I have been pretty much MIA all summer long. Time just flies so fast. But while there is still a little of summer left, there is just enough time to make this easy zucchini frittata. Read More
In Italy, we often have lots of left over panettone after Christmas. The question is – what to do with it all? Read More
A few weeks ago, we had a big birthday celebration for my son with lots of his friends. So how exactly do you keep a bunch of 10 year old Italian boys happy at a birthday party? With pizzette of course! These mini pizzas will make just about anyone happy – – adults included. Read More
Recipe – Homemade Nutella – I came across a recipe in an Italian cooking magazine for homemade Nutella. I was so excited about making the candy bar in a jar on my own! Read More
Polpette di Carne are just meatballs. AGAIN the Italians can make something so crude sounding in English sound so fab in their language. Anyway, these polpette are often served with a tomato sauce, but in my house, they are fried up and served as is, usually with a side salad – after the pasta of course. Speaking of which, Italians do not eat spaghetti with meatballs. They don’t mix the two. More on this subject can be found in this excellent article from the Smithsonian www.smithsonianmag.com. Make sure to scroll down to the end of the page to have a look at one of the sweetest scenes from the Disney movie, “Lady and the Tramp.”
INGREDIENTS
24 ounces ground beef
6 ounces Italian sausage (casing removed)
2 cloves garlic minced
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
3/4 cup Pecorino or Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 egg yolk
salt
pepper
oil for frying
METHOD
1. In a large bowl, mix ground beef and sausage.
2. Add garlic, parsley, breadcrumbs and cheese. Mix by hand until all ingredients are incorporated.
3. Add cream, egg, salt and pepper working again by hand and making sure all ingredients are mixed.
4. Form meatballs into the shape of a somewhat flattened tennis ball.
5. In a large skillet, heat cooking oil on medium-high heat. Add the meatballs, working in batches if necessary, cook for about 4-5 minutes on each side. Lower heat to medium and cook until golden, about another 5-8 minutes.
So when I post recipes, I always include a photo of the finished product. Usually something like this photo above. And sometimes I even include pics of how to prepare the recipe with a set of photos similar to the group below. But the reality? Just take a look at the next three photos. Read More
Here is an “Italy, so hello to America” recipe. A true crostata is NOT made with pie crust. The crust is almost the same, but there will be eggs added to the mix and sometimes even vanilla. I love, love, love pie crust, so I make mine with pie crust. Read More
With eggplant in season, take advantage of the period and prepare this classic dish that is always a crowd pleaser: eggplant parmesan otherwise known as parmigiana di melanzane, or melanzane alla parmigiana or simply: parmigiana. Read More
So easy, so delicious and no oven involved! I can’t really bake so of course the tiramisu is one of my go-to desserts. I did a little research to see where this “classic” Italian dessert originated from and as it turns out, it is not so classic after all.
In Italy, “La Bella Figura” does not completely relate to having a beautiful body or figure, but it is somewhat linked. La Bella Figura is an approach to life – a philosophy. Read More
As an adult, I was never much into Valentine’s Day. I admit it. It seemed so contrived – like a forced display of love. And nothing makes me more crazy than something that seems forced. One day in talking this over with my sis, she totally convinced me otherwise. “Why would you not want to celebrate a day dedicated to love?” I don’t know what happened, but when I heard those words, it just clicked with me that Valentines’s can be what you want it to be. It does not have to be cheesy and over the top, but can be just what YOU want it to be. Read More
