Cactus pears are a popular fruit in Sicily.  These delicious and refreshing succulent fruits are called fichi d’india (Indian fig) or ficurinnia in the dialect.  Next to figs, it’s my second favorite fruit.  Granita is a Sicilian frozen ice dessert similar to sorbet or Italian ice, except the ice crystals are bigger.  Some popular flavors are […]

Primavera means springtime in Italian.  This recipe is a mélange of fresh spring vegetables – sautéed baby artichokes, asparagus, fava beans, and peas tossed with pasta, grated Parmesan cheese, and fresh ground black pepper.  It incorporates those vegetables that become available at the market starting in Spring.  It’s a relatively simple dish to make but […]

Rabbit is frequently eaten in Europe.  Unfortunately, it is not as popular in the US.  Domestically raised rabbit meat is lean and tastes very much like chicken in my opinion.  I’m lucky enough to have a butcher that carries it at a reasonable price.  It’s also available from a local farmer who specializes in selling […]

While vacationing at Niagara Falls one summer, my parents went to an Italian restaurant and witnessed a fastidious diner eating a dish of spaghetti with a fork in one hand and a pair of scissors in the other.  As he placed a forkful of pasta to his mouth, he proceeded to cut it with the […]

My Nonna (grandmother) Vincenza made bread just about every week.  She had to learn to make her own bread out of necessity during the war (WWII) when both bread and pasta were precious commodities.  When she came the United States she adapted her recipe for all-purpose flour – the only flour that was available at […]