I am enjoying the Italian springtime at the moment and I can’t help but thinking about the amazing tomato crop that will soon be available at the local markets. There is absolutely nothing better than ripe Italian tomatoes! I must say though, that Australia too grows some delicious tomatoes, like the ones in this recipe. …
Artichoke and Taleggio Risotto
Today I want to share another of my risotto recipes. As you know, I like risotto probably more than pasta and I make it often. Actually, as it can be made so quickly, I often make it for lunch when I am home alone. Yes, you read that right! Unlike what many people think, risotto…
Ravioli di Magro #SundaySupper
This week’s #SundaySupper theme is “Retro Food”. Ah, how fun is that? The thing is, being Italian, I have no idea what people in other countries used to cook and eat in the past… so, I had to resort to an Italian recipe. And I went for a classic. I must admit that this dish is…
Eggplant Sofficini
If you follow this blog, you will be already familiar with sofficini, as I have already published a Ham and Cheese Sofficini recipe and a Mushroom Sofficini recipe a while ago. For all the others who still do not know them, sofficini are delicious pockets of crunchy (yet soft) dough filled with all sorts of scrumptious cheesey…
Beetroot Pasta Hearts with Goat Cheese
As you know, I love to play around with pasta’s colours and shapes. With Valentine’s Day coming up in a couple of days, I thought heart shaped pasta would be in order. And to make it even more appropriate for the occasion, I thought of making it pink. You simply add some beetroot to your…
Cherry Tomato and Halloumi Bites
It’s the end of summer here. The kids are back in school (sigh) and we are enjoying the last days of warm weather. Wait, what? I think we will still have quite a few warm days around here, but let’s say that, “officially” summer is almost over. So, I am sharing one of those recipes…
Pumpkin Risotto with Gorgonzola Sauce
Today I am back with a typical Italian recipe. This is a dish that well represents Lombardy, the region where I was born. Milan is very famous for its risotto and pumpkin is often used in our cooking. Gorgonzola, my favourite cheese ever, is a blue cheese originally from the town of Gorgonzola, very close…
Cheese Mouse on a Cracker
Today’s post is not really a recipe, but I thought this Cheese Mouse on a Cracker looked too cute not to have a post of its own! All you need to make these “mice” are cheese spread triangles, black sesame seeds, salami and… crackers off course! I made these for Georgia’s 5th birthday party. The theme…
Sicilian Stuffed Artichokes
A little while ago, I was so lucky to find some amazing artichokes at the markets. I got a tray full of them… and made them in many different ways. Remember my Carciofi alla Trapanese recipe? Those too were part of this batch… Today, I will show you yet another way of preparing a delicious…
Crespelle Cake with Broccoli
A few months ago, I shared with you the recipe for another Crespelle “cake” made with asparagus and I liked it so much that I decided to make it again using other vegetables. This time, it’s broccoli. I adore broccoli, it is one of my favourite vegetables. I have adapted a classic pairing of Italian cuisine…
Cheese Bitterballen
The October Daring Cooks’ Challenge was brought to us by Andrea from 4pure. She introduced us to one of her family favorites which is soon to become one of yours, too. Welcome to the world of Dutch Bitterballen! Oh that sounded intriguing! I love discovering new dishes and this one sounded particularly yummy and… exotic. But…
Burrata and Truffle Oil Risotto
Maybe not everyone is familiar with Burrata. It is a kind of fresh cheese typical of the Italian region of Apulia, in the south of the country. It is in fact a “composite” cheese as it is made of a mozzarella outer shell filled with soft mozzarella scraps and cream and then closed to form…
Fried Manchego with Tomato and Orange Blossom Jam
In my early 20’s I visited Spain a few times. Oh Spain, an amazing country, one of my favourite places in the world. I have been to the North (in the Basque country), the center (Madrid is such a beautiful city), the east (I left a piece of my heart in Barcelona and Catalunya) and…
Vanilla and Yogurt Cheesecake with Raspberry Sauce
Don’t you just love a good cheesecake? I certainly do! I particularly like today’s recipe as it is a 2 layered cheesecake. The bottom layer is a normal baked vanilla cheesecake, while the top layer also contains Greek Yogurt… this makes the cake a tad lighter to the palate and a bit fluffier on the…
Beet and Goat’s Cheese Salad with Mint Balsamic Vinaigrette
I love cheese. All kinds. Goat’s cheese in at the top of my list, together with Gorgonzola, Parmigiano Reggiano and Taleggio. I like it so much that I even learnt how to make it by myself, at home (click here to find out how to make your own Chėvre)! I love how flavourful and tangy it…
Mushroom Sofficini
If you follow this blog, you will be already familiar with sofficini, as I have published a Ham and Cheese Sofficini recipe a while ago. For all the others who still do not know them, sofficini are delicious pockets of crunchy (yet soft) dough filled with all sorts of scrumptious cheesey goodies. These are usually sold…
Gnocchi alla Romana
This month, the Daring Cooks challenged us to think inside the box – the icebox, that is! Audax taught us some really cool tips and tricks for stocking our freezers with prepare-ahead meals that can keep our taste buds satisfied even during the busiest of times. It is back to school time for many families in the…
Elsa’s Plait
I love savoury dishes much more than sweets, so I always make sure to have a few savoury options at parties as I know kids will need something more than sugary treats. I made this bread plait for Victoria’s Frozen party, to simulate Elsa’s long plait. It’s a soft bread filled with ham and mozzarella. …
Chicken Involtini with Prosciutto and Fontina
Chicken is definitely the kind of meat we eat the most. My children like it more than any other meat and even though I have always preferred beef, I now enjoy it too. Being that we eat chicken often, I am always looking for different ways to serve it, so it doesn’t get too boring. …
Ficelle Picarde
Today I want to take you to France with a traditional dish: Ficelle Picarde. It is a dish from Picardy in northern France, consisting of a savoury crêpe filled with mushrooms and ham, covered with either cream or béchamel sauce and cheese and then broiled. It is pure comfort food, something I really need during…
Beetroot and Ricotta Gnocchi with Gorgonzola
I have always love beetroot, a taste I share with my dad. I remember often buying it at the store whenever it was available. We would buy it cooked, ready to be sliced and eaten. My favourite way to eat beets was to make them into a simple salad with extra virgin olive oil and…
Stilton, Apple and Walnut Tarts
Today’s recipe is a delicious one. You all know I have a thing for blue cheese… so when I saw some Stilton at my local supermarket, I could not resist and bought it. I love to pair the strong flavoured Stilton with fruits. I often pair it with pears or peaches, but this time I…
Taleggio and Walnut Mezzelune with Parmigiano Reggiano Fondue
I love making pasta from scratch. Some people find making bread relaxing and soothing… to me making pasta has the same effect. I love kneading the dough and creating all kinds of different shapes. I was going through my pasta tutorial page a couple of days ago and I realised I do have quite a…
Crespelle Cake with Asparagus
The April Daring Cooks Challenge was brought to us by Joanna from What’s On The List. She taught us all about Pathiri and challenged us to create our own version of this inspirational Indian dish! Mmmm I know what you are thinking… “crespelle cake with asparagus” doesn’t sound very Indian. And it isn’t. Actually, Joanna…
Taleggio and Hazelnut Tarts
Cheese is probably my favourite food. I love to eat it plain, but I also enjoy cooking with it. One of the things I miss the most about Italy is the variety of cheese and cold meats available at the local supermarket. We are very spoilt for choice. We don’t only find Italian products, but…
Olive and Walnut Mini Madeleines
Today I want to share with you the recipe for a great appetiser: mini savoury madeleines made with walnuts and olives. I saw these in an Italian food magazine and I just HAD to make them. Actually, I made these for Christmas and served them as one of our appetisers, with blue cheese and honey. …
Ras Malai
It is time again for the “Secret recipe club” reveal! I am sure you all know what the club is about, but for the few of you who still don’t know about it, here goes a brief explanation. It is a great concept… each month you are assigned a participating food blogger to make a…
