The week separating Christmas from New Year’s can be a strange dead zone in culinary terms. We may be eating leftovers from Christmas dinner, but by the 27th we’re sick of those. New Year’s Eve tends to be more about partying and drinking than comfort food. What do we eat during that week? No one […]
Mashed Butternut Squash, A Simple Thanksgiving Accompaniment
November 17, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Thanksgiving side dishes can be a challenge for the host who wants to serve an impressive meal. It’s tempting to get carried away and choose something too complicated when a simple dish, such as a straightforward mashed butternut squash, can make a Thanksgiving dinner elegant. Sometimes the too-complicated culprits are regional specialties such as the […]
Greek Classics For A Special Dinner At Home
October 10, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Greek food is one that is festive, healthy, simple and delicious, and Greek restaurants are always fun to go to. Greek food is easy to cook at home too, as long as you have the basic staples — none of which are exotic — such as olive oil, tomatoes, oregano, lemon and feta cheese. When […]
3 Italian Zucchini Recipes for a Bumper Crop
September 7, 2016 by Leave a Comment
If you’ve ever grown your own zucchini, then you know how prolific the plant’s fruit can grow — so plentiful you can’t give them away. There are many uses for this versatile summer vegetable overshadowed of late because of the faddishness of other vegetables. Don’t ignore the noble zucchini only because it’s so familiar. What […]
Fire, Fish And Fresh Herbs For Divine Summer Dining
June 28, 2016 by Leave a Comment
The summer grill party is one of the most beloved of summer gastronomic experiences. On the Fourth of July we fire up the grill, people gather round impatiently, and on go the hamburgers, the hot dogs, the pork spareribs, the chicken breasts, the steaks. But why not take your grilling game up a notch this […]
Sicilian Frittedda: A Riot of Tender Spring Flavors
May 24, 2016 by Leave a Comment
In the springtime in Sicily a simply named dish reveals an explosion of flavor that belies its satisfying complexity. It is a dish special with spring vegetables — fava, peas, scallions and artichokes — and called frittedda (or fritedda). In western Sicily, where frittedda was born, it is served as a grape ‘u pitittu, a […]
Linguine And Seafood: Perfecting A Classic Pair
March 15, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Italian-Americans will tell you flat out that linguine accompanies seafood. Well, at least Long Island Italian-Americans will tell you that. My grandfather, who was from a small village 85 kilometers east of Naples, immigrated to New York in the early 20th century and lived there the rest of his life. He took my mother fishing […]
3 Lusty Beans and Greens Recipes for Winter
February 16, 2016 by Leave a Comment
In traditional Mediterranean cooking, dried beans are typical winter foods that are often combined with winter greens and root vegetables such as Swiss chard, spinach, squash, potatoes, sweet potatoes and others. There is a delight in these kinds of dishes not only because they’re delicious, but they are satisfying and healthy too. These three are […]
Make Your Own Spicy Harisa For A Taste Of North Africa
January 12, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Given how easy it is to make harīsa, the ubiquitous chile paste of North Africa, I’ve never had much use for those inferior tubes of the stuff. Harīsa is the most important condiment used in Algerian and Tunisian cooking, and you need to make this recipe and keep it in the refrigerator before attempting any […]
Give Christmas A Sicilian Spin With Hearty Tummala
December 9, 2015 by 2 Comments
Families all seem to have their own Christmas classics — roast turkey, baked ham, crown roast or pork, or prime rib. Many Italian-Americans will have lasagna or a feast of seven fishes. One spectacular preparation for a change of pace is to follow some families and make the classic Sicilian Christmas tummàla. Tummàla is a […]
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