first
The first time I tasted a sformata we were in a trattoria in Acqui Terme in Piemonte. I ordered it not knowing exactly what it was and was pleasantly surprised when I was served a light and creamy vegetable custard. After returning home I searched for recipes and made one with spinach. That was quite some […]
The one bright spot in this incredibly strange time is that my local farmers market is sill up and going full force. Most of the other markets in the San Diego area have been closed for the past five weeks so I feel very lucky to be able to support these small family owned […]
I first sampled my new favorite appetizer during our stay at B&B Pietraviva outside of the town of Cisternino in the Valle d’Itria of Puglia. Breakfast is included at this charming trullo and when we heard that it was possible to have dinner prepared for us (at an incredibly fair price) we decided to dine in […]
I spend lots of time trying to hold on to the time I’ve spent in Italy. From day dreaming to doing research on places to visit to trying to recreate dishes from my travels. It’s an obsession I’m happy to have. I have more cookbooks than I care to admit and a good portion […]
I have a bread thing going on. About a month ago I was gifted some thirty year old “starter” and since then I’ve baked more bread than I have in years. I’m still in the experimental stage as I’ve only ever baked with dry packaged yeast. My first few attempts were sourdough loaves which turned […]
I’m not sure why, but it’s been quite a while since I made this granola. A few years ago I started making this for gifts and found that I didn’t want to give it away-it was just too good. I know you’re probably thinking that granola is granola, but this one is by far the tastiest […]
It all started with cranberry sauce. I grew up eating the cranberry sauce in the can, but as an adult I was on the search for something a little more interesting and with a lot more flavor. I’m not sure where I found the recipe, but it was exactly what I had […]
We’re having a mini heat wave here in southern California and it seemed like the perfect excuse to whip up a batch of ice cream. I can’t remember the last time that I pulled out my ice cream maker-it might have been two summers ago. At any rate it’s been much too long. I saw […]
I would like to thank my good friend L. from Cucina Cara Mia for Rolando Beramendi’s cookbook Autentico. I’ve had this book for months and have finally started to cook my way through it. The recipes are straightforward with good advice about ingredients and technique. They are “authentic” and exemplify the simplicity of Italian cuisine. Rolando’s book […]
The calendar says summer doesn’t officially begin until next week, but the tables at the farmers market are already brimming with brightly colored peppers, gorgeous green beans, various types of zucchini and the first of the vine ripened tomatoes. I love the transition of seasons at the market and am inspired to find new ways […]
Panini Girl 