Frittata with Fresh Black Truffles

Frittata with Fresh Black Truffles

Wow, was I excited when I walked into Cavalli Caffe for an espresso macchiato on a recent Saturday morning. Piero, the truffle guy from Tuscany, was there and he had truffles, the “Diamonds of the Kitchen”, dug up in Tuscany just 2 days before. He 

My Family Christmas Menu Suggestions

My Family Christmas Menu Suggestions

Some say that the most important meal this season is the Christmas Eve fish dinner. I’m doing the Neapolitan-inspired Feast of Seven Fishes, La Festa dei Sette Pesci. But you gotta eat after everyone is done opening all their presents Christmas day, right? When I’m 

Christmas Eve Feast of 7 Fish Recipe Roundup

Christmas Eve Feast of 7 Fish Recipe Roundup

I’ll be with family and friends for Christmas. Our Neapolitan family tradition is to prepare a 7-fish Christmas Eve dinner, La Festa dei Sette Pesci. Seven fish unless I’m with the Sicilian branch of the family, then it’s 13! I hope you will be with 

Turkey, Stuffing & Gravy the Italian-American Way

Turkey, Stuffing & Gravy the Italian-American Way

This year I’m making a roasted boneless turkey breast stuffed with spinach and prosciutto. But I’m thinking fondly of my whole succulent roasted turkey and stuffing. Did I make the wrong choice for my Thanksgiving table? Nope, I’ve gotten over my ambivalence. I’m sticking with the 

Roasted Turkey Breast with Spinach & Prosciutto Stuffing

Roasted Turkey Breast with Spinach & Prosciutto Stuffing

This is part two of our Thanksgiving special. Check out part one here. I’m not in the mood to roast a whole turkey this year so I came up with this easy tasty boneless breast roast that’s ready after about 90 minutes in a hot 

Pumpkin Ricotta Cheesecake

Pumpkin Ricotta Cheesecake

Want a light dessert for your holiday table? I love this ricotta cheesecake with pumpkin as an end to a fall meal. It’s a nice change from the heavier New York cheesecake. Pumpkin ricotta cheesecake is easy to make. It doesn’t have a pastry crust 

Mashed Potatoes with Roasted Garlic & Olive Oil

Mashed Potatoes with Roasted Garlic & Olive Oil

This is part one of a 2 part Thanksgiving special. Stay tuned for part two next week. Easy and delicious, mashed potatoes flavored with mellow roasted garlic and extra virgin olive oil, pairs well with meat, fish or poultry. My Mom didn’t call them mashed potatoes, she called 

Squash Blossom Sauced Ravioli from North Beach’s New Italian Homemade Company

Squash Blossom Sauced Ravioli from North Beach’s New Italian Homemade Company

The Italian Homemade Company opened in North Beach on Columbus between Filbert & Greenwich a few days ago. I visited this morning for the first time. It was like stopping by someone’s kitchen in northern Italy. I’m making a light pasta cream sauce with zucchini 

Hamburgers with Cheese In & Out

Hamburgers with Cheese In & Out

Here’s a twist to your standard hamburger. Since it’s reported that Americans eat 3 hamburgers a week I thought you’d want to customize one. Mix in some chopped garlic, parsley and Worcestershire sauce to perk up the beef. I stuff mine with fresh mozzarella and 

Panzanella: Summer Tomato & Bread Salad

Panzanella: Summer Tomato & Bread Salad

A few days ago in a post on my pasta e fagioli video episode, Markus asked that I make panzanella, a simple Tuscan peasant summer salad. I said I would when the summer tomatoes hit the farmers market. The first crop of Early Girls won’t be 

Limoncello: Sunshine in a Glass

Limoncello: Sunshine in a Glass

When some people have a lemon they make lemonade. When I have lemons I make limoncello, the famous liqueur from Sorrento on the Bay of Naples. Limoncello is sunshine in a bottle. One sip and I overflow with memories of Sorrento, Capri and the Amalfi Coast, 

Torta Pasqualina: Easter Greens & Ricotta Cake

Torta Pasqualina: Easter Greens & Ricotta Cake

Don’t miss the next recipe video: Subscribe now to my YouTube channel. Easter is a relaxed holiday. There’s a saying “Natale con i tuoi. Pasqua con chi vuoi.” Christmas with your family. Easter with whomever you like. In Italy the Easter celebration spills over to Monday, called 

Baby Artichokes: Eat the Whole Thing

Baby Artichokes: Eat the Whole Thing

Baby artichokes are in the market at a very attractive price. I bought some to create a crispy delight. Be sure to buy plenty. This is another one of those treats that gets poached off the stove by family and friends before the baby artichokes 

Pasta Primavera: Bow tie pasta with early spring vegetables

Pasta Primavera: Bow tie pasta with early spring vegetables

Don’t miss the next recipe video: Subscribe now to my YouTube channel. I love this time of year when the first of the early spring vegetables start to hit the market. Pencil-thin asparagus, tiny peas, and tender fava beans are among my favorites, so I just had 

Celebrate St. Joseph’s Day

Celebrate St. Joseph’s Day

Move over St. Patrick. The Feast of St. Joseph, Father’s Day in Italy is this Wednesday. Zeppole di San Giuseppe is one of my favorite Neapolitan pastries. But I only make these pastry cream filled puffs topped with an Amarena cherry once a year, on