Anise Biscotti
Biscott refers to "twice baked" and you can shape them large or small in size. The cookies are baked first to cook them, then a second bake drys them out. They can be stored for weeks in an air tight container and great to have on hand in case guests drop in for "a cuppa". Nibble.com writes, "Tuscan biscotti were flavored with almonds from the plentiful almond groves of Prato. There, the cookies were—and still are—known as cantucci. Cantucci di Prato can be found in the w
Almost Italian Knots- Italian Easter Cookie (Uncinetti)
These are non-traditional love knots made with almond paste that are moist and easy to make. Somewhere in Italy my Nonna is yelling "dov'è l'anice" - "Where is the Anisette?" Sorry Nonna, I don't use Anise or Anisette in my love knots, actually, I don't tie them into knots anymore. How's that for breaking tradition? This Easter Cookie is not too sweet and can be enhanced with lemon extract and zest. So it appears, no one person can take claim for the "love knot" but it is
Kitchen Fun Facts
Thought it would be fun to share some not so known facts about the kitchen. Some you may have known already as where others are brilliant and I'm wondering why I didn't know them sooner! Here goes... * Fresh lemon juice will remove the onion scent from your hands. * To avoid teary eyes when cutting onions, cut them under cold running water, or briefly place them in the freezer before cutting. * Separate stuck-together glasses by filling the inside glass with cold wate
Pizzagaina - Easter Meat Pie
The aroma of pizzagaina baking brings back memories of Easter past. We always had a few Easter pies at our table, but this was always my favorite. This is no way a healthy pie, but it's only once a year splurge! If you can find the meats, now is the time to collect the cold-cut ends and freeze them to offset the price of making this pie. This year, I was shocked at how expensive the meats were. You can cut back on all other things, but not the meats for this pie. This tra
Born on Date - Marketing Ploy?
Did you ever notice how the "best used by" date is always a few days after you purchase your item? Does the item really go bad as the clock strikes midnight on that date? According to AI (yes it's a reference) "Best if used by" and similar open dating (like "sell-by") became mainstream in the 1970s due to consumer demand for freshness as processed, packaged food consumption grew. While early, secret dating of dairy occurred in the 1930s (reportedly pushed by Al Capone ), th
Appetizer: Bacon and Eggs
Not what you expected when you read bacon and eggs, huh? This is a great appetizer for the holidays, This is not your Mom's deviled egg recipe! I wanted to reinvent an old favorite by adding more of an umami flavor that is topped off with a sweet bacon jam. Nothing is sexier than a good bacon jam! The Ancient History of the Deviled Egg states, "If we explore the roots of modern-day deviled eggs, they can be traced back to ancient Rome, where eggs were boiled, seasoned with
We Don't Like to Chill!
There are some items that should not be refrigerated. I'm guilty of putting some of these in the refrigerator just as a matter of convivence. No one likes a messy kitchen. Here's the list of items that should NEVER go in the refrigerator: Tomatoes - they lose their flavor and get soft. Potatoes- the cold turns their starch into sugar. Garlic- it sprouts roots faster. Onions - gets mushy from the cold. Bread - dries out faster. Bananas - turns black, but it does make them s
St. Joseph's Lucky Beans
March 19th is St. Joseph's Day! Most would refer to these beans as fava beans unless you're Sicilian; then you know them as lucky beans. Dry fava beans are carried in purses to ensure that there will always be money. Don't look for them in my purse but maybe that's why my wallet echo from emptiness. Here's what NCR has to say: "The tradition, told by Italian-Americans, dates back to medieval times in Sicily. The legend says that a drought came to the island- the largest i
St. Joseph's Pastry
Zeppole di San Giuseppe (St. Joseph's Pastry): why do we eat them? Such festive food for this March 19th, is a tradition. Yes! In Sicily, Saint Joseph is regarded by many as their Patron saint. Prayers were offered to him to prevent a famine and save them from starving. "According to legend, there was a severe drought at the time, and the people prayed for their patron saint to bring them rain. They promised that if God answered their prayers through Joseph's intercession,
Who was St. Patrick?
As our corned beef and cabbage is simmering on the stove and the Irish soda bread is filling the house with amazing aromas, have you ever thought about who really was St. Patrick? Was there a St. Patrick, or is he like the little green leprechaun we see after drinking too much Jameson? He was a real person who was born late in the 4th century AD. As we celebrate him today, did you know who he was? Here are some interesting facts about St. Patrick that might make you a winn
