Zuppa Inglese is an Italian cream rum cake or dessert that requires no baking. It is wonderfully rich, easy and delicious! And the presentation, in a trifle bowl, is really quite lovely and impressive! My Mama prepared it for special occasions & I have adapted it for modern tastes. I am going against the grain…
Pasta or Spaghetti Sauce: The Nectar of the gods? Could be!
Spaghetti or pasta with tomato sauce, also known as marinara, is a staple of southern Italian cookery or almost anywhere that southern Italians live today. However, spaghetti with marinara hasn’t always been a pillar of southern Italian cuisine. It’s actually a relative newcomer. Let’s briefly touch on pasta. Once upon a time every school child…
Chicken D’Olivo Bello
This incredible Northern Italian dish includes every flavor pleasing to the palate; sweet, salty, sour and savory. This is a recipe which I adapted from my mother’s northern Italian influence and a brilliant Sicilian chef whose shared expertise I hold dear as well. As a young teen, I fondly remember visiting my mother’s homeland near Naples,…
The Roman Spring of Ms., Mrs., Mr….? Un Piccolo (a bit) of info on “An Italian Spring”
Spring is a fantastic time to travel in Italy. Temperatures warm up, flowers are in bloom, and there are fewer tourists than in summer. Here’s a look at what Italy has to offer in spring. Why Travel to Italy in Spring? Beat the heat and tourist crowds of summer. Find reasonable airfares and hotel prices….
Ciabatta Bread the Pane of all Pane
Ciabatta Bread There are few things as fragrant and flavorful as fresh baked bread! The aroma of baking bread brings back memories of hearth and home and the warmth and love provided there. The spongy inner crumb and crusty outer layer makes this bread suitable for all needs; it is superb sandwich bread, amazing toasted,…
The “Sandwich” by Any Other Name…
Old, but New – Panini, Crostini & Bruschetta As I mention in yesterday’s post, throughout the past, we Italians have always eaten bread with everything. In the history of Italian breads the concepts of a sandwich or as some know them “sangwich or samwich” most likely started out as peasant fare….
Ciabatta, Filone, Focaccia, Muffuletta, Vastedda, Ah pane!
Ciabatta, Filone, Focaccia, Muffuletta, Vastedda, Ah pane…“A bread by any other name would smell as sweet. I can sense Sir William Shakespeare rolling over in his grave as I write this… Today, I want to briefly delve into a little history of another Italian staple; Bread or as we Italian’s affectionately call it…
Italian Bacon & Egg Pasta with Tomatoes & Kale
Una Pentola (One-Pot) Bacon & Egg Pasta with Tomatoes & Kale Another perfect, simple, quick, easy and flavorful example of “Northern Italian Peasant” food at it’s finest! This recipe was inspired by my Mama Carmela’s love of fresh field greens. At the first sight of mustard greens, she would gather her tools and the hunt…
Polo’s Pasta? e “No!” A Few Words About Italy’s Staple
Since most all of my recipes will be centered around “Italy” now through the Easter celebration, today, I would like to share a bit about pasta; its origin, uses and some of my fondest childhood memories surrounding them. Nothing says Italy like its food, and nothing says Italian food like pasta. Wherever Italians immigrated they…
Pizzella Cannoli
Aka Pizzelle Pizzella – Native to Abruzzo, is a waffle-like cookie that varies between crisp and crunchy or soft and chewy depending on ingredients. This recipe makes the crisp, light version. The name comes from the Italian word “pizze” for round and flat. Traditional flavorings include anise, vanilla, and lemon zest. A pizzelle iron is…
Once Upon a Spice 