If you’ve been to the Jewish Ghetto in Rome, you might have come across Pizza Ebraica before. For those unfamiliar, Pizza Ebraica isn’t pizza at all. It’s actually a kind of cookie – a rather large cookie! Pizza Ebraica is a specialty from the Roman-Jewish culinary repertoire. (Which is a treasure trove of delectable delights!) It is a very rustic cookie, filled with nuts, raisins, candied fruit, oil, white wine, flour, almond flour and little else. It is surprisingly delicious.
I must admit that before my Aunt Rose served me her Italian Lentil Soup (Zuppa di Lenticchie) years ago, I’d never liked lentil soup. What I’d tasted previously was always boring and poorly prepared and I just thought that it was bland “health food”. This soup, however, is delicious, comforting, and satisfying. It’s exactly what I want to eat when the weather gets cool. I eat it all fall and winter long and never tire of it. It’s a family favorite.
Today I want to talk to you about an interesting and unique recipe from the Emilia-Romagna region called Spoja Lorda (spoya lordah). Spoja Lorda is a stuffed fresh pasta that’s filled with cheese and traditionally served in broth. It’s perfect for the bitter cold weather we’ve been having lately. For those of you intimidated by stuffed pasta making, it could be a perfect recipe to start with. Compared to others, it’s very simple to prepare. Even better, it is delicious! It’s an excellent dish to make you happy, keep you warm, and give you comfort in the dead of winter.
I have been eating these Calabrian Stuffed Eggplants, called Melanzane Ripiene alla Calabrese, my whole life. Frankly, I can think of no other dish that has so much meaning to me. As I was planning my Christmas menus this year, it occurred to me that I should probably write the recipe down once and for all, so that I could pass it on and share it with others. Up until now, I’ve been preparing the dish like an Italian, all by eye. Some people aren’t comfortable with that, so I tested the recipe twice last week to get it just…
If you have been lucky enough to visit Italy, it’s likely that you have already visited Rome, Venice, and Florence. Say that you decide to come back though. Where should you go next? In my opinion, I think you should consider Turin. It’s a beautiful city that has a lot to offer. Picture France and Italy having a baby! While there are many reasons to visit the city, below I give you my top 10 reasons to visit Turin.
I adore making fresh pasta. I adore eating pasta. Unfortunately, I can’t do either as much as I’d wish due the reality of my slowing metabolism. (Grrr…) Therefore, when I have the opportunity to do both, I want it to be special and worth my while. This elegant lasagna with mushrooms, ham, and béchamel, celebrating fall mushrooms, and fresh, silky, egg pasta, fit the bill this past weekend.
It may not surprise you to hear that we have had more guests since moving to Italy than we’ve ever had in our entire lives… People seem to want to come to Italy. Go figure! One of the most frequent questions I get from visitors is, “Do you have any restaurant recommendations?” As a consequence, I have written many an email with a list of my favorite spots. I thought I would make my life easier and hopefully yours, by writing about some of the eateries that stand out to me. Today I’m going to talk about the Antica Trattoria…
It’s that wonderful time of year when all sorts of glorious vegetables are in season and at their peak. One such vegetable is that workhorse – zucchini. I feel like I could eat it almost every day and never tire of it. It’s so versatile, reasonable, and simple to prepare. Even though it’s available year-round, during summer it has much more flavor. Do you need a new way to prepare it? If so, try this classic dish from the Campania region called Zucchine alla Scapece.
My family and I are visiting Spain for the first time this summer and I’ve been researching for months to ensure that we get the most out of our trip. I want to make sure that we see the sights we need to see and, importantly for me, eat well while we’re at it. It occurred to me that I see many visitors in Italy eating inferior food at touristy places and I thought it might be useful to give some tips on how to avoid that. You do want to eat well while in Italy, don’t you? Isn’t that…
Let’s talk about toys today! Toys for cooks! If you’re anything like me, then food is a major focus of any travel that you do. Obviously, dining out is important, but as a cook, so are cookbooks and kitchenware. Today, that’s what I’m going to help you find in my adopted home. What are my top 7 kitchenware stores in Bologna? What can you expect to find? I’m here to help.