Stuffed flanks steaks look impressive are easy to make and they are versatile – you can stuff them with just about anything. I like to use a combination of broccoli rabe and spinach. Frozen spinach makes the broccoli rabe less bitter. Frozen spinach is also less bitter than using fresh spinach. The easiest way to […]
Pistachio Crumb Crusted Swordfish with Mint Salsa
Sicilian cuisine makes use of locally sourced ingredients such as its famous pistachios, which are grown in the town of Bronte. This simple recipe incorporates pistachios into a breading mixture that can be used as a coating for fish (such as cod, halibut, salmon, and tuna), and boneless steaks. Pistachios have a high fat […]
Sicilian Style Chopped Salad
Green leaf salads can get boring at times. I never get bored with chopped salads of any kind. This Sicilian chopped salad is made with tomato, cucumber, bell pepper, celery, olives, and capers. My mother Maria makes this salad often, especially in the summer using fresh home-grown tomatoes. She also cures her own green olives […]
Linguine with Red Clam Sauce
It’s customary in my family to prepare seafood for Christmas Eve dinner. Not quite the traditional seven courses but I make around three or four dishes because not everyone in the family is fond of seafood. The first course is always a pasta dish. Pasta with red clam sauce is quick and easy to prepare […]
Pumpkin Spice Anginetti Cookies
Anginetti, soft, cake-like, Italian cookies are usually lemon or vanilla flavored. But this basic cookie can be made in a variety of flavors. I had some canned pumpkin on hand that was slated for a pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving, but I decided not to make it because some of my guests didn’t like pumpkin pie. […]
Baked Cod a la Pizzaiola
Pizzaiola sauce is basically a marinara sauce seasoned with dried oregano. The Italian term “a la pizzaiola” refers to any dish that is made with this sauce. However, the term is seldomly used here in the States. Eggplant Parmesan and Chicken Parmesan are popular Italian dishes using pizzaiola sauce. This recipe was originally given […]
Roast Eggplant with Garlic, Cheese, and Herbs
My father loved to cook. This recipe is a simple dish my father made. It’s easy to prepare and so delicious. Fresh herbs, garlic, and cheese really make this eggplant dish flavorful. When buying eggplants, choose eggplants that are firm, shiny, and blemish-free. I recommend using the Italian or Globe variety for this recipe. They […]
Espresso and Anise Granita: Granita di Caffe e Anice
Granita is a popular frozen Italian dessert that is made with water, sugar, and various flavorings. Originally from Sicily, some of the more traditional and regional flavors are watermelon, lemon, almond, jasmine, mulberry, and coffee. Granita is sort of like sorbet and Italian ice except the granules are much larger. In Sicily, granita is sometimes […]
THE ULTIMATE CLASSIC LASAGNA – SICILIAN STYLE
When I make lasagna, I go all the way. If you’re going to go through all the trouble of making it, it might as well be a showstopper. Go big or go home is my motto when making lasagna. I like my lasagna five-layers high, with lots of cheese and smothered in a thick, flavorful […]
Layered Tomato Salad with Basil Chiffonade
Fresh garden tomatoes are on of the greatest pleasures of summer. I can’t wait to eat fresh picked tomatoes from the garden, farm stand, or farmers market. I loathe eating tomatoes from the supermarket, especially in the winter. They have little to no flavor. My dad grew the most amazing beefsteak tomatoes in his […]
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