Winter will not quit here in the East! Snowed again last eve and we are expecting another few inches tomorrow nite. My dear brother out in sunny California keeps reminding me of how wonderfully warm it is in LA this time of year. I keep reminding him that I am much closer to Italy than he is. Sibling love 🙂

What better way to brighten up my winter’s day than with food! Not wanting to go out in the snow, I spied a few sweet potatoes in the pantry and decided to spend a peaceful morning making some yummy sweet potato gnocchi.

Continue reading Chase Away Those Winter Blues: Sweet Potato Gnocchi at Our Italian Table.

Ahhh, the elusive cavolo nero! This mysterious green is an essential ingredient for authentic ribollita – a Tuscan soup made with tomatoes, beans, kale and bread.  Since first tasting this classic soup on a chilly winter day in Tuscany, I have been on a search for this hardy, healthful green in America.  With kale’s recent rise in popularity in American cooking, I was wonderfully surprised to find a huge fresh bucket full of cavolo nero at our local farmer’s market; its dark green and purple wrinkly leaves almost smiling at me as if to say ‘Here I am!!

Continue reading The Elusive Cavolo Nero (Black Kale): Black Kale, Sweet Potato and Cheddar Gratin at Our Italian Table.