Mary Freeland | July 15, 2011
Have you been a victim of “fake” Italian food? If you’ve ever frequented an Olive Garden restaurant and ordered their “pastachetti”, then I hate to break the news to you. The answer is a resounding “si!” Neither the pastachetti, nor it’s sibling the “soffatelli”, were ever made by Nonnas in the Old Country.
Mary Freeland | July 6, 2011
Although it originated in India, basil really hit it’s stride once the Italians got hold of it. Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) is one of the preeminent herbs used to flavor Italian dishes, and when it’s freshest in summer, it’s EVERYWHERE. This summer, befriend your fresh basil! It’ll be the beginning of a beautiful relationship – you won’t be sorry.
Mary Freeland | June 22, 2011
While it may be called “seasonal eating” now, for centuries it’s just been common sense – when a particular crop is prime for picking, you pick – and eat – as much of it as possible at the height of its glory.
Mary Freeland | June 9, 2011
In continuing our conversation about travel to Italy, let’s have a word about words. As a rule, Italians are very gregarious and they LOVE to talk! Sure, half of the conversation is conducted through hand gestures, but the rest is likely to be in rapid-fire Italian.
Mary Freeland | June 2, 2011
Believed to have originated in Sicily during ancient Roman occupation, granita is semi-frozen dessert made from a base of water and sugar into which other flavors have been infused. Simple to make and requiring no more complicated kitchen implements than a pan, freezer and fork, it’s the perfect treat for a hot day or night!
Mary Freeland | May 19, 2011
Oh sure – plenty of things go well with wine. Plenty of things go nicely with bread. But arguably EVERYTHING goes with cheese. And it just so happens that wine, bread and cheese are the trifecta of winning Italian picnic fare!
Mary Freeland | May 11, 2011
If your idea of cleaning a room is to sweep it with a glance, then the answer is a resounding “no”! As it turns out, the stereotypes of the little Italian grandmothers out scrubbing their front steps early every morning are absolutely true.
Mary Freeland | May 4, 2011
Happy birthday little wooden boy! Long before Walt Disney introduced that theory into the collective American lexicon with his 1940 movie, Italian mothers were using that admonishment to keep their prevaricating progeny in line. For you see, that beloved wooden boy was actually BORN in Italy. In Tuscany, in fact!
Mary Freeland | April 30, 2011
No longer fighting for dominance these days, food and wine coexist peacefully on the Italian table. In fact, Italian wine and food pairing is very much a regional thing – quite often the most perfect vintage for a traditional regional dish is one whose grapes were grown in the same soil.
Mary Freeland | April 21, 2011
Most Italians are Roman Catholic, and for them and millions of others throughout the world, the forty days before Easter is the Lenten Season. Traditionally, meat is not eaten on Fridays during Lent…which means that during this month even more fish is consumed in any number of wonderful Italian seafood recipes.
