Fava beans have been a food staple throughout the Mediterranean and Middle East since ancient times.  Fava beans, also known as broad beans, are very nutritious.  Fresh and dried fava beans are a fundamental food in Sicilian cuisine.  In Sicily, Maccu – an ancient dish made of mashed or pureed dried fava beans and fennel […]

To be honest with you, I could give a dissertation on the uses of breadcrumbs in Sicilian cuisine. Throwing leftover bread away was considered a sin, and frugal housewives cleverly used bread crumbs to stretch out meat dishes. These delicious seasoned bread crumbs are used to coat almost anything conceivably edible, from fish to asparagus. […]

Years ago, more like ages ago, I came across a recipe for Italian ricotta cake. It was either in the New York Daily News or the New York Times – I can’t remember which.  Unfortunately, the original newspaper cutout has since disintegrated into the oblivion of other clipped recipes that have ended up who knows […]

It’s Sunday, and I decided I wanted to make a roast chicken today, one of my favorite comfort foods to prepare on such a cold blustery day.  I’m also feeling a bit lazy.  It’s really easy to prepare – you just season the bird and let the oven do the rest of the cooking.  Can’t […]

It was a real treat for my sister and me when our mother made stuffed bell peppers.  As children, we were not fond of eating meat, but these peppers—filled with a savory rice and meat stuffing and topped with tomato sauce—made us forget that there was actually meat in the dish.  I’ve since overcome my […]