Beans have long been a staple ingredient in many Italian dishes and have been a common ingredient throughout Italian history. The region of Tuscany alone is famous for its production of cannellini or “white kidney beans”. In Italy cannellini beans are sometimes referred to as fagioli. Tuscany also produces other beans such [...]

Polenta is white or yellow cornmeal that is a type of porridge or gruel which was a common food served during Roman times. Once to be considered peasant food in and around Italy, it is now making a come back as a gourmet dish in many famous restaurants. In the past, polenta was [...]

In the Italian language “bagna cauda,” means hot or warm bath. Bagna cauda is an Italian dip that originated in Piedmont, Italy, and is made using olive oil, garlic and anchovies and served warm, usually with fresh breads or uncooked vegetables. Many variations of the dip can be found throughout Italy and how [...]

Many people love the pungent flavor and smell of garlic. This unique bulb adds flavor to many dishes and is a staple ingredient in many Italian dishes. Unfortunately, many of us end up buying that huge mesh bag filled with the fragrant white bulb, but are not sure to use them all up [...]

Traditional Italian summer cooking incorporates the use of vegetables like tomatoes, eggplant and peppers, while in the winter season cabbage is the one most commonly used. Italian cabbage comes in many different varieties and many people are unaware of just how many different types there are. In the past, certain types were only [...]

In Italian “chiacchiere” means “to chat,” but the word is also the name of a delicious cookie too. A Ciacchiere makes a crackle and crunch when eaten and is made of a crispy, fried pasty which crumbles all over the place. The cookies are traditionally made once a year during the celebration of [...]

Even though there may be a large Italian population in the United States, there are many people that are still unsure of how to properly enjoy a dish of spaghetti. Italian table manners dictate a certain “proper” etiquette which a person should observe when enjoying a mouthwatering dish of spaghetti, which does not include [...]

Many cultures make some form of dumpling and Italian cuisine is no different. The type of dumpling that is the most common in Italy is gnocchi, which is made out of flour and potatoes. The recipe can vary from region to region in Italy and the dumplings are made small and bite sized. [...]

Marsala wine is one of Sicily’s most famous wines. Marsala wine was first made in the city of Marsala, which the wine is named after. This is a fortified wine that usually has an alcohol content of about 20 percent. Marsala wine is made from grapes that are native to the region. [...]

In the United States many of us enjoy ice cream. Americans eat about 23 quarts of the stuff every year. People in the St. Louis, Missouri area alone purchases the most ice cream in the United States next to Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington. That is a lot of ice cream. [...]