I always have chicken tenders in the freezer. Chicken is what my kids like to eat the most and tenders are very handy as they are very versatile and cook quite fast. The other day I had some beer in the fridge that begged to be used, so I whipped up a quick and delicious…
Quick No- Knead Ciabatta Bread
A couple of weeks ago, I shared a few photos of this bread on MsM’s facebook page and did get quite a few requests for the recipe, both online and via email. So, here you have it: quick no-knead Ciabatta bread! It is a really simple recipe and, unlike other no-knead bread recipes, it is also…
Pappardelle alla Contadina
A few weeks ago, I reviewed the Toollio, an amazing multi-function food processor that really makes your life easier in the kitchen. I am very happy with it and, as promised, I am doing a little series on recipes developed using the Toollio to showcase its versatility. After making some hearty meatballs and a luscious cheesecake, today…
Pan fried Pork Loin Cutlets
Today’s recipe is one of my favourite mid week dinner ideas. My mum would often make pan fried pork cutlets and she would always serve them with hot fries. It is a hearty dish that I have always enjoyed. It’s easy and quick to make and it tastes delicious thanks to the abundance of herbs…
Spaghetti alla Puttanesca
Finally a pasta dish again! I cannot believe I haven’t published a recipe for pasta in a while! When we were living in Italy, we used to eat pasta once a day… almost every day. Yep, that’s the way Italians do it. But after moving to Australia, we don’t eat it quite as often. Still,…
Linguine with Potatoes
Today’s recipe is not my own. It’s actually my mother’s. It is one of her favourite pasta sauces and she made it for all of us when visiting from Italy. Usually, as a rule of thumb, Italians do not eat other carbs together with pasta, but this is a delicious exception. I often say that…
COUSCOUS, OLIVE AND ORANGE SALAD
Ohhh I love couscous and I make it in all kinds of ways. My all time favourite is my mum’s (and grandma’s) traditional Fish Couscous, but I also make the pre cooked version and serve it as a side dish. And then there is leftover plain couscous. Which is like a white canvas that can…
PAN FRIED SICILIAN PORK SAUSAGE WITH FENNEL
Sausage is one of the meats I used to love the most while growing up. I still do, but now I am much more selective and try to make my own sausage every time I can. There is nothing better than fresh, home-made pork sausage: you know what’s in it, you choose the cuts of…
GINGER SESAME CHICKEN
I always have chicken tenders in my freezer… they are very versatile, quick to cook and they always please the whole family. I love the fact that they are always moist and not dry. I have never seen these in Italy, where you either buy breast or thighs (or the whole chicken). I stumbled upon…
COUSCOUS AND HERB SALAD
Couscous is one of my favourite side dishes. I love the fact that it is so versatile and that it can be easily turned into a light and healthy main dish for a weekday lunch. I usually make couscous to go with my Lemon Chicken Tajine with Olives or my LambTajine with Quinces and I sometimes have…
HONEY AND GINGER PORK STIR FRY
Maybe not everyone knows this, but my eldest daughter has started her first year of “big school” in January. It is all very thrilling and exciting for all of us, though this has also brought a huge change in our routines. Let’s put it this way… I am now spending more time on the trains…
CARPACCIO WITH GRANA PADANO AND ROCKET
Summer in Italy can be very hot, though since living in Sydney the term “hot” got a much “warmer” meaning… 😉 Anyhow, Italians tend to eat light in summer. We do not like to use the oven or the stove too much when the outside temperature is so hot, especially when you think that the…
BEEF SCHIACCIATINA
This is one of my “go to” recipes for a quick, yet delicious mid week meal. Schiacciatina means “something small that has been pressed”, and it is basically a very flat burger made with only ground beef, Parmigiano Reggiano, salt and pepper. My mum used to make this often for me as a child. I…
PENNE WITH SALAMI AND PROVOLONE
Today I want to share with you one of my husband’s favourite pasta recipes. He loves salami and provolone, so when he first tasted these penne, he told me “this is the best pasta I have ever eaten”. Now, that’s a complement! It is very tasty indeed: salami does not require any “introduction”, but what…
GREEN TAGLIATELLE WITH TUNA AND RICOTTA
Today I want to share with you a dish that is very dear to my heart. It is a very simple recipe, but if made with home made pasta it can be a little bit more labour intensive (but so much worth it!). The reason why I love it so much is because it reminds…
PEACH AND ALMOND TRIFLE
Today’s recipe is another “spur of the moment” kind of recipe. I made it a while ago and forgot all about it, until today when I was organising my archive. I actually made it to finish up some of the crema pasticcera, cream and pan di spagna that I had left over from making my…
PIZZAIOLA BEEF SCHNITZEL
Today I want to share with you a very easy recipe. It is a dish that my mum would make often when I was a child as it was quick and loved by everyone. It is called “pizzaiola” as it resembles pizza, thanks to the tomato and oregano sauce in which the beef is cooked. …
SPAGHETTI WITH CHERRY TOMATOES AND ANCHOVIES
Yes! Finally I get to share with you a spaghetti recipe! Strangely enough, I seldom do… I think it must be because for an Italian, spaghetti are a staple and I tend to forget how delicious they are. This is a very simple yet delicious recipe for one of the tastiest spaghetti sauces ever. Like…
EASY MERINGUE PIE – MERINGATA VELOCE
Yesterday was my birthday! YAY! Well… usually my husband buys me a chocolate cake from my favourite patisserie in town, but this year he was working in the other side of town and there was no way he could get there in time. So, I made myself a very quick but delicious birthday cake as…
CHOCOLATE PANNA COTTA AND THE GIVEAWAY WINNERS
Does it ever happen to you to feel like having a little sweet treat but you don’t really want to go out to the stores to buy the ingredients?? To me, it happens oh so often. So, what do you do when you have a sweet craving to quench?