The days are growing ever shorter and that means thinking of really satisfying and warming food. How about an easy to make fish stew? Nothing could be easier or tastier. Fish Stew Serves 6 2 tbsp. olive oil1 carrot, minced1 celery stalk, minced1 small onion, minced1 1/…
Thanksgiving is some three weeks away and most people I know don’t even have it on their radar yet. And truth be told, that Norman Rockwell painting of grandma smiling with the bronzed to perfection turkey while the whole family sits around the dining room table and…
Gingersnaps Makes 3 dozen 3/4 cup unsalted softened butter 1 cup sugar 1 large egg, well beaten 1/4 cup molasses 2 cups sifted flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons ground ginger 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg 1…
Striano, Italy may not be a destination for many but for me it was a trip of a lifetime to see how San Marzano plum DOP tomatoes are processed for sale. Striano is in the province of Naples. I visited the Strianese Conserve s.r.l to get a better understanding of why thes…
I went overboard with basil plants this year and now I am inundated with it and there is only so much pesto and caprese salads one can make. I freeze a lot of the leaves, whole to use in winter soups and stews and came up with a really nice refreshing use for it for grill…
Here is an easy summer vegetable casserole dish; it starts at your grill. You can skip the grill part and just layer the raw veggies as described below but the flavor will not be as deep and delicious. Tomato, Zucchini and Eggplant Casserole Serves 6 to 8 ½ cup ex…
Now is the time to gather up all those luscious and super fresh from the earth veggies from your garden to make classic ciambotta. That is an Italian word that means “all mixed up” as in this wonderful mixed vegetable dish. You can use whatever you have …
Julia Child would have been 100 years old on August 15. She was born in 1912 and I always remember her birthday because mine is in August too and that was a reminder for me to send her a birthday card. She was such a lady that she would send me a return typed postcard tha…
Plums are in season and I wait all year so I can make my mother’s fabulous plum tart. This recipe comes from my latest cookbook Ciao Italia Family Classics and if you like this, you will love the over 200 other recipes in the book. Fresh Plum Tart Makes one 9 inch…
Cubanelle peppers, sometimes referred to as Italian frying peppers, are a must grow in my garden because I love to fill their cavities with everything from sausage and onions to rice and whole grains like farro which is an old wheat berry enjoying renewed interest today f…