Wait – what??? It is December??? How in the world did December turn up already? Wow, I have to say this has been one of the zippiest years I can ever remember.  With my 187 year-old house under renovation, the Christmas decorations remain in the basement this year. Yet, this girl is not one to miss a good holiday! Bring on Christmas!

The thought of going to a crowded mall (well, candidly any shopping mall) makes me depressed so it was time to get creative amongst all the chaos. 

Continue reading Easy Homemade Gifts from an Italian Kitchen at Our Italian Table.

Italian “salsa verde” is very different from the pureed green stuff you pour into those little plastic cups and drizzle on your tacos. The Italian stuff is a briney, lemony and bright mixture with a wide variety of uses. In fact, Italian salsa verde is well suited to drizzle on simple grilled fish, roasted chicken or boiled meats in sandwiches.

I like to always have a little jar of this wonderful condiment in the fridge.

Continue reading Salsa Verde – Not the stuff that goes on tacos… at Our Italian Table.

Warm, fresh, creamy homemade ricotta. Yummmm. Simply heavenly.

Who in the world would have thought it was this easy to make fresh ricotta??? I will never buy store bought ricotta again! I remember being in Sicilia one Easter with my friend, Danielle.  Danielle lived with his parents (of course) in the apartamento above. On Easter morning, the doorbell rang and there stood his friend, who had driven down from his village near Mount Etna, to deliver a freshly killed baby goat for roasting, warm, fresh ricotta and a loaf of freshly baked bread wrapped in simple brown paper. 

Continue reading Homemade Ricotta: A pillow of sweet, creamy goodness at Our Italian Table.

‘You know, when you get your first asparagus, or your first acorn squash, or your first really good tomato of the season, those are the moments that define the cook’s year. I get more excited by that than anything else.’ (Mario Batali)

It is tomato time!! How exciting to walk out to my garden to find my vines bursting with ripe, luscious red tomatoes. Or to steal out to the garden, amongst the leaves and fruit, to sprinkle salt on the freshest of treats. 

Continue reading Roasted Fresh Tomato Sauce: Summer’s Sweet Gift at Our Italian Table.