Buying local is the way to go! Take advantage of all the fresh, sweet tomatoes from the farmers’ gardens right now.  Who doesn’t enjoy a delicious tomato and cheese sandwich out on the back porch, or a Caprese Salad-tomato, mozzarella and basil- made from freshest ingredients? Americans eat more than 22 pounds of tomatoes each year.  WOW! We suspect that most are eaten in the form of tomato sauce.  Here’s a recipe for a flavorful, light sauce.  Roasted tomatoes on a bed of basil leaves with garlic and oil. It’s that easy. Serve over rice or angel hair pasta. You’ll love the garlic; it’s so …

We Heart Pesto!  Created in Genoa, Italy, its literal translation is “to pound or to crush”, referring to the crushed herbs and garlic in the sauce.  Pesto was originally (and sometimes still is) lovingly prepared using a marble mortar and wooden pestle. Don’t worry; we’re using a food processor. This recipe is a classic, one of our family must-haves, but, using the same technique, the possibilities are endless.  Don’t be afraid to experiment using your favorite fresh herbs, cheeses, and nuts. Try a jalapeno or green onion pesto, mint and pistachio, even strawberry-basil pesto. So versatile… …

So, what is polenta?  Simply, it’s ground corn meal that’s boiled in water. It originated in Northern Italy as peasant food. You do need to have a little patience because it needs to be stirred constantly while cooking, but it’s so worth the effort.  In our family, our parents used to serve it up on “Fat Tuesday.”  They would cover the entire table with large serving boards and the whole family would gather around.  They poured the polenta on the board, topped it with tomato sauce and put cooked Italian sausages in the middle.  Everyone would eat, tunneling their way to the center, to reach …

Jerk is the process of spicing and grilling meats, poultry, seafood, and even veggies, resulting in a tender, spicy-sweet or spicy-hot  flavor. In Jamaica, each cook develops his or her own special rub by adding ingredients…scallions, thyme, cinnamon, cloves, and so on. We love the island flavors and, in tribute, have put together a few of our own favorite spices to create this marinade.  It’s easy to make and packed with flavor.While each Jamaican family closely guards its secret recipe, we’re happy to share ours with you. If you’re the adventurous type, you can always kick-up the heat by …

The family had spoken!  Our dad made the absolute best chicken–tender, juicy, and flavorful.  No matter the occasion, he was always expected to bring his “Special Italian Chicken,” made from a blend of his secret ingredients.  The real secret is that it’s so easy to prepare, and most likely, you have all the ingredients in your cupboard right now.This dish is a robust, delicious, figure-friendly alternative to our beloved fried chicken.  Surprise your family and friends, and serve up a basketful at your next picnic or party. WARNING: Be sure to make enough, everyone will be back for seconds …

Reached the summer half-way mark and can’t possibly look at another macaroni salad dripping with mayonnaise?  Have we got solutions for you! We all anxiously await the arrival of summer to catch up with family and friends and enjoy all the picnics and barbeques, but after a few weekends of overindulging in the same old potato, macaroni and tossed salads, your taste buds (not to mention your waistline) are ready for a change.  These salads are a refreshing upgrade, so easy to prepare ahead of time and really travel well.  By the time the  kids are ready, the car is packed, you’ve picked up …

When life gives you lemons, squeeze ’em! If you’re fortunate enough to vacation in beautiful Italy, you’ll find that lemons are grown in abundance throughout the southern regions. Beloved by the Italians, they’re found in many traditional recipes, bringing a freshness and “zest” to any dish. Our Gramma was fond of telling stories of all the Limoni she saw at the fruit stands in Italy, (some the size of softballs) and how she and her mother loved to stop for Granite: shaved ice doused in lemonade. This velvety soup combines the flavor of lemon with Pastina.  You may or may not be familiar with…

Buffalo’s “Original” with Frank’s Special Hot Sauce …enough said! Not just for the guys, buffalo chicken is universally loved by women, too. This recipe wakes up your taste buds and allows you to indulge guilt-free...almost! We came up with this idea, as a definite pattern was forming.  Every Sunday, without a calorie or nutritional thought in mind, we ordered buffalo-style chicken wsings, not one but two orders…hot and hotter…to enjoy with our pizza, as a part of our game day ritual.Finally, as if in a vision, it came to us…why not make our own special buffalo chicken?  We lighten it up by …

Coming from a large Italian family, we’ve been eating artichokes all our lives. We’d look forward to springtime, not just in anticipation of the warm weather, but for the artichokes, which were always present at Easter dinner on Gramma’s table.You’ll see different shapes and sizes, from the tender baby artichokes to the so-called male and female artichokes. The male is tall and pointy, the female is larger and rounder.  (No Comment)  Make sure to select those that are deep green in color and feel heavy for their size. Test for freshness by pressing the leaves against each other.  They should …

As we’ve mentioned, our dad was a true farmer at heart, and possessed quite a gift for gardening.  By mid-summer, we picked zucchini by the dozens. We couldn’t possibly eat it as fast as it grew and there were six of us.It seems that the little row of plants he started in the spring had multiplied, and if you dared walk away for a day, even the tiniest zucchini became huge as if by magic! In self-defense, we became very creative.  There were zucchini pancakes, casseroles, muffins and cakes.  We gave zucchini gift baskets to everyone we knew, even total strangers, and still, they kept coming…

Lemon Herb Chicken Who doesn’t look forward to Sunday Roast Chicken?  Every cook lovingly creates their own special recipe for family and friends. We love lemons!! Our seemingly sophisticated “twist” on this recipe introduces a fresh citrus flavor.  It’s quick and easy to prepare. "So, what’s this about a proposal?” you ask. Maybe it’s the inviting aromas of lemon and spices wafting from the oven that contribute to the myth surrounding this popular folklore.  The belief is that a proposal of marriage is sure to follow if you prepare and serve Lemon Herb Chicken for that “special someone.”  He…

Farmer's MarketOur dad worked for years as a warehouseman at the Regional Public Market in western New York, while our mom was busy working in the local grocery store.  We also grew veggies in our home garden.  We were quite fortunate to always have a bounty of  fresh fruits and vegetables on hand. We each had a row in our garden to try our hand at whatever we wanted: romaine, eggplants, peppers, zucchini and tomatoes, just to name a few.  We even grew garlic on the side of our garage. Dad said the sun was perfect for it there! As a result, from a young age, we learned about all the different…

Greens and BeansAccording to Auntie, dark green and leafy vegetables are the most nutritious of any food and are incredibly rich sources of vitamins and minerals.  Back in Italy, our Gramma  was able to get many of the greens she used for her main dishes, soups and salads (she always had a salad every night,)  just by picking them as they grew wild alongside the road. We, however, recommend going to the market or your local grocers.One wonderful benefit is that they help to prevent cataracts and improve the overall health of the eyes. Hmm, no wonder she could always see what we were up to. We…

“Zuppa di Clams and Mussels” over Angel Hair PastaOur grandparents were born in southern Italy, an area known for its many varieties of seafood dishes. We were introduced to family favorites at a very young age. Walking with Gramma to the public market to see Guido, "The Fish Man,” was quite an experience.  After a lot of hand-waving, and what would seem to most kids, loud-talking in a version of Italian/English that was truly their own there, we would purchase the freshest “catch.” Clams and mussels were always sitting in ice to keep them alive on the walk home. After all, we had to stop for…

Pasta 101 When we were little we loved watching our Gramma create her homemade pastas. She never even used a bowl! She’d pull out a huge wooden board and mix everything together...right on the board. She started with a mound of flour (she never had to  measure), make a well in the middle, and add her ingredients: eggs, cheese, olive oil, whatever she liked. Then she'd mix it all together and the magic would begin. She gave us a little piece of dough to work with and showed us how to knead and roll.  We always knew a fun time and a delicious meal were in store when “the board” came out. One of…

The Family PicnicSince the kids are grown and out on their own, we decided to bring everyone together by throwing a yearly picnic.  We play games, take lots of photos, share stories, and EAT! Family, fun and food…what could be better?  Of course, we always want it to be memorable.  So, this particular year we chose Dad’s Pulled Pork Recipe.  The video shows “how we do it."  With so many of us in the kitchen, it’s bound to get interesting…Enjoy!   Dad’s Pulled-Pork Recipe1¼ cups ketchup                                ½ cup chopped onion1 cup water                                          ¼ cup…