Cracked Green Olives with Garlic and Parsley
The word schiaccate (scacciati in the Sicilian dialect) means crushed or smashed. These flavorful green olives are cracked open before being marinated in a garlicky …
Baked Bay Scallops Gratinate
Our family celebrates Christmas with a traditional seafood dinner on Christmas Eve, as most Italians do. This year I decided to make baked scallops instead …
Roasted Bell Pepper Rolls: Involtini di Peperoni
These roasted peppers rolls make a stunning presentation for a holiday appetizer or as a side dish. You can use roasted peppers in a jar …
Spinach Arancini: Arancini agli Spinaci
Arancini are stuffed rice balls. They are a popular street food in Sicily. The most traditional fillings are tomato ragù and cheese with ham. I heard …
Potato Crocche: Crocche di Patate
Although we are more familiar with the French croquette, potato crocchè (crocchè di patate) – small parcels of mashed potato with egg and cheese, coated …
Calamari Salad with Green Olives and Capers
Calamari salad makes a great antipasto dish or side salad, served either chilled or at room temperature. It is similar in flavor to octopus salad but …
Stuffed Baby Eggplants in Tomato Sauce
The humble eggplant, to the Sicilian cook, is like clay to a sculptor. It can be molded, shaped, and interpreted in limitless ways. Baby eggplants …
Panelle Crepes: Chickpea Crepes
Occasionally I get cravings for panelle, a highly nutritious Sicilian snack food. Panelle are basically fritters made of chickpea (garbanzo bean) flour. They are not difficult …
Ricotta Torte: Torta di Ricotta
Whenever I make a dish that has ricotta cheese in it, I reminisce about the time I lived in Sicily. One evening we had a …
Rapini and Ricotta Crostini
The neighbors along our street get together twice a month for drinks and appetizers. It’s BYO (bring your own) drinks and an appetizer to share …
