Sweet Arancini Getting their name from their orange shape, arancini (supplí in Roman cuisine) are said to have originated in Sicily during Arab rule (10th century). They have since spread throughout Italy and can be enjoyed with different fillings. Sicilian arancini are usually stuffed with ragú, you can also buy them stuffed with mushrooms, peas, […]
NONNA’S PINE NUT CROSTATA
Crostata di nonna While out on a day trip to Chiusi to visit their Etruscan museum we picked up some lunch at a little shop filled with homemade goodies. Among the temptations were porchetta style duck, veal and rice suppli (aka arancini), amazing cantuccini and the last few pieces of crostata di nonna. The lure […]
RABBIT AGNOLOTTI
Delicate and unique I realize that many of you have never eaten rabbit before, let alone cooked it but if you’ve ever wanted to try it, you’ll want to keep reading. I am going to go out on a limb and say it is one of my favourite meats. Delicate and unique, rabbit can be […]
PORCINI AND CHESTNUT SOUP
Porcini and chestnuts Using two ingredients that are found at the same time of year, porcini and chestnut soup is a creamy and hearty dish that uses no dairy product. It can easily be made vegan by using vegetable stock instead of chicken. Using the freshest ingredients will give you delicious results but you can […]
TRUFFLED EGGS
Truffled eggs Here is a great recipe for New Year’s Day brunch. It’s as easy as making deviled eggs and you can prepare the eggs, ready to cook, the day before. We are crazy about all things truffle and love using truffle salsa as an easy and somewhat less expensive way to get our fix. […]
MINESTRA DI CECI (Umbrian Chickpea Soup)
The world’s healthiest food Chickpeas have long been considered the world’s most healthy legume and could be the world’s healthiest food. Chickpeas are in fact the seeds of a legume, usually containing two or three. They are creamy white to pale yellow with a textured surface. Most chickpeas are dried for later use and keep […]
BEEF INVOLTINI WITH PORCINI & ARTICHOKE
Little packages As a chef I love to draw inspiration from the markets and the seasonal change. Italy is particularly good about eating in season since they are tied so tightly to the land and what is happening in the garden. In winter the hunters are out whether it be for truffles, mushrooms or wild […]
CARDOON TWO WAYS
Vegetarians rejoice! This week, as promised, we are bringing you two variations on one classic dish. Cardoon is vegetable you may have seen in your grocery store or specialty market but had no idea what it was or how to prepare it. It’s a vegetable I have had only a handful of times before, it’s […]