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 …
Simply Roasted Artichokes: A Sunny Taste of Spring
Spring is synonymous with artichokes for me. And with the days finally turning a bit warmer here, spring cannot arrive fast enough. I grow ridiculously …
Sicilian Ricotta Pie (Torta di Ricotta)
For me, Easter is not complete without a slice of ricotta pie. I go weak in the knees when I think of this dessert and …
The big launch is almost here – announcing Footsteps Italy!
I simply can’t wait any longer to tell you my big secret about Footsteps Italy! For over a year, I have been working with my …
Simple Pasta with Sun-dried Tomato Sauce
In Sicily, they make a highly concentrated tomato paste called ‘estrattu’ and it is a true labor of love. They start with an enormous amount …
A Hug from My Grandparents – Sicilian Style
I first visited Sicily back in 2004. I wrote this piece when I returned from that wonderful trip and promptly forgot about it. I recently …
Grilled Provolone with Blood Orange Reduction (Provola alla Griglia con Riduzione dell’Arancia Rossa)
The magnificent blood orange – a small burst of sunshine for a chilly winters day. Our little local farmer’s market has recently started carrying these …