Bittersweet chocolate brings rich and extraordinary new flavor—and a new story—to the unique Jewish-Italian sfratti (stick cookies) in my brand new recipe. Sfratti, which means “evictions,” nod to a dark time in Italian-Jewish history in the Tuscan town of Pitigliano, when Jews were evicted and sent to ghettoes by stick-wielding authorities. Eventually allowed to return […]
Artichoke Bottoms with Spinach and Cheese
September 20, 2022 · by
Artichokes were beloved by Italy’s Jewish community, and stuffing them was one of many ways to prepare the thistles, which were labor intensive to work with but delicious every way, from fried to added to soups and risottos. Spinach was also a favored ingredient of Italy’s Jews. This recipe aims to celebrate those two ingredients […]
Zucchini and Corn with Dill
August 24, 2022 · by
Zucchini, corn, and dill form a summer all-star team in this easy saute, a recipe adapted from the Meatballs and Matzah Balls cookbook. While the recipe is most enticing during peak corn and zucchini season, it really works year-round (you can always get zucchini and use frozen corn) as a side dish with surprisingly delightful […]
Mint Julep with an Italian Twist
May 26, 2022 · by
I like to think of bourbon as putting on its summer outfit with the mint julep, the warm weather libation that gets its kickoff with the running of the Kentucky Derby (where it has been the traditional beverage for nearly a century). And I love how a little Italian Limoncello elevates this drink. Although you are […]
Cheesecake with Strawberries
May 26, 2022 · by
A creamy cheesecake, especially topped with beautiful fruit, almost always delights everyone. Did you know that it became an essential Jewish classic decades ago? In the 1930s, Jewish bakers substituted a relatively new product—cream cheese—along with sour cream for the more-typical-at-the-time cottage cheese in their baked custards, and the New York-style cheesecake was born. The […]
Asparagus, Artichoke, Fennel, & Mozzarella Salad with Lemon-Oregano Dressing
May 26, 2022 · by
Asparagus, artichokes, and fennel become unlikely but absolutely delicious partners in this Jewish-Italian inspired salad. The dressing of bright lemon and herby slightly pungent oregano—a classic Sicilian pairing—unites the spring and early summer vegetable flavors in beautifully tangy way. This salad spares not one second in delighting the taste buds with flavors and textures that […]
Roasted Asparagus and Tomato Sformato
April 13, 2022 · by
The Italians were onto something with sformato, a creamy egg and vegetable dish that is elegant and yet homey, plus irresistible in flavor and texture. Most traditionally, sformato (pronounced sfohr-MAH-toh, coming from the Latin word for “form”) is a vegetable flan prepared in large ring mold or individual molds. But this dish doesn’t have to […]
Spinach Arancini
April 13, 2022 · by
Rice laced with spinach and cheese and fried—spinach arancini bring home a delightful taste of Sicily. That’s where I first tried this version of deep fried risotto balls a couple of years ago when we visited to explore some of my Sicilian roots. The treat—shaped as big as oranges, ovals, or pears in the case […]
Fried Mashed Potato Balls
November 14, 2021 · by
At once crispy and creamy, fried mashed potato balls take you right from Thanksgiving’s leftover mashed potatoes to a Hanukkah fried delight. And actually, even if I don’t have leftovers, I will make this recipe (don’t worry, latkes, we will be making you, too) because it is uniquely fun and a texture and flavor sensation […]
Deconstructed Pumpkin-Bourbon Cannoli
November 14, 2021 · by
You might not normally think of cannoli for Thanksgiving and Hanukkah. But they are perfect, especially for this year’s confluence of these two beloved holidays. For Hanukkah, this classic Sicilian dessert neatly captures both the frying and dairy traditions in one package. For Thanksgiving, the filling takes beautifully to a spike of warm holiday flavor […]
Cranberry-Walnut Rugelach
November 14, 2021 · by
Cranberry sauce moves from roast turkey side relish to pastry superstar in this rugelach recipe celebrating the delicious intersection of Thanksgiving and Hanukkah. I can’t think of a better use for that leftover cranberry sauce than to become a filling and glaze for rugelach. And although these make a beloved sweet for the festival of […]
Turkey and Fennel Stuffed Cabbage
September 23, 2021 · by
Stuffed cabbage earned its place as a beloved comfort food long, long ago—and this slightly updated version offers tender texture and more flavor without sacrificing the qualities that made this dish treasured among communities across a large part of the world. Now, I know there are plenty of stuffed cabbage skeptics out there. Confession: It […]
