Pork Sausage and Lentils (Cotechino e Lenticchie) Serves 4-6 Pork Sausage and Lentils is a traditional New Year’s dish in Italy. Lentils are purported to bring wealth and good fortune. In Lombardy dialect zecchini – coins from the 1500’s – were also called lenticchie, which gave rise to lentil’s association with prosperity and good health….
Holiday
Covid Christmas in Rome 2020
Covid Christmas in Rome 2020 is a quite different holiday from the usual. Italians are spending this holiday season in quasi-lockdown which has naturally impacted so many businesses, from hotels to restaurants and more.The hotel industry has been particularly hard hit by Covid and many, if not most, hotels are closed. This year my annual…
Rimessa Roscioli and the Wine Club – Podcast Episode 41
If you’re looking for a wonderful place to eat in Rome that has incredible and unique wines with a vast cellar, plus its very own bespoke Wine Club then Rimessa Roscioli fits the bill.Today I chatted with Lindsay Gabbard from Rimessa Roscioli, about their wines and their bespoke Wine Club that features smaller artisanal wineries…
Holiday Gift Guide for the Chef & Passionate Home Cook – Podcast Episode 39
It’s holiday gift giving time and I’ve got you covered with tons of great suggestions! I reached out to chefs, culinary professionals and passionate home cooks alike and they shared their ideas for great holiday gifts. (Check out all the links throughout this post!)In this podcast episode Michele Di Pietro and I chat about the…
Pumpkin Bread, or Muffins
This recipe is the only Pumpkin Bread recipe that I have been using for decades without changing a single thing in the recipe. I make it any time of the year, but especially around the holidays when pumpkins are in season. Now that we are in lockdown I’m using up a lot of the frozen…
Castagnole di Carnevale, a Delicious Mardi Gras Dessert!
Castagnole di Carnevale are a wonderful treat for Mardi Gras! Italian tradition has it that just before the forty days of lent when one feels compelled to give up tasty goodies, is the time to indulge in sweet, fried foods. Castagnole have been part of this tradition since the 17th century, along with frappe and a…
Easy Chocolate Truffles
My sister made these Easy Chocolate Truffle for a recent cookie exchange party and as she described them to me I knew they were a winner! Then when I saw a picture of them I was completely sold. The flavor is so rich and delightful, and incredibly chocolatey, you think you’re eating truffles. And so…
White Chocolate with Dried Fruit & Nuts
White Chocolate with Dried Fruit & Nuts is so easy to make: A guest brought this to a party at our home: white chocolate with pistachios and dried fruits. Tasty and gorgeous! So easy to make: Melt 300 grams of white chocolate over double boiler, then use a metal spatula to spread thinly on oven…
Holiday Gift Guide – Top Gifts for the Home Cook!
It’s the time of year when everyone is scrambling for that last minute perfect gift for friends and family. If you have an aspiring chef or an avid home cook in your family or among your friends here’s my Holiday Gift Guide – Top Gifts for the Home Cook. It’s my go-to list of absolute…
Christmas in Rome 2019 – what to see and do!
Christmas in Rome 2019 is all about sharing time with family and friends and enjoying wonderful food! The city is increasingly filled with lovely holiday decor interspersed with beautiful nativity scenes. If you’re here over the holidays make a point of strolling around and tasting all the seasonal goodies. Here are some of my favorite…
Radicchio Ravioli with Chestnut Cream, Sizzled Pork Jowl and Fried Sage
When fall rolls around it’s time to make dishes that bring together some of the season’s best ingredients. Radicchio Ravioli with Chestnut Cream, Sizzled Pork Jowl and Fried Sage is one of those dishes! This recipe was adapted from a La Cucina Italiana recipe. Since these delicious ravioli can be made in advance and frozen they…
Roman Style Stuffed Artichokes
Roman Style Stuffed Artichokes are delicious served with a few slices of lemon and some calamint leaves. All winter long the market is full of globe, or Roman, artichokes. There are so many delicious ways to prepare them, but the best way is Roman style stuffed artichokes, or Carciofi alla Romana. I usually buy artichokes…