The Holidays are a special time of the year. You hopefully get the opportunity to enjoy them with all the important people in your life. Holiday dinners and buffets are always fun. I love to make antipasti because of the wide assortment of toppings for the salad. There’s always something for everybody. About 15 years […]
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Pinecone Holiday Cheese Spread
It seems like this year just flew by … We’ve had our more than fair share of scary hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, threats of nuclear attacks, and needless to say, our own personal heartbreaks and scary moments. I’m sure we’re all looking forward to some fun family holiday season, and we all deserve it! So, now I […]
Avocado Wedges Wrapped in Serrano Ham
I’m pretty sure everyone has heard of the traditional Italian appetizer of cantaloupe wedges wrapped in prosciutto ham and how magnificent they are. They are a great marriage of sweet and salty and are always enjoyable. However, I have a new twist on this classical standard that we all love. If you like avocados, you […]
Mango Salsa and Interesting Info on Chili Peppers
The Serrano chili pepper is what is called for in my Mango Salsa recipe. The Serrano pepper is originally from the Mexican regions of Puebla and Hidalgo. This region is mountainous, and the name Serrano is derived from these sierras. The Serrano pepper is rated on the Scoville scale (shown below) on the lower end […]
Roasted Cipollini Onions with Balsamic Vinegar
Cipollini (pronounced chip oh LEE nee) literally translates into “little onion” in Italy, hence their popular name. Cipolla is the Italian name for onion. These are also called small onions or wild onions. They taste and look like a small flattened onion, but in fact, they are the bulb of the grape hyacinth. The bulb […]
Stuffed Artichoke with Tomatoes and Panko
Artichokes are one of my favorite vegetables and they are so versatile. Growing up in an Italian family, stuffed artichokes were a holiday staple. My Grandmother would stuff them dry and then pack them into the pressure cooker. She was a master at this. I do remember though, being over at a family friend’s house […]
Broiled Shrimp Piccata Scampi
Piccata and Scampi are two different recipes, each incorporating garlic, butter and parsley in each of their recipes respectively. Let’s discuss piccata first. There is no known origin of the term piccata in Italy, and most Italian authorities believe the sauce was termed in the U.S. in the 1930’s by Italian Americans. The method called […]
Cherry and Ginger Soup at Dinner for Two in Santa Fe, New Mexico
You know how once in a great while, you happen upon an exceptional restaurant and your experience with the food you enjoyed there remains in your brain and on your taste buds for weeks. Well, that was what I experienced recently while there on vacation visiting a very dear lifetime friend. We had just taken […]
Enjoying Italian Cheeses!
Whatever the occasion, you can never go wrong with a special cheese presentation. There is, of course, always the trusty Mozzarella Caprese Salad, but here are a few other ideas to use Italian cheeses as an appetizer, hors d’oeuvre, or a cheese board as a finale to any meal: As an hors d’ oeuvre, consider […]