March 2020 will be one for the history books. Three quarters of Americans are stuck at home and the world has been turned upside down. If there is a bright side, it’s that everyone seems to been cooking at home! Mark and I have faced a few particular challenges that have made this time even…
And suddenly – boom – we have all become full-time home cooks, forced to figure out what the heck to make for dinner for ourselves and our families almost every single night. Some friends are making epic meals, others using up those pantry staples. For me, the kitchen has always been my refuge at the…
I adore lemons. And lemon trees. And the smell of lemons blossoms. Their sunny little faces can brighten a dreary winter’s day. Over the years, I have attempted to grow lemons indoors as my climate is too chilly to leave the little guys outside all year. My first attempt, years ago, resulted in nothing but…
Winter is a wonderful time to hunt for interesting fresh fruits and vegetables. Cabbage, its cousin kale, and cauliflower are all over the markets. All manner of root vegetables, including multi-colored carrots, potatoes, and beets catch the eye. Citrus is at its peak, and if you can nab persimmons for salads and desserts, do it!…
Truth be told, I have gotten a bit carried away over the years in making antipasti for dinner parties – at times, spending way more time on preparing the antipasti than the actual meal. I always worry there is not enough food for the guests (the apple does not fall far) so better to err…
As we wrap up our 3-month stay here in the region of Marche, Italy, I’ve become sad. Sad because I will miss Christmas here, which will be a wonderful family-oriented affair; sad at no more afternoon walks along the olive groves; sad that taking a walk along a beach, so easy here, would be an…
The year was 1921, the place Ellis Island. My maternal grandmother, single, arrives into port from Napoli on the ship Patria to be with her sister Concetta, living in Brooklyn. My grandfather, who had come to America in 1911 from Marche, had recently lost his young wife to the 1918 flu epidemic and needed a…
Late October in central Italy means that summer vine crops are finally giving way to autumn’s earthy vegetables. Chard, cauliflower and potatoes are replacing the big summer harvests. The air is crisp and daylight savings time will soon end. Autumn in Italy is such a different experience from this season in Los Angeles, where summer…
If you have been following us for a while, you know how much we love eggplant – stuffed, fried, baked…you name it. And you might also remember that our maternal grandparents are from Sicily AND that I had a boyfriend who lived in Sicily. (Cliff notes: I got divorced, went to my mothers’ village in…
As Mark and I settle into life in Italy this Autumn, the rhythm of food and changing seasons is unmistakeable. Ingredients from the waning summer, like sweet cherry tomatoes, near their end just as beautiful Borlotti beans and young chards are getting started. To me, this mirrors the announcement of springtime by fava beans. These…