What is it about Christmas that has inspired the invention of so many sweet morsels across so many different cultures? Cookies above all. I suppose it may have something to do with the fact that Christmas is the ultimate holiday for kids. And, to paraphrase that old song, it doesn’t … Read More
Crostata di ricotta e visciole (Roman Sour Cherry and Ricotta Tart)
One of my culinary ‘discoveries’ during my recent trip to Rome was crostata di ricotta e visciole, a Sour Cherry and Ricotta Tart. I put the word in scare quotes because I didn’t discover anything new at all. This crostata is a classic dessert in the ebraico-romano tradition going back … Read More
Clafoutis di ciligie (Cherry Clafoutis)
Clafoutis is an egg custard fruit tart of French origins, specifically from the southwester region of Limousin. But isn’t this an Italian food blog, you might ask? Well, yes, but clafoutis has become quite popular in Italy. Like so many Italian recipes, clafoutis is both easy to make and absolutely … Read More
Brutti ma buoni
Brutti ma buoni, meaning “ugly but good”, is the jocular name Italians give to these nut and meringue cookies originally from north-central Italy (their precise origin is disputed) but now popular all over the country. The recipe is simple enough, though you need to take some care so they come … Read More
Zeppole di San Giuseppe
Father’s Day in Italy is coming up on March 19, la festa di San Giuseppe (St. Joseph’s Day. This holiday has given rise to any number of special dishes, some of which such as bignè di San Giuseppe and the pasta con la mollica we’ve already featured on this blog. … Read More
Sporcamuss
I had the delightful confection called sporcamuss in Bari during our trip last April to Puglia. Even though I don’t have much of a sweet tooth, it was love at first bite. Perhaps because it leaned into the rich and creamy with only a passing nod to the sweet? Whatever … Read More
Maritozzi
Roman cookery is probably best known for its world famous pastas like the iconic carbonara, amatriciana and cacio e pepe. But Rome has also made its mark in the world of sweets. While less well known than say Naples’ sfogiatelle or Sicily’s cannoli, Rome’s most iconic pastry called maritozzi is … Read More
Castagnole
Carnival time was traditionally the last chance to have meat before Lent. The very word carnevale comes from the Latin expression carne levare, loosely meaning to “say goodbye to meat”. Indeed, martedì grasso or Fat Tuesday is still celebrated with a large meal featuring meat-laden dishes like the Neapolitan lasagne di Carnevale. And yet, perhaps the most iconic Italian dishes for Carnival actually come … Read More