Feast of Flowers
“Flowers always make people better, happier and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine to the soul” – Luther Burbank Sunshine and happiness certainly radiate from our zucchini plot each summer when we begin to pick their golden yellow blooms. The first bouquet is always enjoyed as frittelle (or piteyi in our Calabrese dialect); […]
The Smell of Summer
If you had to encapsulate summer into a scent, what would it be? The sweet smell of coconut present in sunscreen or tropical drinks? The salty air of the sea? The perfume of flowers in full bloom? The smokiness of a campfire burning? For me, that defining scent would have to be piteyi i hiuri […]
Granita: Glacial Greatness
Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, known for its white sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters. Summer days here are either sunny or very sunny with an average temperature of is 34˚. It is the ideal location for sun worshippers wishing to spend long days by the sea being caressed by the heat of […]
Tiramisù: The Sweet Pick Me Up
Tiramisù, perhaps the most widely recognized dessert hailing from the Bel Paese. Its name literally translates to pick me up and rightfully so as this Italian confection lifts your spirits with every spoonful. Tiramisù is one of my favourite desserts; one that I will often order when dining out, and one that I make frequently […]
Tiramisù Tales
I remember taking a trip to Italy in the early 90’s and learning a new dessert recipe from my young aunt; a creamy and decadent cake that required no baking. That confection was tiramisù (whose name means “pick me up” or “cheer me up”), a trifle of sorts made by layering Savoiardi (Italian ladyfingers biscuits […]
Perennial Pizzelle
I have been baking cookies (among other things) since my early teens. My repertoire of biscuits began with chocolate chip cookies and expanded from there. Since starting my blog, I have taken a particular interest in traditional Italian cookies from Calabrese sussumelle and mastazzoli to the common confections of other regions in Italy. One cookie […]
Pizza Rustica: A Food Tradition Pie Like Very Much
When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, you’re probably envisioning a pizza rustica, which can certainly be defined as amore in my books. Pizza rustica is a dish that hails from Naples and goes by various names including Pizza Ripiena, Pizza Chiena, and Torta Pasqualina. It translates to stuffed pizza but […]
Bonding over Braciole
I have mentioned on many an occasion that my introduction came at an early age from my father. As I child I would climb up onto a kitchen chair to stand next to him at the counter and get my hands into whatever he was preparing. The ritual of working alongside my father is not […]
Kitchen Positivity
This morning I was on the phone with one of my dearest friends, catching up and checking in on each other. In that conversation we both talked about the same thing but had two completely different perspectives. She said she couldn’t believe that it had only been one week of social distancing while my response […]
Certified True Italian Taste
It is often said that imitation is the highest form of flattery. When it comes to the authenticity and quality of Italian products however, it is anything but flattering. Each year, trade in fake Italian goods costs the economy billions of euros. The number of “fake” products in the food market is staggering with imitations […]