Crostini, loosely translated in Italian mean “little toasts” and are the perfect blank canvas for any kind of topping. They are perfect to serve up before a meal, especially if you’re entertaining, as the crostini can be made in advance and stored in a container, ready to top with whatever takes your fancy (they keep…
Italian
Best Ever Slow Cooked Tomato Ragu
If I had to pick one meal that could give you a taste of who I am and where I come from it is undeniably this slow-cooked Tomato Ragu. It is a part of my childhood, part of my family legacy, it practically oozes through my veins. This year, as an ambassador for Taste of…
Gnocchetti with Lamb Ragu
Taste of Harmony for 2020 is fast approaching and once again I have been asked to be an ambassador for this incredible initiative to celebrate cultural diversity through food. I will always stand behind the notion of experiencing food from other cultures and keeping the recipes from your own culture alive. Food is such a…
Fettuccine three ways – because why only have one?
Have you ever been to an Italian restaurant and wanted to order pasta, but couldn’t decide which one? I love ordering fresh pasta, especially when I travel to Italy, but I can never decide on the sauce. On a trip to Orvieto a few years ago, a beautiful medieval town not far from Rome, we…
Cantucci
Cantucci are traditional almond biscuits similar to ‘biscotti’ that originated from the Italian region of Tuscany. They are delicious, but very hard in texture so what most Italians would do is dunk them in their morning coffee, or in a glass of Vin Santo, which softens them up just enough to devour easily. Vin Santo…
Nacatole
I can’t remember a day in my childhood we did not have a container of these in the pantry. I can’t even remember how often Mum would make them, but when she did, she made lots. Enough to give some away to friends and family, and plenty to store in the white recycled containers she…
Peperonata
I can remember big bowls of this peperonata at every family barbecue of my childhood. I was a fussy child and would have avoided it then because, as children often do, I had decided I didn’t like capsicum or eggplant, so refused to even try it. How much I missed. A mixture of onion, red…
Chicken Cutlets – A Staple in Every Italian Mamma’s Freezer
Every Italian has grown up eating cutlets. Whether it’s chicken or veal is no matter. They were just always there, in bulk, waiting in the freezer to be cooked up at a moment’s notice. Veal is the traditional meat to use, but you need to be able to get your hands on really good veal,…
New Cookbook Release
I am so excited to be able to announce my latest cookbook. The Godfather – The Corleone Family Cookbook, filled with recipes inspired by the Godfather movie trilogy. Published by Insight Editions in the U.S., it’s out this month! Here’s a little glimpse: Isn’t it great? I had so much fun writing this book….
“Do you speak English?”- How not to be a tourist in Italy
I have recently returned from a trip to Italy, my favourite place to visit. I have so much I want to write about and share I really don’t know where to begin. I don’t think it’s just because I’m Italian, I think I’d love Italy just as much if I weren’t. It has everything and…
