If we can cook it, you can cook it!

Category: Italian Cooking

Scallop Saltimbocca with Golden Delicious Apples

Scallop Saltimbocca with Golden Delicious Apples

When I lived in Rome, Saltimbocca was an introduction to the cuisine of the city itself.   “Saltimbocca alla Romana” featured veal, topped with Prosciutto and Sage in a Marsala and butter sauce.   It was very good and, because of its ingredients, more expensive than most…

Honey Pine-Nut Tart from Gina De Palma’s “Dolce Italiano”

Honey Pine-Nut Tart from Gina De Palma’s “Dolce Italiano”

As often as not, Andrew volunteers to bring dessert whenever we’re asked out to dinner.  On this particular occasion, he asked our friends Bill and Peter if they had any requests.   Peter asked for ‘something nutty’.  I seemed to remember an amazing tart Andrew had…

Crispy Pork Chops with Fennel, Red Onion and Apple

Crispy Pork Chops with Fennel, Red Onion and Apple

I love “Milanese”, which is basically what this recipe is.  Veal Milanese is its much more expensive cousin.  In Argentina, where it’s wildly popular, it’s called simply “Milanesa” and it’s made with Beef.  In neighboring Chile it’s called Escalopa.  In Mexico, it’s back to being…

Orecchiette with Sausage and Green Vegetables

Orecchiette with Sausage and Green Vegetables

I sometimes think I should have called Chewing The Fat “Chewing the Pasta”.  I have such fondness for pasta that I make it on a weekly basis.  I am well aware of how many people eschew its carbohydrates. Sorry, they’re missing one of life’s great…

Cassata Siciliana or Italian Strawberry Shortcake from Julie Richardson

Cassata Siciliana or Italian Strawberry Shortcake from Julie Richardson

Julie Richardson wrote a cookbook devoted to old-fashioned cakes, the ones you may remember your grandmother cooking or at the very least, bringing home from the local bakery.   “Vintage Cakes” (Ten Speed Press 2012) is filled with gems that are not only nostalgic but are…

Italian Sausage with Fennel, Zucchini and Raisins adapted from Letizia Mattiaci of Alla Madonna del Piatto

Italian Sausage with Fennel, Zucchini and Raisins adapted from Letizia Mattiaci of Alla Madonna del Piatto

Letizia Mattiaci of Alla Madonna del Piatto Lucky me!  I’ve been traveling most of the month of May.  I’ve done two almost back-to-back river cruises, one on the Rhine from Basel, Switzerland to Amsterdam, Netherlands with stops along the way in France and Germany.  A…

Fresh Fettucine with Sausage, Asparagus and Mushrooms

Fresh Fettucine with Sausage, Asparagus and Mushrooms

     A great bowl of pasta is one of my favorite comfort dishes.  I must admit that this particular variation hits the mark. The fresh asparagus and mushrooms seem made for each other and for the Italian hot sausage I combined them with. There’s cheese…

Springtime in a Bowl: Orecchiette with Sausage, Peas, Mint and Burrata

Springtime in a Bowl: Orecchiette with Sausage, Peas, Mint and Burrata

Last week, I went all the way back into the archives for Chewing the Fat.  I was astonished to see that an Orecchiette recipe that I posted very early on in the life of the blog has had precisely 40 visits. That is about 1/10th…