- Documenting the journey through my kitchen, a pinch of salt at a time.
Posted in Appetizer, Italian, Recipe, Vegetables on Nov 12th, 2011
A world without tomatoes is like a string quartet without violins. – Laurie Colwin The days of fall and summer have been rapidly fading away in Ithaca, yet I was able to hang onto the last bits of warmth through a few fortunate days of sunshine plus the last batches of tomatoes from our Community [...]
Posted in Appetizer, Dessert, Food Thoughts, Italian, Main Dish, Pasta, Vegetables on Jun 6th, 2011
We are indeed much more than what we eat; but what we eat can nevertheless help us be much more than what we are. — Adele Davis Ah, Italy! Italia! Il Bel Paese! Even though a culinary journey through this land of food artists would outlast the most long-lived of men, we felt the need [...]
Godiamo, la tazza, la tazza e il cantico, la notte abbella e il riso; in questo paradiso ne scopra il nuovo dì – excerpt from ‘Libiamo ne’ Lieti Calici’, “La Traviata” by Giuseppe Verdi [In English] Be happy; The wine and singing beautify both the night and the laughter Let the new day find us [...]
Posted in Italian, Main Dish, Pasta, Recipe, Vegetarian on Apr 26th, 2011
If Italy had contributed nothing but pasta dishes to the world of cuisine, it would have been sufficient for immortality. — Craig Claiborne Spring has finally arrived in upstate New York! It’s about time. Today it was sunny, 70+ degrees Fahrenheit, just like the way it should be at this time of year. In any case, [...]
Buon cibo, buon vino, buoni amici – Unknown When there’s a blizzard outside, having warmth, good food, wine, and company is priceless. A fireplace adds a nice touch as well. There are many foods that comfort the soul, but today’s choice is heavily influenced by my favorite person in the world who happens to come [...]
Life itself is the proper binge. — Julia Child And then there is dessert, another brilliant binge that we all shamelessly enjoy. Even for those who say they don’t like sweets, custard with fresh summer berries is a pleasing dessert for anyone to indulge in. This is exactly what panna cotta is all about. It’s [...]
Posted in Appetizer, Italian, Vegetarian on Aug 3rd, 2009
Use only the best fresh regional ingredients in season and keep it simple. — James Beard When life gets busy, sometimes it is best to keep it simple and fresh. And boy, life has certainly been busy. Regardless, I love the simplicity of three-ingredient, no-cook appetizers such as Caprese bites. Although this may not be [...]
Posted in Cooking class, Italian, Pasta, Recipe, Technique on Dec 21st, 2008
Earlier this month, I attended a pasta making class at Terragusto, one of my favorite Italian restaurants in Chicago (it might be safe to say, one of my favorites, period). I truly admire their emphasis on cooking with fresh locally grown foods, and how they value quality over quantity in what they serve. Plus, their [...]
Pardon? Okay, let’s try that again. Fig, Prosciutto, Arugula, and Parmesan sandwich. Yes, that’s a mouthful! But you will soon see that it is truly a delightful mouthful once you try out this combination. On a side note, I often chuckle at the infinite number of acronyms (and jargon) that exist in today’s world, especially [...]
Posted in Italian, Soup, Vegetables on Jun 21st, 2008
Zucchini is a great vegetable because of its versatility. Not too many other vegetables can be a star ingredient in both entirely sweet and savory creations. Yes, that’s right – zucchini can be in baked goods such as muffins and breads, as well as a plethora of other things. From frittatas to salads, casseroles, patties, [...]
