Duck Duck Risotto!
Risotto—rice cooked with broth to a creamy consistency—is a blank canvas, perfect for creating a dish that has your unique fingerprints. But with all the …
Vibrantly Tasty: Beet and Mascarpone Sorbetto
The explosion of vegetables and fruits in summer never ceases to amaze me. I feel like a little kid unwrapping a present each and every …
Don’t Throw Out That Tomato Water!!
I was totally and utterly WRONG. No doubt about it. I have noticed a few recipes that have, over the past month, called for the …
Baked ricotta with blueberry compote
Fresh local berries are everywhere right now – supermarkets, farmers markets, people’s backyards, even Costco. And I see little point in cooking these lovely little …
A Magical Silver Thread: Fresh Cod in ‘Potacchio’
Many, many years ago, I imagine our great grandfather, Gaspare Becci, staring out over the baby blue Adriatic sea as he slowly made his way …
Eggplant Parmigiana warfare
I hated eggplant as a kid. So did my sister, Michele. And my Mom’s attempts to get us to eat it were met with fierce …
The Stuff of Dreams: Rustic Strawberry Crostata
In my imaginary (yet-maybe-someday) life, I live on a little Italian hillside – nestled between the dreamy blue-tinged sea and vibrant fragrant hills of …
A Tasty Kettle of Fish: Adriatic Seafood Brodetto
My paternal grandfather grew up on Italy’s Adriatic coast in the small village of Senigaliia in Le Marche. I remember little of my grandfather as …
Panna cotta with peach compote and pistachio shortbread cookies
OK, first off I have to admit that I totally ripped off the idea of serving this panna cotta in little flip-top jars from my …
Zucchini blossom and ricotta agnolotti (Agnolotti di fiore di zucca e ricotta)
Summer is here! We’ve had an early start here in LA. I recently went to the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market looking for something summery! I …
Food Memories: Grilled Swordfish with Chickpea Puree and Salmoriglio Sauce
With a beautiful spring day in full bloom, I finally had time to plant my new little herb garden – basil, oregano, parley, tarragon, mint, …
Vignarola: A Celebration of Spring
Artichokes. Fava beans. Asparagus. Peas. Ramps. Spring’s glorious bounty is finally here after a long winter of turnips, potatoes, rutabagas and butternut squash. Don’t get …