to stack the new dishwasher. And…