Wild garlic…
Springtime sends me wild! The crocuses are popping up through the firm winter ground and without a doubt I think we are all ready to see and embrace the first signs of Spring and what this wonderful seasonal change brings with it. Blue skies, crisp air, and suddenly, our gardens [...]
Cucina povera amaretti
Cucina povera amaretti With the spike and constant increase in home services and food, we find ourselves needing to stretch our pennies and almost step back in time to be almost frugal in our choices, wants and purchases. Our personal family food shop is high every week and while I’m [...]
Memories from a jam sandwich
Jam butty! I was reminiscing recently about my dad and food, the humble jam sandwich came instantly to mind, random I know! Now when I say jam sandwich, I am not referring to a soft artisan freshly baked sourdough bread with lashings of premium jam with its gold star award, [...]
Polenta pizza…
Polenta pizza please …. If I excitedly mutter the words polenta the response I normally receive is a grunt of utter disappointment and dread! This saddens me desperately because polenta is not only filling and inexpensive but it’s warming, full of flavour and just perfect for this time of year. [...]
Torta della Nonna …..
Tart! Holding a strong similarity to the famous and very much-loved cinnamon, speckled and dusted custard tart, the ‘torta della nonna’ has the added joy of a baked pine-nut topping with an almost sun-kissed finished. My tummy rumbles at the very thought of a slice, meaning always a large slice [...]
Pear, gorgonzola & walnut crumble risotto.
Pear, gorgonzola & walnut crumble risotto. The cold wintery nights have well and truly drawn in, the children have almost broken up from school, ready to await their imminent visit from ‘Babbo Natale’. We are all exhausted after another hard (covid) year and yet we will always require [...]
Panforte this festive season
The gift of Panforte to start the festive season… I always find that Christmas is the one time of year where I take a little moment to reflect, especially this year. I wonder is it because the nights have drawn in and the frost has time to settle or [...]
Polpettone di Vitello e’ Uva
Polpettone di Vitello e’ Uva A centrepiece with a difference. This is my stunning polpettone meatloaf recipe that would easily claim centre stage on any family dinner table. I have mentioned before that I am not the best at cooking a traditional roast dinner because it was something [...]
Pumpkin pasta
Pumpkin pasta Halloween has now passed but the remnants of beautifully carved pumpkins still scatter the autumn-coloured garden. This autumnal delight does raise a somewhat childlike smile to my face. Small, medium and monster in size, to carve of course but, to eat in pasta or pies, most definitely [...]
Baked chocolate rice pudding
Baked sweet risotto pudding The supermarkets are fast filling up with festive chocolate treat, biscuits, and puddings. Tubs of colourful favourites, tubes of sweeties, posh looking chocolate boxes wrapped with red ribbons and plenty of other indulgent treats. I am that woman, the one who tends to become a [...]
The comfort of pastina
The comfort of pastina A warming bowl of broth (brodo in Italian) or stock can be a welcomed homecoming on a cooler autumnal evening and the perfect foundation and carrier of many dishes. A well-made brodo can take tortellini pasta to the next level, risotto would be full [...]
Ricotta and Chive Flower Ravioli
Ricotta and Chive Flower Ravioli Photos and recipe by Carmela Sereno Hayes The simplicity of pasta for speed, urgency, and the tummy rumbling need can never be looked down upon. From a simple bowl of pasta with butter and black pepper to little Pugliese ears of orecchiette with broccoli [...]