On to Calabria! La Famiglia, La Spiaggia e Liquirizia
We travel to the “toe of the boot” for our next featured ‘regione’ in Italy – rustic Calabria. Our family visited Calabria back in …
Mama mia – It’s hot! Grilled Apricots with Ricotta Cream
Mama mia – fa caldo qui! (Man, is it hot here!!) Summer is in full swing here in the eastern US. And with the heat, …
Stuffed! Cipolle Ripieni (Onions Stuffed with Sausage and Parmigiano)
The cooks of Emilia-Romagna love to stuff things from their pillowy pastas to their greens-stuffed tortas. In this simple recipe, onions become the backdrop for …
A (Hot) Midsummer Night’s Dream: Watermelon Vodka Granita
There is a line in Will’s Midsummer Night’s Dream – “Thus to make poor females mad.” That would be me when granita is served – …
La Cucina Italiana and Learning Italian, Recipe by Recipe – Spaghetti with Clams and Cherry Tomatoes
I owe a world of gratitude to the Italian culinary magazine, La Cucina Italiana….they are improving my Italian, recipe by recipe. My one splurge (ok, …
In My Father’s Memory: Laughter, Ladybugs and Chicken Marinated in Red Wine
My father passed away in 1981 at the tender young age of 54. He died suddenly that day, leaving us all to figure out how …
Soul Food Italian Style: Piadina Romagnola
It never ceases to amaze me how different the breads of Italy can be from region to region. Emilia-Romagna’s bread is no exception. Unlike the …
Spring’s Sweet Bounty: Strawberries with Balsamic and Black Pepper
The local farmer’s market is beginning to fill to the brim with spring’s fresh bounty – tender asparagus, baby peas, young lettuces and my favorite …
Bon Appetit’s June Cook the Cover Challenge: Spaghetti with Parsley Pesto
My family is a huge Bon Appetit family. We have subscribed for years and years and years. We have cellars full of back issues. We …
The Magic of Montalcino and Why I Travel
I first set foot in Montalcino in 2006 by pure happenstance. Our family had finally pulled off that family reunion we had been talking about …
The Magical Little Island of Pantelleria: Pasta with Shrimp, Toasted Almonds and Breadcrumbs
A few years back, I was on a mission to visit as many of the islands of Italy as I could. I still have quite …
Involtini di Pesce Spada (Sicilian Swordfish Rolls)
Sicilians really do love their fish and especially their swordfish. Sicily’s enviable position surrounded by three seas explains why fish holds such a revered place …