This is a very simple pasta dish which can be whipped up quickly. In the Spring, sweet peas in their plump pods beckon after a long winter. Out of pea season, frozen peas make a good substitute. I always have a bag of peas and a package of pancetta in the freezer. In a pinch,…
A great seaside take on the traditional spaghetti carbonara
Tuesday was the pinnacle of the Italian summer holidays. The word “ferragosto” is synonymous in most Italians’ minds with the seaside. For my friends who work at the seaside, ferragosto is the equivalent of Wednesday in most people’s work week. They know that after ferragosto, the season will start to end as the holiday makers…
Picnic season food: pasta frittata
Young children and summer holidays involve some degree of planning to keep it stress-free. I don’t know about you but summer holidays for me go something like this: kids get up, eat breakfast, slowly pull on their clothes and then are bouncing off the walls, desperate to get out of the house. I inevitably make…
Dreaming of Sicily: aubergine/eggplant pasta timbale
We were fondly reminiscing about our trips to Sicily after my post last week. As usual the discussions led to the food – the intensely flavoured vegetables, the remarkable cheeses and the freshness of the seafood. Our children had many favourites of the trip, some of which surprised me, such as pasta with sardines and…
Timballo di melanzane (baked pasta wrapped in aubergine/eggplant) – Sicilia
Timballo di melanzane (baked pasta wrapped in aubergine/eggplant) – Sicilia Print Prep time 30 mins Cook time 1 hour 20 mins Total time 1 hour 50 mins Categories: Kids, Healthy*grill the aubergine instead of frying, Gluten free*use gluten free pasta, Dairy Free* eliminate the cheese This dish has a wow factor to the…
Pizzocheri: the buckwheat pasta gem from Valtellina
We are finally nearing the end of winter. The bird have returned, the sun is shining and the crocuses have sprung from the soil. Ski season is still here though and with that the bounty of the mountains in the winter….cheese, glorious cheese. In my mind, skiing is intertwined with melted cheese. Whether this is…
Pesto lasagne
Thought Christmas was over? So Friday was Epiphany (the day everyone realised Jesus Christ was the son of God) and it was Orthodox Christmas. For me it was the second day of freedom after my children had been on holiday for a MONTH! Freedom here is actually code word for a month’s worth of admin…
My summer staples
It’s hot. I like to take advantage of the sunshine and enjoy the good weather while it lasts. Luckily summer means that many fruit and vegetables are at their peak, requiring little intervention to create a delicious meal. Here are a few of my favourites during the summer: Bruschetta Basically anything spread on grilled or…
Mid-week dinner: Pasta al forno (pasta with tomato and mozzarella)
Baked pasta dishes are typical for major holidays and occasions in Italy. Pasta al forno usually means lasagne in the north and medium to large pasta or wide tagliatelle layered with different sauces and ingredients in the south. This dish is vegetarian, easy to prepare and a favourite with young and old. When it’s baked,…
My favourite crowd-pleasing mid-week meal
I love watching my favourite television show, Inspector Montalbano (Il Commissario Montalbano), the best detective show since Columbo in my opinion. Set in Sicily, it has the perfect mix of intriguing dealings between typical small town characters, corrupt politicians, the mafia, human traffickers and the Catholic church. The show gives a good flavour of Sicilian life,…
