Whenever we go on a trip, I always have to search out traditional desserts, in my first trip to Sicily in 2005 for the holidays I found quite a few I loved. This cookie is made all over Sicily in different versions. Shaped like a ravioli, or the smaller cookies shown here, tube like and…
Butter as Food
Lelio Botteri and Mario Fiandino at Golosario Often, we think of butter as part of a pantry, to be used for cooking but not really standing on its own as a food. Living in Italy and France, I have had artisan butters which deserve such respect.I was recently asked to participate in a butter “tasting…
La Vendemmia- Schiacciata con L’uva
In Italy, each region has seasonal dishes which one can make once a year. September is the wine harvest, vendemmia, and in Tuscany we make the Schiacciata con l’uva. A simple bread dough, often enriched with a rosemary-infused olive oil, is rolled out into a top and bottom layer and filled with Concord…
Ode to the Eggplant- Melanzane al Cioccolato
The poor eggplant, melanzane in Italian; from mela–non sana, “not healthy apple”. The eggplant, like the potatoes, bell peppers and chili peppers are edible nightshade vegetables. When these foods were first introduced into the Italian diet, the first reaction was that they were not good for you and were often planted for their flowers in…
Too Many Tomatoes-Sicilian Tomato Jam
Last week I made some cantaloupe jam based on a recipe I tasted in Sicily, outside Trapani. I went wild for the flavor. It was sweet, clean, fresh and complementary to freshly made ricotta. Imagine my surprise when my friend from the other side of the island ( near Catania) Milena send me a…
Italian way to cool down
caffe shakerato, I asked for milk in mine When the temps rise here in Italy, the land that frowns on air-conditioning…. there are several ways to beat the heat. One of course is to get thee to a gelato shop NOW! There is one in almost every neighborhood, I suggest ordering the smallest size and…
World Nutella Day- for Carnevale!
Celebrate!It is NUTELLA DAY!!! The blogging world is a wonderful world. These two wild women have put together a fabulous way to bring joy into winter. Chocolate! February always makes one think of chocolate anyway, and this year it backs right up with Carnvale which inspired my recipe.Stop by Sara’s site, Ms Adventures in…
Sicilian Saturdays- Biscotti Reginelle
Entrance to the food market “CAPO” one of my favorites in Palermo When I was there in October they were preparing for several holidays, one of the largest, OgniSanti, where you honor the dead. As in Mexico, sugared figures are made. ( I WANT SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS!) Our guide was telling us as a small child,…