Superstitions abound on this day; the dreaded Friday the 13th. Visions of black cats crossing your path, walking under open ladders, seeing the triple digits 666; all seemingly never good to encounter. Some people live in fear of Friday the 13th. They’ll have to get through May 13 the best they can this year, but…
Tag: Italian
Gelato! Ice Cream vs il Gelato; There IS a Difference!
If you’ve ever visited Italy, you’ve more that likely had the pleasure of experiencing velvety, luscious Italian gelato or possibly an icier version similar to American ice milk gone Italian ice. Maybe you assumed the only reason it seemed richer and more flavorful than American ice cream was because you were enjoying it in the…
Wednesday’s Guest Chefs, Recipes, Follower’s Critiques and Photos! Today, Pasta Carbonara Una Pentola
Wednesday’s blogs have been dedicated to Guest Chefs and their recipes and also pictures and comments of Once Upon a Spice’s recipes prepared by our friends, family & followers! If you are interested in becoming a Guest Chef, would like me to share your blog, or have photos and comments about our recipes please contact…
Crema Greek Yogurt Pane: Big Flavor with No Biga!
According to Wiki, Biga is a type of pre-fermentation used in Italian baking. Many popular Italian types of bread, including ciabatta, are made using a biga. Using a biga adds complexity to the bread’s flavor and is often used in breads that need a light, open texture with holes. Apart from adding to flavor and…
Cioccolato e Caramello Gelato Affogato
What a big name for such a simple decadent treat! Serve affogato as a dinner aperitif—one won’t spoil your appetite. Or as an after dinner treat in place of dessert.Anytime you wish to experience the harmonious blend of coffee, cream and chocolate. Let your imagination run wild with the additions: Kahlua, chocolate fudge, sprinkles, Frangelico, caramel…
Grandpa Louie’s Sicilian Stuffed Artichokes Carciofo
Few things ignite the deep flames of the fondest memories of my childhood than spending moments with Grandpa Louie and Grandma Lena at my parent’s cottage by the lake. If my siblings and I were fortunate enough, we would experience one of these three, rare occurrences; a sample of a freshly plucked purple fig from our…
Pasta Sauce: The Nectar of the gods? a little history
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…
Parmesan Crusted Cheddar Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Una Pentola (One-Pot) Pasta Aglio e Olio
This is a simple, quick and very flavorful poultry recipe; Suitable for a quiet dinner at home or with friends during a dinner party. The Dubliner cheese provides a sweet, salty and pungent edge, not to mention a pleasant surprise when the recipient cuts into the center to find all of the gooey cheesy loveliness!…
Napolitana e Siciliano Easter Egg Lasagna: Italian Fare For New Beginnings
This is a quick and easy version of my Mama Carmela’s famous Easter Lasagna. The addition of hard-boiled eggs and sliced meatballs were influenced by her northern Italian background and make this dish extra delicious and one of a kind! I’ve adapted her recipe and made it “today” friendly for ease of preparation by using…
Italy’s Easter Eggs & Easter Friday
In Italy, there are no Easter egg hunts, no marshmallow Peeps and definitely no jelly beans. Instead, there are chocolate eggs — massive, elaborately decorated, beautifully wrapped chocolate Easter eggs that fill shop windows across the country. The sweet treats are considered Italians’ food gift of choice at this time of year; each one comes…
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