This is a quintessential example of vintage Northern Italian Peasant fare. Since we have fountains of fresh rosemary flourishing in our Arizona garden and are always searching for ways to put this pungent, woody, citrusy herb to good use, I decided to showcase a Mama Carmela classic. This luscious, lemony, herb-packed delight was my mama’s “go to” Sunday chicken dish…
Tag: Italia
“Mama Carmela”
This is a vintage, 1945, wedding photograph of my lovely Mama Carmela–the inspiration behind “Once Upon a Spice.” Today would have been her 93rd birthday. My blog is dedicated to her and her passionate love of family and cooking. This strong, sweet, intelligent, loving, Italian woman ignited my culinary enthusiasm at the tender age of…
7 Prosperous Good Luck Foods for the New Year
“Out with the old in with the new.” This age old wish rings true in most every home on New Year’s Eve and Day. Why not welcome in the year proper with the addition of your favorite foods to ensure good fortune? Here are the wondrous 7 to help lead the way. Fish Fish are…
Guest Chef Cookie Exchange! Anna’s Italian Orange Ricotta Cookies Scented with Cardamom
Anna’s Italian Orange Scented Ricotta Cookies These luscious Ricotta cookies are typically flavored with lemon. However, Anna prefers a more distinctive orange flavor kissed with cardamom. She uses whole milk ricotta only; giving them a soft, cake-like texture and the fresh orange zest imparts a burst of bright citrus essence. The icing also has orange…
Hungry Yet? If So Try Tantalizing Tuscan Turkey Tetrazzini
Here’s one more luscious recipe for your Thanksgiving leftover turkey. We smoked a 17 pounder (there’s only 2 of us) and had abundance so I could not omit one of my favorite turkey recipes. This formula is versatile and tuna can be substituted for other times of the year. It’s creamy, slightly cheesy and true…
Sausage Stuffing Italia–My Go To Thanksgiving Recipe
Simple & Gorgeously Delish Holiday Stuffing
Pasta alla Carbonara Una Pentola “One Pot” Version & a little history
We all know what pasta embodies, but have you ever wondered what “carbonara” means? Carbonaro means charcoal in Italian, but to this day, the connection to this savory, flavorsome dish remains uncertain. Some food historians believe this pasta may have been popular among charcoal makers working in the Apennine Mountains; or perhaps it is called…
Guest Chef! Sarah’s Healthy Lower Fat Italian Meatball Sub Super Bowl Bake
On Facebook, my good friend Thad posted a fabulous looking meatball sub casserole recipe a couple of weeks back, so my wheels started to turn and simply had to develop my own. My friend Sarah and I wanted to create a feel good, healthier recipe that was, of course, delicious, but with a much lower…
Tuscan Baked Rosemary Lemon Chicken
This luscious, lemony, herb-packed delight was my mama’s “go to” Sunday chicken dish and remains mine today. I can still smell the herbs permeating mama’s kitchen as the chicken roasted in the oven; seemingly for hours until we all sat down to the much-awaited feast. My siblings and I used to battle over the golden, garlicky,…
Balsamic: Real Deal or Carbon Copy?
Did you know that real aged balsamic vinegar actually costs anywhere from $75 to $400 or more? Here are a few reasons why: Balsamic vinegar is NOT like other vinegars. What defines vinegar is the fermentation of alcohol — typically wine but also beer or cider — into acetic acid. Red wine vinegar, white wine…
Once Upon a Spice 