Scorri a basso per L’Italiano   Makes 40 – 60 pieces depending on the size you cut the pieces   Salted crackers are the base of this crunchy, chocolate-covered treat that we top with a little bit of nuts and fleur de sel to give this candy extra flavour.  They are a great treat to add to any holiday baking and loved by everyone.   Ingredients Cooking spray 43 saltine crackers to line a 10 x 15-inch (25 x 38 cm) baking tray 225 gr unsalted butter 220 gr brown sugar 1 tsp vanil

Scorri a basso per l’Italiano   Makes 100 cookies   There is something about the taste of orange and cranberries but add some pecans and these cookies are delicious.  They are a great addition to any Christmas cookie platter.   Plan ahead to make these at they need to chill in the fridge for five hours or in the freezer for 1.25 hours before they can be baked.   Ingredients 300 gr sugar Zest of 4 oranges 450 gr softened butter 120 gr icing sugar 1 tbsp vanilla 4 egg yolks 650

Scorri a basso per l’Italiano   Makes 30 – 60 pieces depending on size of pieces   Toffee is a rich caramel candy that when topped with chocolate, makes it hard to stop eating it when you start.  I use pecan nuts, but you can use whatever nut you like.  Add some Christmas sprinkles and these toffee pieces become festive bites.   I used a candy thermometer to not have to guess when the caramel was ready.  Just dip the thermometer in the pan, making sure the tip is submerged in

Scorri a basso per l’Italiano   Makes: 28 Madeleines   I’ve had Madeleine cake in France and have been wanting to make some for Christmas for a while but didn’t have the pan.  Pans in hand I’m ready to make these pretty little cakes.   In Italy I can’t buy eggnog therefore I used the recipe I made.  You can use store bought if you can’t find it, otherwise it is very simple to make. NOTE: To freeze, place the madeleines on a baking sheet and freeze for ½ hour.  Then you can pl

Scorri a basso per l’Italiano Makes: 70 cookies   A butter cookie flavoured with rum, butterscotch, pecans and walnuts is perfect for our taste buds.  Simple to make and are a great addition to any Christmas baking platter.   Ingredients 350gr butter at room temperature 100 gr icing sugar ½ tsp salt 500 gr flour 1 tbsp rum 60 gr finely chopped pecans 60 gr finely chopped walnuts 185 gr butterscotch chips   Rum Glaze Ingredients 100 gr icing sugar 1 tbsp rum 2 tbsp milk 50 gr

Scorri a basso per Italiano   Makes: 100 cookies   Eggnog and chocolate chip cookies are a perfect addition to any holiday cookie platter.  Of course they are really good to dunk in milk too!  Since there is no eggnog in Italy, I used my Eggnog Recipe  for these cookies.    Ingredients 240 gr butter, at room temperature 340 gr sugar 180 ml eggnog (full fat if store bought) 1 tbsp vanilla 3 egg yolks 425 gr flour 2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon ground nutm

Scorri a basso per Italiano   Makes: 24 mini loaves     In this recipe I’m making a batch of eggnog mini loaves, which 12 loaves will be plain eggnog and the other 12 I’ve added chocolate chips.  Of course, in Italy there isn’t eggnog therefore I created my own Eggnog Recipe  to use for this one.    These loaves are a great addition to any holiday baking you give away.  Wrap them separately and they are a big hit.  I used cardboard preformed cups which the loaf remains in.  I

Scorri a basso per I ‘Italiano   Makes 90 biscotti   When I was working, I’d make this recipe in “Big” biscotti version as my employees loved them any time of year.  Now I make them to augment the Christmas baking I do for all the special people that have touched our hearts here in Italy.  Big or Mini, they are delicious when topped with chocolate.   You can top them with any chocolate you want, however I used dark chocolate as I’m making the Pistachio and Caramel biscotti ve

Scorri a basso per I’italiano   Serves: 4 Today I let my good friend and neighbour in Arona, Loredana, make this incredible meal. She wanted to learn something new and after we cooked our full meal, our husbands Luciano and Gianni sat down for a delicious dinner. This easy and delicious layered eggplant brings eggplant parmigiana to the next level.  Served with rice, makes it a full hearty meal that everyone will love.  If you want to make it vegetarian, don’t add the roast

Scorri a basso per l’italiano   Makes 16   I love when I find new sweet spreadable creams at our local market.  Most are fruit, nut or chocolate based, however today I found a organic caramel coconut one that I topped with hazelnuts and shredded coconut and made these delicious rolls for dessert.       Ingredients 2 round puff pastry rolls Caramel Coconut cream to taste Finely chopped hazelnuts to taste Shredded coconut to taste 1 egg Fancy sugar sprinkles Icing sugar   Direc

Scorri a basso per l’italiano   Serves: 4   Tomatoes with fresh mozzarella cheese is a traditional Italian salad that I absolutely love.  It is light and refreshing and is great as a side to any meal.    Ingredients 3 tomatoes 2 fresh mozzarella balls Olive oil Salt Dried oregano Good balsamic vinegar   Directions Slice the tomatoes and mozzarella about the same thickness Place tomatoes and mozzarella alternately on a plate Sprinkle the tomatoes and mozzarella with olive oil,

Scorri a basso per l’italiano Serves: 4 - 6   Green beans are so good for us because they are packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They can contribute to heart health, digestive health, and even help with weight management because they are low in calories and high in fiber.    This cold green bean salad is a great side dish to any meal.   Ingredients 1 kg green beans, cleaned, cut into pieces and boiled until cooked 115 gr thinly sliced pancetta 1 large shallo

Scorri a basso per l’italiano   Makes: 15 cutlets, serves 4 plus 8 cutlets for freezer   These cutlets cooked in butter and broth then baked with ham and cheese on top of them are juicier and delicious and of course healthy.   Ingredients 400 gr breadcrumbs 1 tsp salt 1 tsp garlic granules 1 tsp onion flakes 1 tsp dried parsley 1 tsp paprika 3 eggs 2 tbsp herbed cream cheese 700 gr turkey thin filets Cauliflower florets – as much as you want Broccoli florets – as much as you

Scorri a basso per l’italiano   Serves: 3   A fresh sandwich with a simple green salad is perfect for a summer night.  Through all the ingredients into the oven and let it create magic.  I cheated and bought some store made meatballs because here in Italy they are delicious and healthy.   Ingredients 95 gr sliced onions 250 gr sliced red and yellow peppers 350 gr turkey meatballs 1 tbsp minced garlic (I used one in oil) Garlic salt or salt and pepper to taste ½ tbsp dried ore

Scorri a basso per l’italiano   Serves: 2   Baked baby gnocchi are great in this simple bacon and zucchini sauce.  Great any time of day.   Ingredients 500 gr fresh packaged gnocchi 1 - 2 tbsp olive oil Garlic salt or salt & pepper to taste 1 tbsp vegetable broth 150 gr bacon 1 tbsp vegetable broth 160 gr diced zucchini 50 gr diced onions Vegetable broth as required Garlic salt or salt & pepper to taste Hot pepper flakes to taste Grated pecorino Romano cheese to taste   Direc

Scorri a basso per l’italiano   Serves: 4   I had several zucchini and ham in the fridge, added some eggs and cheese and made this amazing zucchini bake.  I served it with my simple Tomato Bocconcini Salad which was a perfect light meal.   Ingredients 400 gr thinly sliced zucchini 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tsp salt 3 eggs 75 ml milk 50 ml Greek yogurt 2 tbsp grated parmigiano cheese 1 tsp paprika Cooking spray Grated parmigiano cheese to taste Cooked ham slices cut into pieces, to

Scorri a basso per l’italiano   Serves: 2   This light and fresh tomato and bocconcini salad goes well with any meal.  I’ve paired it with my Zucchini Ham Bake and it was delicious.   Ingredients 2 tomatoes, diced 150 gr baby bocconcini sliced in half Olive oil to taste Dried oregano to taste Salt to taste Aged balsamic vinegar to taste   Directions Add tomatoes, bocconcini, oil, oregano and salt in a bowl and mix well Serve next to any meat and drizzle as much vinegar you w

Scorri a basso per l’italiano   Makes: 32 cookies   These thin cookies that go great on top of dessert cups are called cat’s tongue because they are thin, elongated with a rough surface just like a cat’s tongue. Really simple to make and they are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.  Absolutely delicious! I added them to my Citrus Mousse desserts.   Ingredients 100 gr egg whites (3 eggs) 70 gr icing sugar 100 gr 00 flour 70 ml sunflower oil 1 tsp vanilla Sugar gran

Scorri a basso per l’italiano   Makes: Four 200 ml jars   I just love citrusy desserts any time of year and this lemon and orange mousse is light and perfect as dessert after dinner or served on a dessert table.   We make a lemon cream that has to cool for an hour before mixing it with the whip cream and then we put it in little jars that can stay in the fridge until ready to use.   Ingredients Zest of 1 lemon – set aside 150 ml freshly squeezed orange juice 150 ml freshly sq

Scorri a basso per l’italiano   Serves: 2 – 3   Gianni wanted something that was easy to swallow yet hardy as his appetite is getting better.  This one is full of veggies with some pastina to make it a full filling meal.  What is wonderful about these kinds of soups is you can add whichever vegetables and however much you want.    Ingredients 100 gr frozen spinach, thawed and water squeezed out 1 medium carrot, diced 100 gr cauliflower, diced 225 gr canned red kidney beans 1