Have you ever had Pumpkin Jam? I personally love it and I also love the fact that it is really easy to make. This version also has a hint of freshly grated ginger to it, and I think it works really well with the pumpkin flavour. You can use this jam to make tarts, pies,…
Onigiri
Today I am going to share with you one of my favourite Japanese recipes: Onigiri – aka Japanese Rice Balls. As you know, in the last 2 years, my family and I have visited Japan twice (check out my 2015 post and my 2017 post). We literally love the country and its food! Not only,…
Homemade Pasta Made Simple
As you probably already know, in the past few months, I have been working really hard on a very exciting project. I know I have been keeping you on your toes, but the time has finally come to introduce my latest work of love: Homemade Pasta Made Simple.
Sweet Potato Mash
As you know, it is winter her in Australia and what better time of the year to make sweet potato mash? I usually add a hint of cinnamon to mine, as I think it goes really well with the sweetness of the sweet potatoes. You can serve this with different stews, but I think this…
Italian Salad
Some readers have asked me to share more Italian side dishes on the blog. I actually hadn’t realised that I didn’t have many! It’s probably because Italian side dishes are pretty easy and straightforward and I never think they are “blog worthy”. But then again, they may be straightforward for me, having grown up in…
Salt-Crusted Snapper
I am very excited about today’s recipe! Salt-Crusted Snapper is one of my mum’s signature dishes. In fact, she made it for us just a few days ago and I managed to get her recipe for it to share with all of you here on the blog! Aren’t you lucky? If you like fish, this…
Almond Shortbread Cookies
I know we have probably over eaten during these holidays, but if you are still craving cookies (I always am!), I have the perfect recipe for you! I made these Almond Shortbread Cookies for a friend who is gluten intolerant. I was actually going to make my Flourless Chocolate and Pear Cake (which is AMAZING!),…
Blueberry Lavender Syrup
I love today’s recipe. I am a huge fan of using edible flowers in cooking, especially in desserts and this Blueberry Lavender Syrup is a must-try recipe. It is very easy to make and the lavender adds a special touch to the (already delicious) blueberry syrup. Besides, I love how versatile this syrup is. You…
Milk Cream
Today I will take you all to India with me – to beautiful sunny Goa, to be precise – and I will show you how to make Milk Cream. Milk Cream is a cashew nut and milk fudge that is traditionally made by Goan Catholics for Christmas. It is very likely a local adaptation of…
Castagnaccio
Today I am back with a traditional Italian recipe: Castagnaccio. It is a typically autumnal dessert found in the Tuscany, Liguria, Piedmont, and Emilia-Romagna regions of Italy. It is made from a batter of chestnut flour, water, extra virgin olive oil, pine nuts, and raisins, which is mixed until smooth and then baked. There are…
Strawberry Granita
The weather here is getting warmer and strawberries are in season, sweet and full of flavour! So I didn’t think twice and took my ice cream machine out to make this easy and delicious Strawberry Granita! Italians are famous for their frozen treats and we often have granita for breakfast. Make sure to serve this strawberry…
Home-made Apple Pie Spice Mix
Living in Australia, I do not find many of the spice mixes available in North America (or in Europe), so I often make my own. Besides, these spice mixes are usually made by stirring together spices that are commonly available everywhere in the world. I already showed you how to make Cajun Seasoning, Pumpkin Pie…
Parmigiano Reggiano Brutti ma Buoni
Today’s recipe is a savoury variation of the more famous sweet Brutti ma Buoni (click here for the sweet recipe that I have already shared a while ago). Brutti ma Buoni are cookies made in Lombardy, the region I was born and grew up in, mainly to utilize leftovers – especially egg whites and nuts….
Passato di Verdure
Today I am going to share with you a typical Italian recipe: Passato di Verdure, aka Italian vegetable veloute. It is a very common soup and we often have it during the cold autumn and winter months. The truth is, there is no real recipe for Passato di Verdure, as its ingredients can vary from…
Home-made Doritos
Today’s recipe is addictive. I could eat a whole bowl of these without even realising it, so be advised! Ladies and gentlemen, I give to you Home-made Doritos! Yep, you read that right! I have a confession to make… whenever I am at a party and I see a bowl of these next to a…
Skinny Tuna Sushi Roll
Today I want to share with you one of my favourite recipes: Skinny Tuna Sushi Roll. While waiting for my gallbladder surgery I was on a strict low fat diet and this Skinny Tuna Sushi Roll was my dinner for almost 1 full month! I kept on making it, as it tasted really good even…
Pinzimonio
Today I want to share with you a traditional Italian recipe called Pinzimonio. It is more than just a recipe, it is a style of eating raw vegetables by dipping them into a vinaigrette. You can use the vegetables you prefer, based on the season. I like to use carrot sticks, celery sticks, fennel, radishes…
Frozen Banana Pops
I had some leftover bananas that needed to be eaten and I really didn’t want to make banana bread as I didn’t feel like baking. That’s when I remembered that I had seen banana pops all over the internet a while ago. As I didn’t remember the specific site where I had seen them, I…
Italian Grilled Vegetables
Grilled vegetables are a staple at our place especially in spring and summer. In fact, this recipe is dedicated to all my friends in the Northern hemisphere (though my readers who are going into winter should definitely bookmark it for later!). When I met my husband, he barely ate any vegetable. True story. But these…
Pineapple Coconut Banana Smoothie
Smoothies are always a great and healthy afternoon snack idea for kids. My children love them and it is a fantastic way to make them eat some fruits and use up some leftovers too. As a child, I would always ask my mother to make me a Banana and Pear Frullato (the Italian version of…
Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Salad
I often have salad for lunch and I like to jazz it up with different ingredients and flavours so as not to get too bored. Today I would like to share with you the recipe for a very satisfying salad made with grilled chicken. This is no ordinary grilled chicken though, it is marinated in…
Peanut Butter Nutella Banana Bites
Today’s recipe is a really quick and simple snack idea. These Peanut Butter Nutella Banana Bites are perfect to satisfy any sweet cravings you or your kids may have, as it is relatively healthy. The base of the dish is fruits after all… 😉 You can dose the ingredients as per your taste, so I haven’t put…
White Chocolate and Violet Truffles
When my parents were here for Christmas, the brought me some Violet essence that they had bought in France. I love to use flower essences in desserts. Jasmine is my favourite, but Orchid and Violet are a close second. Remember the recipe for my Jasmine and Mango Panna Cotta Shooters? And how about my Orchid…
Marzipan Lambs
Today’s recipe is a classic Sicilian sweet that is made and eaten to celebrate Easter. In Italian these delicious treats are called Pecorelle di Pasqua or Agnelli Pasquali which literally mean Easter Lambs. As they are made out of marzipan, I thought that Marzipan Lambs would be a better translation… at the end of the…
Snapper all’Acqua Pazza
I must admit, we don’t eat a lot of fish. I think it’s because my kids are not crazy about it, so I just find it easier to cook something that pleases everyone. On the other hand, I grew up in a family that LOVES fish and we would eat it at least 3 times…
Baileys, Chocolate and Salted Almonds Ice Cream
Baileys is my favourite “non-traditional” ice cream flavour. When I say non-traditional, I mean not sold in Italy when I was young. It’s a flavour that got introduced to the Italian market by a well known brand when during my teen age years and I have loved it ever since. I have already shared with…
Mushrooms in Escabeche
I love Spanish food, just as much as I love Spain. I really like the flavours and its simplicity and it reminds me of summer time, seaside and holidays! I enjoy making tapas, especially when I have people over or for special occasions. It’s a fun way to serve and taste many different dishes. I…
