Today’s recipe is all about Sicily. Last week I shared with you the recipe for Sicilian Almond Milk, a deliciously sweet drink. Besides drinking it plain, it also makes a great base for desserts like Biancomangiare. Biancomangiare (where bianco means “white” and mangiare means “to eat”) is a traditional Italian pudding and in its Sicilian version it…
Sicilian Almond Milk
Today I want to share with you a recipe that is very close to my heart. It is a Sicilian classic that people usually enjoy during the hot Sicilian summer. I used to have a glass of it in the evenings, sitting in our summerhouse yard while chatting with my friends. This is a sweet…
Olive Schiacciate
Olive Schiacciate (or Cracked Olives) are very popular in Italy, especially in the South. They are cracked olives in brine. I remember going to one of the beautiful and colourful markets in Palermo as a child and getting drawn to the stalls that would sell olives. They had so many different kinds. Mountains of delicious,…
Mahi Mahi with Caponata Sauce
I just came back from a wonderful week in Sicily, filled with emotions, as I got to spend time with some relatives and friends I hadn’t seen in 7 years and I got to show my kids places filled with childhood memories that they had never seen before! And to celebrate this moment, today I…
Swordfish Impanata
Today’s dish is another one of my Sicilian recipes: Swordfish Impanata. Impanata is Italian for empanada and they are basically the same thing: pastry with a filling. Unlike the South American empanadas, this Sicilian version is made like a pie and portioned only after cooking. You shouldn’t be surprised to find such a dish in…
Cubbaita
Tomorrow is a very special day for all Italian children, as we celebrate the day of the Epiphany and the visitation of the Biblical Magi to the baby Jesus. The night between January 5th and 6th is the night of Befana, who, in Italian folklore, is “an old woman who fills children’s stockings with candy…
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…
Carciofi alla Trapanese #SundaySupper
This week the Sunday Supper team is sharing recipes for lighter foods to balance out the indulgences that go along with all the feasting, parties and celebrations of the upcoming holiday season. And what better than artichokes to eat lighter, healthier but still delicious food? Did you know that the total antioxidant capacity of artichokes is one…
Sarde Allinguate
I know I have said this before, but sardines are my favourite fish ever. They are cheap and so good for you and I highly recommend you try them. I just wish I could find them more often here in Sydney! Today I will share with you a traditonal Sicilian recipe, very common in the…
POLPETTE DI SARDE ALLA SICILIANA – SICILIAN SARDINE PATTIES
I know I have said this already, but sardines are my favourite fish. Unfortunately it is not easy to come across fresh sardines in Sydney. I find it weird as they are so common in Italy, but that’s just the way it is. So whenever I see some, I buy them! Today I will share…
GELATINA DI CAFFÈ – COFFEE JELLO
I have been blogging for almost 3 years now and when I look back at all the the things I learnt, I almost can’t believe it. I am talking about cooking techniques and also about computer skills and photography! But what I am the most grateful for are the friendships I made along the way. …
RICOTTA FILLED GRAFFE
Today’s recipe comes from the Sicilian town of Trapani, where my mother was born. These are similar, but not the same as the more famous Neapolitan graffe, the dough of which includes potatoes. Graffe in Trapani are like doughnuts, fried and then filled with the same sweet ricotta filling used for Cannoli, Sfinciuni di San…
PESCHE DOLCI ALLA SICILIANA
I am very excited about today’s recipe. I am taking you all back to Sicily for this Regional Italian dish… a very special one. These are among my favourite Sicilian pastries. They are not as famous as cannoli, but they are just as delicious. The filling is in fact the same sweet ricotta filling of…
BEEF AGGLASSATO
Today’s Regional Italian dish is yet another dish from Sicily! It is a very easy and delicious beef pot roast (kind of) made with onions and white wine. It is a recipe from Palermo that comes from my father’s side of the family. I have already shared with you the recipe for Chicken Agglassato, and this…
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…
HOME-MADE SICILIAN PORK SAUSAGE WITH FENNEL
I am very excited about today’s post: Home-made Sicilian Pork Sausage with Fennel It is one of those recipes that I have been making for a long time and that I have been very keen on sharing. The only reason why I hadn’t done it yet was the lack of reasonably good pictures. But finally,…
MATAROCCO
For this week’s Regional Italian dish I am going to take you back to Sicily. Today’s recipe is really easy and really tasty, it is one of those family recipes that we would always have during our summer holidays. It is hearty and delicious, full of “local” flavours as all the ingredients are easily available in…
WATERMELON GELATO
Today, for my Regional Italian dish series, I am going to take you all back to Sicily with the perfect summer recipe. I know, I know… it’s winter down here and it’s also been quite cold lately, but my family and friends are enjoying summer in Europe, so I thought of publishing this today. I…
CASSATELLE TRAPANESI – CASSATEDDI TRAPANISI
Today’s recipe is another one of my Sicilian recipes. Cassatelle (or cassateddi in Sicilian) are sweets typical of the town of Trapani, where my mum was born. They are usually eaten in winter and spring, which is when the fresh local ricotta cheese is at its best. They are traditionally made with sheep milk ricotta,…
SARDE A BECCAFICO ALLA PALERMITANA
Today’s Regional Italian dish takes us back to Sicily… to Palermo to be precise. It is a very popular dish and like all popular dishes, every family has its own recipe or twist. Also each Sicilian city has its variations. This is my family’s version, from my father’s side… and it is the Palermo version. …
FISH BROTH WITH GARLIC CROSTINI
Today I want to share with you the recipe for a delicious fish broth. It is the same recipe of the broth we use for Fish Couscous, but instead of being used to make couscous, it is served plain with some grilled crusty bread. I love this soup as it is simple, yet full of flavour….
CASSATA SICILIANA
Happy Easter everyone!!! Today I want to share with you my family’s recipe for the most iconic Sicilian cake: Cassata! It is a delicious dessert made with sponge cake, filled with sweet ricotta and chocolate and decorated with candied fruits and royal icing. Even though nowadays you can buy a cassata throughout the year, it…
