Category Archives: Uncategorized

I had some clams left over from the Clams and Couscous recipe, so I picked some celery from my garden, defrosted a fish stock that I made last week with the head and backbone of a scorpionfish (rockfish) and I also had a drop of fresh cream in the fridge. I didn’t make a rouxContinue reading “Clam Chowder (light)”

Today something a bit different. Actually it’s ‘a bit different’ only because I had decided to cook clams with pasta but when I got home from the shops I realized I didn’t have any pasta – but I did have a packet of couscous with linseeds! The result is delicious and is made even moreContinue reading “Clams with Couscous – and a surprise ingredient :)”

Dried Fava Beans (Broad Beans) with Cicorie….a bitter green vegetable that is widely used in Puglia. If you can’t find it where you live you can use chard or spinach. Soak the dried fava beans for about 8 hours in cold water. Drain and place in a saucepan covered by 3 to 4 cm ofContinue reading “Fave e Cicorie (Fava Bean Mash with Greens)”

It is such a pleasure to forage in your own garden 🙂 My garden was a delight this morning after all these days of rain. The rocket seems to have grown overnight 🙂 I didn’t have anything much in the fridge….just three left-over mushrooms and some radishes….so I picked a few leaves of rocket, aContinue reading “Radish Rocket and Mushroom salad”

This is a recipe I invented a few years ago. I call it Coquilles San Nicola because I use mussels and salmon instead of scallops. Mussels are synonymous with Bari and San Nicola is the patron saint…..hence my inspiration for the name 🙂 1kg mussels (cooked following the recipe for Impepata di cozze) 200gr salmonContinue reading “Coquille San Nicola ;)”

Impepata di cozze is a classic Baresi dish. This is how you make it: 1kg mussels 50ml extra-virgin olive oil 2 cherry tomatoes 2 cloves garlic freshly ground black pepper Put the oil into a saucepan with the halved tomatoes and garlic. Allow to cook for about 1 minute and then add in the musselsContinue reading “Impepata di Cozze (mussels…don’t quite know how to translate ‘impepata’ :)”

I hate Sundays and I’ve discovered that I hate lockdown Sundays even more….but cold lockdown Sundays with incessant rain take the biscuit! So here’s my plan: Coffee and ricotta lemon yoghurt cake in bed is always a good way to start the day. I usually enjoy the Sunday papers too but today I just don’tContinue reading “Cure for lockdown Sunday blues”

This cake is simple and delicious, I love it with coffee for breakfast. I’m making it a lot these days because my lemon tree is laden 🙂 The other day I had some ricotta left over and I added it in, the result is great. Hope you like it! 1 tub low-fat natural yoghurt (125Continue reading “Ricotta Lemon and Yoghurt Cake”

So now that you know how to make soda bread you can try lots of different ways of eating it. I think for St. Patrick’s Day this green, white and gold open sandwich is just perfect. Toast a slice of soda bread and top it with mashed avocado and smoked salmon. Season with crushed blackContinue reading “Smoked Salmon and Avocado on Soda Bread Toast”

Making soda bread is about the closest I can get to celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this year with lockdowns and travel restrictions in place both in Ireland and Italy! So I hope you enjoy this little taste of Ireland and Beannachtai’ na Feile Padraig oraibh 🙂 450gr plain flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon breadContinue reading “Soda Bread….a taste of Ireland for Paddy’s Day”