Clams Oreganate

I am going to give you the long version of making clams oreganate by making your own breadcrumbs.  They are the best.  For some reason making them from scratch are so delicious!!  Growing up in our Italian American family Christmas Eve table was never without out clams oreganate.  Of course they were readily available in … Read more

Tomatoes, tomatoes, tomatoes!

“Hi Teresa, I figured you would know where I can get bushels of tomatoes.”  “Oh sorry Teresa, we can’t! We are swimming in tomatoes here!” “Hello Teresa, I have brought you a bushel of tomatoes.” So.much talk of tomatoes!! What can I say it’s tomato season in the Hudson Valley! I always teased my kids and … Read more

Pizza Margherita

Ingredients: 1 ball pizza dough (You can make your own or buy already prepared at your local grocer.)1 1/2 dozen ripe cherry tomatoes sliced in half1 clove of garlic grated (You can leave it out of even add more to your liking.)1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil6 leaves of basilgrated pecorino romano cheese or … Read more

Spaghetti ala Putanesca

Serves 2. This dish was actually invented by an innkeeper in Ischia. The story is that late one night guests were hungry and there was no food left. The innkeeper quickly put together a pasta dish with whatever he had on hand which included some tomatoes, olives, capers and anchovies. He said he put together … Read more

Olive & Caper Sauce and Finding My Voice

My favorite part of my job is talking to all the people I meet. This past year at one of my seminars I met a woman who, as soon as I said hello to her, she proclaimed her love for Adams Fairacre Farms (the specialty grocery store in my area where I have my seminars). … Read more

Olive & Caper Sauce Recipe

Here’s a pasta recipe that was a family favorite! Ingredients: 2 garlic large garlic cloves sliced thin½ cup extra virgin olive oil2 tablespoons of chopped fresh Italian parsley¼ cup of sliced Kalamata olives or Gaeta Olives¼ cup of sliced green olives with herbs¼ cup of sliced green French olives¼ cup of capers (drained)¼ cup of … Read more

Italian Easter Bread (Casatiello Dolce) recipe

Ingredients 3-3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour2/3 cup sugar1/2 teaspoon salt1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast1/4 teaspoon lemon zest1 teaspoon of dry vanilla1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon3 large eggs, room temperature¼ cup lukewarm water1/3 cup of orange juice1 tablespoon warm honey2 oz of Strega Liquor11-1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter (10-1/2 tablespoons softened and cut into tablespoons; 1 tablespoon chilled) … Read more

Italian Salsa Verde

Ingredients: 1 garlic clove, minced3/4 teaspoon (or more) fine sea salt1/2 teaspoon (or more) black pepper1/2 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper1/2 teaspoon (packed) grated lemon peel3 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil3/4 cup (packed) chopped Italian parsley ( Italian parsley is the flat-leaved variety as opposed to the curly “moss” variety common … Read more

Scallops Belvedere Recipe

Served over Mashed Potatoes and Steamed Green Beans. Ingredients: 8 (Dry) Sea Scallops (serves 2 people)1/3 cup white wine3 drops of tabasco sauce4 sprigs of fresh Rosemary (pull apart leaves off of 2 sprigs and roughly chop) (save 2 sprigs for serving)½ cup of Seafood Stock or Chicken StockSalt to taste around ½ tsp1 tablespoon … Read more