Saucy Siciliana

ACTIVE AGING SEMINAR IN ROME ...ADVICE FOR PROSPECTIVE RETIREES AND PENSIONERS

2012-03-04T06:21:00.002-08:00

I attended a very interesting seminar on retirement. Various topics were discussed, among which, where to retire, leading a healthy lifestyle, health and nutrition, personal action planning, ways to remain active, financial issues, etc.

Many thanks to Peggy Nelson, Ricky Holcombe, and their assistants Sayaka Alessandra and Laura Locicero, for the wonderful organization and planning.

Beppe, Peggy (President), Hélène, Ricky (Speaker), me

Laura and Sayaka (assistant organizers) and Ricky

BANANA & APPLE LOW-FAT CUPCAKES

2012-03-01T07:18:00.003-08:00

I got the recipe for these cupcakes from Victoria Threader of Good To Know Recipes magazine www.goodtoknow.co.uk/victoria Butter is replaced by applesauce.

I used IL MOLINO CHIAVAZZA FLOUR AND CORNFLOUR

SICILIAN BREAD AND IL MOLINO CHIAVAZZA

2012-02-15T00:31:00.000-08:00

Here is another product which IL MOLINO CHIAVAZZA http://www.molinochiavazza.it/ sent me: SEMOLA RIMACINATA, it's a special kind of flour for bread, cakes and pasta. Here is their blog where you can see more of their products

http://www.cultura-del-frumento.blogspot.com/

I used the Semola Rimacinata of Il Molino Chiavazza to make our everyday Sicilian bread.

VALENTINE'S WITH...IL MOLINO CHIAVAZZA!

2012-02-13T08:12:00.000-08:00

IL MOLINO CHIAVAZZA http://www.molinochiavazza.it/ is an Italian company which produces various kinds of flour and other food products. Please visit their blog
http://cultura-del-frumento.blogspot.com/ for more information about their products and recipes.

I am a great fan of Il Molino Chiavazza and have started a collaboration with them. They kindly sent me a whole bunch of their products. Below are the first two products I and my daughter used: Wholewheat flour and All-purpose flour.

My daughter, singer Sayaka Alessandra, http://www.sayakaalessandraofficial.com/ made these delicious Valentine day cookies with Il Molino Chiavazza Farina "00" (all-purpose flour )

I used Il Molino Chiavazza Farina Integrale (wholewheat flour) to make this wholewheat bread.

NO BUTTER PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE COOKIES

2012-02-07T10:28:00.000-08:00

I used applesauce instead of butter for these deliciously moist peanut butter and chocolate cookies.

Ho usato purè di mele invece di burro per questi biscotti al burro d'arachidi e cioccolato.

ROME IN WHITE

2012-02-03T08:55:00.000-08:00

We are all so excited here in Rome, it hasn't snowed since 1985!

Che spettacolo, Roma con la neve, non accadeva da anni!

My daughter Sayaka Alessandra taking Rocky out for a walk in the snow, he's never seen snow so he wouldn't walk on the ground.

BLAST FROM THE PAST...STELLA D'ORO FROM THE BRONX!

2012-01-30T11:25:00.000-08:00

When I was a teenager and living in the Bronx, I loved the Sicilian Anise cookies sold by Stella D'Oro, a company based in the Bronx. I borrowed the recipe from my friend Mariabianca http://panzaepresenza.blogspot.com/ and this is the result.

REMEMBER BARNUM & BAILEY AND THE PENNY ARCADE?

2012-01-22T03:49:00.000-08:00

New video by my daughter Sayaka Alessandra http://www.sayakaalessandraofficial.com/ brings us back to the 1930s

ALL OF ME...IF A MAN BEHAVES LIKE THIS, BETTER SHOW HIM THE DOOR!

2012-01-14T11:09:00.000-08:00

New Video...a 1931 classic jazz standard sang by my daughter Sayaka Alessandra http://www.sayakaalessandraofficial.com/

THIS IS WHAT I GOT FOR CHRISTMAS....SUBLIMINAL MESSAGE?

2012-01-11T08:16:00.000-08:00

My daughter http://www.sayakaalessandraofficial.com/ gave me these gorgeous silicone cupcake molds and towel cake. I think she's trying to tell me to get back into the kitchen. The fact is that we are temporarily in Rome and renting a tiny apartment with a microscopic kitchen so I have not been doing much baking lately. But I just can't wait to use these molds, they are so cute!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELVIS!

2012-01-07T08:51:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is January 8, the birthday of Elvis Presley! Youtube featured this video on their front page on Elvis Week 2009, it got about half a million views from all over the world and made my daughter Sayaka Alessandra http://www.sayakaalessandraofficial.com/ a web celebrity.

THE NEW DOMESTIC GODDESS

2012-01-05T12:13:00.000-08:00

My daughter Sayaka Alessandra http://www.sayakaalessandraofficial.com/ doing a parody of Nigella Lawson

THE FIRST GUESTS

2012-01-03T05:45:00.000-08:00

My Indonesian friend Indra just moved into a new house and invited me and my daughter Sayaka Alessandra http://www.sayakaalessandraofficial.com/ for a housewarming party.

Sayaka and I in a Bianca/Georgia Jagger pose:)

I'm wearing the necklaces that Indra gave me as a Christmas gift.

Indra and I at the dining table

When in Rome...eat as the Indonesians do:) The Panettone is obviously a tradition that cannot be broken.

This is the original Motta panettone in its vintage package.

DILEMMA.... WHERE SHALL WE SPEND NEW YEAR'S, AT THE RITZ OR AT THE PLAZA?

2011-12-29T05:14:00.000-08:00

WISHING YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Sayaka Alessandra http://www.sayakaalessandraofficial.com/ singing "Puttin' On The Ritz", a 1929 swing song by Irving Berlin.

The Plaza Hotel in Rome, our second choice:)

Where will you spend New Year's Eve?

Cosa fate per Capodanno?

SANTA CLAUS AND I WISH YOU HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

2011-12-28T01:48:00.000-08:00

My daughter Sicilian-Japanese singer Sayaka Alessandra http://www.sayakaalessandraofficial.com/ sings a Christmas classic.

CHRISTIAN DE SICA AND ME

2011-12-20T04:08:00.000-08:00

CHRISTIAN DE SICA is the most eclectic Italian entertainer - actor, singer, comedian and movie director. He lives in our neighborhood and yesterday I met him at the cafè near our house. His father was Vittorio De Sica, an Oscar winning actor and movie director. Christian de Sica is now starring in the latest Christmas movie, the 28th of the series of cinepanettoni...."VACANZE DI NATALE - CORTINA 2011", now showing in movie theaters all over Italy.

A DAY AT MY FRIEND'S HOUSE IN ROME

2011-12-17T03:54:00.000-08:00

My friend Bep and I spent the day baking, here are our fudge brownies

This is the dough for the cinnamon rolls that Bep kneaded

The finished product, cinnamon rolls and ... Bep washing up.

HAIR FASHION IN ROME

2011-12-14T03:41:00.000-08:00

HAIR FASHION SALON Via Ginori 61 in the Testaccio quarter of Rome.

Here is my new haircut, by Antonietta, hairdresser and owner of Hair Fashion. I am wearing an H&M sweater which I borrowed from my daughter.

My daughter Sayaka Alessandra http://www.sayakaalessandraofficial.com/ getting a new haircut by Antonietta.

Brand new haircut

FASHION ADDICTS...ALL WE NEED IS THE CATWALK

2011-12-08T06:30:00.000-08:00

My daughter, Sicilian-Japanese singer Sayaka Alessandra http://www.sayakaalessandraofficial.com/ is a fashion addict and in this video she's showing off some of the clothes she has bought in Sicily and in Rome.

LIKE DAUGHTER, LIKE MOTHER:)

Red is my favorite color. This is my red Kiko lipstick and red sweater from Fili D'Erba

We're both wearing Coral lipstick from Kiko and orange teashirts from Piazza Italia

SWEET NOTHIN'S, SWEET FRIENDS AND SWEETY ROME

2011-12-07T05:27:00.000-08:00

SWEET NOTHIN'S

My daughter, Sicilian-Japanese singer Sayaka Alessandra http://www.sayakaalessandraofficial.com/ sings about sweets, while I make them:) Our chi Rocky makes a special guest appearance.

Me and my friend Vivianne enjoying a Sunday brunch at Sweety Rome.

Sweety Rome's luscious carrot cake.

FOR MY SPANISH FRIENDS

2011-12-06T03:09:00.000-08:00

My daughter, Siciliana/Japanese singer Sayaka Alessandra http://www.sayakaalessandraofficial.com/ sings the song both in English and Spanish. In the background, pictures of Rome and Sicily.

BARGAINS AND PICKPOCKETS

2011-12-05T07:15:00.000-08:00

PORTA PORTESE

Rome's (in)famous Sunday flea market. Great bargains but watch out for pickpockets. As you can see below, the police are always on the lookout.

My daughter, Sicilian-Japanese singer Sayaka Alessandra http://www.sayakaalessandraofficial.com/ wearing a warm woollen sweater which she got in Porta Portese for 8 euros!

"COUNTRY" IN SICILY, AND SICILIAN COUNTRYSIDE...TRAPANI, SICILY

2011-12-01T04:07:00.000-08:00

My daughter, SAYAKA ALESSANDRA http://www.sayakaalessandraofficial.com/ singing the beautiful country song JOLENE for a charity concert in Trapani for the LILT, the Italian Association for Breast Cancer) accompanied by the Quartetto Trapanese, a Sicilian band from Trapani ...Vito Morello, Chicco Alotta, Roberto Gervasi (Jahmento) and Francesco Canamela.

Sayaka Alessandra picking the famous red oranges (blood oranges) in the province of Trapani

A panoramic view of my town Buseto Palizzolo, just 15 kms. from Trapani

A KITCHEN IS NOT ONLY FOR COOKING / LA CUCINA NON SERVE SOLO PER CUCINARE

2011-11-28T03:51:00.000-08:00

My daughter, Sayaka Alessandra http://www.sayakaalessandraofficial.com/ uses the kitchen to sing (here she is singing Sitting on the Dock of the Bay, sitting on the kitchen table:) but I use it to cook. I am preparing a traditional sicilian dish...pasta con l'aglio (or pesto trapanese, as it is also known)

ONCE UPON A TIME EVERY "ITALIANO" WANTED TO BE "AMERICANO"...WE STILL DO TODAY!

2011-11-24T06:52:00.000-08:00

After WWII, Italians loved everything American...whiskey, cigarettes, rock&roll etc. Neapolitan musician Renato Carosone wrote this beautiful song to celebrate those times. My daughter Sayaka Alessandra http://www.sayakaalessandraofficial.com/ sang "Tu Vuò Fà l'Americano" on Sicilian television channel VideoSicilia in Alcamo. Check out that sexy "Godfather" dancing with her:)

Times haven't changed. We still love anything that's American. Here my daughter and I are having lunch at McDonald's in Bologna, Italy. Even our chihuahua Rocky loves McDonald's!

SICILY'S VERY OWN...NIGELLA ESPRESSO!

2011-11-22T05:08:00.000-08:00

ITALIAN SAUSAGES IN SPRITE

Nigella Lawson is my favorite cook. It occurred to me one day that my daughter, Sayaka Alessandra, http://www.sayakaalessandraofficial.com/, instead of resembling me, resembles Nigella...well, not physically perhaps :) but the long hair and the accent, but mostly in the messy cooking, so I suggested that she do a parody of Nigella.

Well, it's obvious that Sayaka should stick to singing, and leave the cooking to me. Here is a chocolate cake I made recently. Photographed by our talented friends DIGITAL STUDIOS di Alessandro Spatafora e Agostino Parisi, address: Via Guglielmo Marconi 80, Trapani, Sicily

A TRIBUTE TO THE MOST FAMOUS SOUTHERN DISH...JAMBALAYA!

2011-11-20T07:51:00.000-08:00

My daughter, Sayaka Alessandra, http://www.sayakaalessandraofficial.com/ loves this traditional Cajun dish so much that she even sings about it:. Our chihuahua Rocky makes a special guest appearance in this video:)

BACK TO THE GOOD OLD DAYS IN TRAPANI, SICILY

2011-11-16T23:07:00.000-08:00

Practically every home in our little town Buseto Palizzolo is connected to Internet, but there are some things from the past that we still hold on to.

Here is my daughter, Sicilian-Japanese singer Sayaka Alessandra http://www.sayakaalessandraofficial.com/ drawing fresh drinking water from a well. So much better than bottled water!

I needed salt to cook my spaghetti so I went to the salt mines in Trapani. Salt from Trapani is exported all over the world.

MOM AND DAUGHTER AT ROADHOUSE, ROME / MAMMA E FIGLIA ALLA ROADHOUSE DI TESTACCIO

2011-11-14T01:54:00.000-08:00

SAYAKA ALESSANDRA http://www.sayakaalessandraofficial.com/ AT THE NEW ROADHOUSE IN TESTACCIO

PEANUTS ANYONE?

DECISIONS, DECISIONS....

SAYAKA ALESSANDRA COULDN'T RESIST THE CHEESECAKE WITH STRAWBERR SAUCE

"A SLICE OF LUXURY" (GOOD HOUSEKEEPING)

2011-11-09T12:07:00.000-08:00

BILLIONAIRE'S SHORTBREAD

Shortbread, caramel and chocolate topping.

This is a recipe I found in GoodHousekeeping.co.uk
Questa è una ricetta che ho trovato su GoodHousekeeping.co.uk

PEANUT BUTTER AND CHOCOLATE...THE PERFECT MATCH!

2011-11-06T07:21:00.000-08:00

PEANUT BUTTER BROWNIES

The topping: dark chocolate, peanuts and white chocolate

My daughter Sayaka Alessandra in the video which got her featured on Youtube's front page during Elvis Week

2011-11-02T12:30:00.000-07:00

HALLOWEEN PARTY AT BALLOON IN TESTACCIO, ROME

2011-11-01T04:08:00.000-07:00

Francesca, the owner, in front of her shop. She sells sweets, chocolates, candies, decorations and everything you need for parties. The shop also provides catering, cakes and entertainment. Balloon is located in Via Mastro Giorgio in the Testaccio area of Rome.

Francesca, the Cotton Candy Witch

And here I am...Miss Pumpkin 2011!

A spook with a sweet tooth:)

PROSCIUTTO E MELONE...OPPURE NO? / PROSCIUTTO AND MELON...OR IST IT?

2011-10-30T11:19:00.000-07:00

A variation of the classic Italian dish Prosciutto and Melone.... PROSCIUTTO AND PUMPKIN!

Brush a few slices of pumpkin with honey and roast in the oven for about 30 minutes. Place a few slices of prosciutto di Parma on each slice of pumpkin and serve.

Yesterday my friend and I spent the whole day baking and decorating Halloween cookies and cupcakes. Here are Incy Wincy Spider, Vampire's Bite, Devil, a spook and of course the pumpkins!

SOBA ....JAPANESE BUCKWHEAT NOODLES/SPAGHETTI DI GRANO SARACENO GIAPPONESI

2011-10-23T09:40:00.000-07:00

Simple recipe..the sauce is made with dashi, soy sauce, mirin and sugar. Boil the soba noodles, and dip them in the sauce, with a bit of wasabi and chopped green onions.

JAPANESE CURRY

2011-10-19T01:26:00.000-07:00

Japanese curry comes in a "chocolate bar" shape. It's very easy to prepare...just fry meat, onions and vegetables till the meat is brown, add water and cook till the meat and vegetables are done. Take off the fire, add the "chocolate" pieces, stir and cook on a low fire for 10 minutes. Serve with rice.

WHERE TO STAY IN ROME....TIBULLO B&B

2011-08-27T10:33:00.000-07:00

This adorable B&B is run by my friend Michelle Cirnu. It's strategically located in the center of Rome, just a few minutes' walk from Castel Sant'Angelo, theVatican, Piazza Navona, Via del Corso and other tourist destinations. The address is: Via Tibullo 20, Rome. Here are some pictures:

JUST CAN'T GET ENOUGH...MORE MO'S!

2011-08-22T01:42:00.000-07:00

MO'S is a newly opened ice cream shop in Rome located at Via Cola di Rienzo 174. It has a wide choice of ice cream, granitas, ice cream cakes and chocolate products. Great variety and great service. Once you go there, you'll keep coming back.

http://www.gelateriainpratimos.it/

Here's a refreshing Granita al Caffè (Coffee ice)

My friend chose two delicious flavors: Yogurt and Dulce de Leche

Roaming 'round Rome

2011-08-19T07:04:00.000-07:00

Here I'm at Sweety Rome having a coffee and a luscious Red Velvet Cake

Wearing a dress which my daughter (hungrycaramella.blogspot.com) bought for me for my birthday, it's from Promod. The red polka dot headband is from Accessorize.

The metallic chain bracelet is H&M, the beaded bracelets are from OVS

I made these Rigatoni with Bolognese Sauce in our B&B with my rice cooker. Buon Appetito!

Ho preparato questi Rigatoni al Ragù con il mio cuociriso.

ROME'S MOST STRATEGIC PLACE......CASTRONI!!!

2011-08-18T02:55:00.000-07:00

Castroni is Rome's oldest and most famous international food supplier. It is a delight for expats, Italians and tourists. You can find products from all over the world there...America, UK, India, Argentina, Mexico, Japan, Indonesia, Philippines, Mexico and many more countries. They have a great supply of Twining teas, of Italian honey, jams, nuts, candies and many more products

WHEN IN ROME, GO TO THE TEMPLE OF ...GRATTACHECCA!

2011-08-14T10:25:00.000-07:00

GRATTACHECCA is a typical Roman refreshing drink made up of grated ice and sweet syrup or fruit juices. Here is our favorite Grattachecca place, it's along the Tiber river in the Prati neighborhood of Rome.

MY HOMEMADE WAGASHI

2011-08-10T11:19:00.000-07:00

DORAYAKI, KIMISHIGURE and KURIMAN are traditional Japanese sweets, or wagashi. Since they are not available in Italy, I made them myself.

ETHNIC ROME....WHERE TO EAT THE BEST JAPANESE FOOD!

2011-08-08T02:09:00.000-07:00

The Hamasei restaurant is the oldest, and most popular, Japanese restaurants in Rome. Here are some samples of the food they serve.

ROMAN ROSETTA AND MORTADELLA BOLOGNESE

2011-08-05T02:14:00.000-07:00

Rosetta is a typical Roman bread created by Count Gariniello.
Mortadella is made from lean pork and it originated in Bologna.

Rosetta and mortadella is one of the most delicious panini you can eat in Rome.

WHEN IN ROME...COOK LIKE THE ASIANS DO, USE A RICE COOKER! IN VACANZA CUCINATE CON IL CUOCIRISO!

2011-08-03T02:56:00.000-07:00

My family and I are in Rome for the summer and in the place where we're staying I have no kitchen. So it's either eat panini or eat out. I don't like either and started complaining and nagging my husband. Since he's Japanese, he decided that it would be a good idea to buy a RICE COOKER, so at least we wouldn't need to buy rice from the Chinese or Indian restaurants (at least 5 Euros for a small bowl of rice). He brought home the rice cooker you see below and I started preparing rice at home. After a while we got tired of white rice with umeboshi and white rice with furikake. He then searched the web and discovered in a Japanese website that a rice cooker can be used to cook many things and not just rice. One of the first thing I tried is SPAGHETTI AL POMODORO! First, I cooked the sauce, and then the spaghetti. BE SURE TO LEAVE THE TOP OPEN WHEN COOKING SPAGHETTI WITH A RICE COOKER!

Siamo a Roma per lavoro e, stufi di mangiare panini e pizzette. Mio marito, giapponese, ha avuto la splendida idea di comprare un CUOCIRISO, visto che una porzione di riso costa 5 euro nei ristoranti Asiatici. E così ho cominciato a preparare riso ogni giorno però anche il riso bianco dopo un pò diventa noioso. Allora mio marito ha navigato nei siti web giapponesi e ha scoperto che si può cuocere di tutto nel Cuociriso! Ecco la prima cosa che ho preparato...SPAGHETTI AL POMODORO. Ho fatto prima il sugo nel cuociriso, e dopo la pasta. MI RACCOMANDO TENETE IL COPERCHIO APERTO QUANDO CUCINATE LA PASTA NEL CUOCIRISO!

SWEETY ROME....THE SWEETEST PLACE IN ROME!

2011-08-01T12:02:00.000-07:00

I just found the cutest little pastry shop in Rome...even Buddy was there, you can see him in the picture below. It's run by a father and daughter team and they make the most delicious cakes and international desserts! It's located on Via Milano 48.

My very favorite...RED VELVET CAKE!

THE MERRY BUFFALO! LA BUFALA ALLEGRA!

2011-07-31T01:32:00.000-07:00

BUFALA ALLEGRA is a shop where you can find buffalo mozzarella, buffalo ricotta, buffalo meat and cold cuts and other regional delicacies from Campania (Salerno area) and Abruzzo. It's in Rome on Via Orazio 17.

WHEN IN ROME...EAT AS THE ROMANS DO!

2011-07-29T03:14:00.000-07:00

Spaghetti with sausage, rucola and pecorino

Potato Gnocchi with tomato and basil

Trippa (Tripe)

These are typical Roman dishes that you can find at the Trattoria Su e Giù in Via Tacito, 42, Rome.

http://www.suegiucucinaromana.blogspot.com/

ROMA MULTI-ETNICA .... A SPICE EMPORIUM IN ROME'S TESTACCIO NEIGHBORHOOD

2011-07-27T08:06:00.000-07:00

I was running out of spices so yesterday I went to the Testaccio area of Rome to get a supply at EMPORIO DELLE SPEZIE, a fabulous shop where you can find spices, fresh ginger, honey, flours, rice etc.
http://www.emporiodellespezie.com/

A CHEAPSKATE'S ADVICE PART 2: HOW TO SAVE ON BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER IN ROME

2011-07-26T15:10:00.000-07:00

BREAKFAST

EAT YOUR BREAKFAST STANDING UP...If you want to have breakfast at a bar, have your cornetto and cappuccino at the counter because Roman bars usually charge more if you sit at a table.

GET YOUR CORNETTO FROM A CORNETTERIA...if you buy cornetti directly from the baker you wil pay less than at the bar. In the Prati area you can find a cornetteria on Via G.G. Belli 63. Freshly baked cornetti are available from midnight onwards.

LUNCH

Go to a PANINOTECA...lots of choice of panini and tramezzini

Have pizza by the gram at the PIZZA AL TAGLIO shops. Many choices of pizza and you can buy as much or as little as you like.

Go to MONDO ARANCINA, a Sicilian fast food chain in Rome. Here you can get arancine with different fillings, pizza, sfincione, genovesi and other Sicilian delights. In the Prati area Mondo Arancina is in Via Marcantonio Colonna 38. There is one on Via Tuscolana, in Piazzale Clodio, Via Oderisi da Gubbio and in Via della Vite.

Get a made-to-order panino from a supermarket or grocery shop.

DINNER

HAVE A HAPPY HOUR!

Happy hours have become a Roman obsession, every bar in town has a happy hour. For 5-7 Euros they'll give you a drink or juice, a platter of mini-tramezzini, mini-pizzette, potato chips and peanuts. Prices, hours and content vary from bar to bar.

MY BIRTHDAY BREAKFAST IN ROME...AT THE SCHOLAR'S LOUNGE IRISH PUB!

2011-07-26T07:19:00.000-07:00

Breakfast in Rome usually consists of Cornetto and Cappuccino but for my birthday I wanted a HUGE breakfast so we went to the SCHOLAR'S LOUNGE Irish Pub, just off Piazza Venezia and Via Del Corso in downtown Rome.

It's sales time in Rome so my daughter bought me a pretty PROMOD dress for 15 Euros and a lovely BRANDY&MELVILLE scarf for 10 Euros.

A CHEAPSKATE'S ADVICE: HOW TO SPEND LESS IN ROME

2011-07-24T15:22:00.000-07:00

Coming from a small town in Sicily, I found prices in Rome exceedingly high. So I started looking for bargains.

The best places to buy shoes and clothes are the "bancarelle" (stalls). They can be found everywhere in Rome but the most famous ones are those in Porta Portese, a flea market in Trastevere. Porta Portese is open every Sunday and you can find just about anything there at very low prices. Be sure to get there early to avoid the crows...and watch out for pick-pockets!

Other popular stalls are the ones at the Ottaviano metro station. Thursday is the best day to go there. On Via Ottaviano itself you'll find lots of shops at affordable prices. The market at San Giovanni is the oldest and biggest market, it's near the Basilica di San Giovanni. Another great area for bancarelle, is Viale America, near the Eur Fermi metro stop. You will surely find bargains there, prices are very low because it's not a very touristy area.

If you're looking for fruits and vegetables, go to the Testaccio market, not far from the Piramide metro station. Very good quality fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, and bread at good prices. The markets at Campo de' Fiori and the one in San Cosimato are rather expensive since they are visited by many tourists.

The best way to save on food is to go to the big supermarkets in the shopping malls (Panorama at Granai in the EUR area of Rome is a very good one). The new shopping mall EUROMA2 also has a great supermarket. If you can't get to the malls, go to local supermarkets such as TODIS, DESPAR, SMA, BILLA, PAM etc. They often have discounts and special offers such as 3X2 (buy two and get one free).

As for WATER just fill your bottles at the many fountains found all over Rome!!!

If you want to eat out, avoid the tourist places, go where the local people eat. Moreover, most bars now have a "tavola calda" (hot food section) where you can eat full meals at reasonable prices.

Here I am at the EUROMA2 shopping mall.

I'll be posting more tips and advice later.

YELLOW CAKE WITH CHERRY JAM FILLING AND WHITE CHOCOLATE FROSTING

2011-07-18T12:15:00.000-07:00

MY NEW CORAL LIPSTICK

2011-07-12T11:50:00.000-07:00

Coral is the color these days

A RICE COOKER ISN'T ONLY FOR COOKING RICE! TORTA AL CIOCCOLATO PREPARATA NEL "RICE COOKER"!

2011-07-07T08:36:00.000-07:00

These days I don't have an oven so I "baked" this chocolate cake in a Rice Cooker!

Questi giorni non ho il forno allora ho preparato questa torta al cioccolato nel mio Rice Cooker!

"PIZZA" CON RICOTTA E VISCIOLE ...POPULAR ROMAN CHEESECAKE

2011-06-19T12:22:00.000-07:00

This cake sells out as quickly as it's made, so make sure you go to Via del Portico d'Ottavia early in the morning.

ORANGE DRESS

2011-06-17T05:41:00.000-07:00

My daughter gave me this dress for Mother's Day but the weather was so strange ...rainy, cold, windy...that I couldn't wear it. Today it was finally nice and hot so I put it on and went out around Rome.

NORIMAKI Traditional homemade rolled sushi. Il sushi fatto in casa.

2011-05-22T07:48:00.000-07:00

My sister-in-law taught me how to make the best norimaki, the sushi made at home. Easily made with rice vinegar, salt, sugar, Japanese rice, nori, carrots cooked in a special Japanese sauce, cucumbers, shiitake mushrooms and tamago-yaki (Japanese .omelette)

Sicilian "wildlife"

2011-05-01T16:13:00.000-07:00

Minding the goats:)

A Seagull on the shore of the Mediterranean in Trapani

AMERICAN APPLE PIE

2011-04-26T14:06:00.000-07:00

I found Crisco in Trapani the other day so I couldn't resist making the famous American Apple Pie

GENOISE WITH AMERICAN CHOCOLATE FROSTING

2011-04-05T09:12:00.000-07:00

In an earlier post I gave the recipe for Genoise sponge cake.

For the frosting

250 g icing sugar
2 tbs. butter
4 oz dark chocolate
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
3-4 tbs. milk

Melt the chocolate. When cool add butter, icing sugar, vanilla and milk and blend well. Fill and frost the cake.

FRENCH TOAST .... IN SICILY!

2011-04-01T07:41:00.000-07:00

These French Toasts are made with my homemade Wholewheat American Bread .
Heat a non-stick pan. Beat 3 eggs with 250ml of milk, dip the bread slices one at a time in this mixture. Butter the pan and fry the bread till cooked and golden. Drizzle with loads of Maple Syrup.
Toast alla Francese: sbattere 3 uova con 250ml di latte, e inzuppare le fette di pane nel composto. Imburrare la padella (già riscaldata) e cuocere le fette di pane fino a quando sono dorate. Aggiungete tantissimo Sciroppo d'Acero.

A couple of my followers have expressed the desire to visit Sicily, so here are some pictures that will convince them to come:)

This is a view from the Riserva dello Zingaro, a natural wildlife reserve near San Vito, in North-western Sicily.

This is a view of Castellammare del Golfo, a town built on the mountain, at the very tip at the bottom you can see the Castello Arabo, hence the name Castellammare (castle on the sea).

ICE CREAM IN TRAPANI - E' TEMPO DI GELATO A TRAPANI

2011-03-30T10:48:00.000-07:00

Today was a nice sunny day so I decided to go for ice cream. So many flavors, which one to choose? Finally I settled for my usual Vanilla, Cherry and Chocolate ...a HUGE one!

This is the TORRE DI LIGNY (The Tower of Ligny) located at the very tip of Trapani, and the western-most point of Sicily. It's the beginning and end of Italy...depending on where you're coming from:)

Questa è la TORRE DI LIGNY e si trova alla punta di Trapani. Il luogo è l'inizio e la fine dell'Italia, dipende da dove si viene.

CAKES AND OTHER THINGS

2011-03-29T07:27:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite cookbooks. I bought it in Rome many years ago at the Anglo-American Bookshop.

The following cake though is from a different book: Home Baking by Carole Handslip.

GATEAU AUX FRAISES

Ingredients

3 eggs, separated
125 g caster sugar
grated rind and juice from 1/2 lemon
50 g semolina
25 g ground almonds

To finish

284 ml double cream, whipped
250 g strawberries, halved
4 tablespoons redcurrant jelly
2 tsp water
50 g almonds chopped and browned

Cream the egg yoks with the sugar, lemon rind and juice until thick. Stir in the semolina and ground almonds, then fold in the stiffly whisked egg whites. Turn the mixture into a lined, greased and floured 23 cm moule a manqué tin and bake in a preheated moderate oven, 180 degrees C, for 35 to 40 minutes
.
Split the cake in half and sandwich together with three-quarters of the cream. Arange the strawberries on the top.

Heat the redcurrant jelly with the water, sieve, reheat and use to glaze the strawberries and side of the cake. Press the browned almonds around the side and pipe the remaining cream aroudn the top to decorate.

I recently discovered this magazine here in Trapani (of all places!): THE LADY. It's a British classy, old-fashioned style magazine. Perfect for lovers of retro and vintage.

RETRO WHITE HAT WITH NET VEIL, OUTFIT AND MAKE-UP

2011-03-27T10:35:00.000-07:00

White hat from H&M, beige headband from H&M, turtle neck from OVS, sweater-dress from Terranova, necklace from Carina, tights are from Tezenis, shoes "ECCO".

Make-up: Lancome Teinte Miracle foundation, MAC Hunger Red blush, Maybelline Passion Red lipstick, and green nail polish from It.Style

GATEAU NORMANDE

2011-03-26T11:02:00.000-07:00

Ingredienti

3 uova
140 g di zucchero
75 g di farina
1 cucchiaino di spezie miste

500 g di mele, sbucciate e tagliate a fettine
2 cucchiai di marmellata di albicocche
100 g di uva sultanina
2 cucchiai di zucchero di canna

200 ml di panna da montare

Montare le uova e zucchero, quindi aggiungere la farina. Versare il tutto in uno stampo rotondo imburrato.
Cuocere a forno medio, 180 gradi C

Intanto mettere le mele, marmellata, uva sultanina e zucchero di canna in una pentola e cuocere finchè le mele siano morbide.

Farcire la torta con il composto di mele (raffreddato) e un pò di panna. Con il resto della panna ricoprire la torta.

BANANA CREAM PIE DRIZZLED WITH CARAMEL AND CHOCOLATE SAUCE

2011-03-25T11:29:00.000-07:00

Questa pie è indescrivibilmente squisita. E' nel menu del ristorante Emeril's in Florida e una mia amica americana mi ha mandato la ricetta che ha trovato su un giornale della Florida. E' una ricetta lunga e complicata e mi ci vorrebbe mezz'ora per trasmettervela, allora ho cercato sulla web e ho trovato la ricetta online. E' in inglese ma vale la pena tradurla:)
http://www.emerils.com/recipe/5022/banana-cream-pie-with-caramel-drizzles-and-chocolate-sauce

This is a pie served at Emeril's in Florida. A friend of mine sent me the recipe which she found in a newspaper. It's very long and complicated so I looked for it online and found it. In case you would like to make it, here is the link
http://www.emerils.com/recipe/5022/banana-cream-pie-with-caramel-drizzles-and-chocolate-sauce

STRAWBERRY SMOOTHIE WITH MANUKA HONEY

2011-03-22T14:52:00.000-07:00

Un frullato velocissimo fatto con due vasetti di yogurt bianco, 100 g di fragole, due banane, e due cucchiai di miele di Manuka.

Ingredients for the smoothie: 2 cups plain yogurt, 100 g strawberries, two bananas e two Tbs Manuka honey.

Il Miele di Manuka è un potente antibatterico, antibiotico, antisettico e antinfiammatorio. Utile nelle ferite e sopratutto per l'acne.

Manuka Honey has strong antibacterial properties and is a powerful antibiotic. It's good for cuts and wounds, and especially for acne.

RASPBERRY ROSE TART --- CROSTATA ALLE MORE

2011-03-21T13:44:00.000-07:00

Questa ricetta è della rivista Good Housekeeping (British Edition).

INGREDIENTI
250 g di more fresche
500 g di mascarpone
250 g Philadelphia Cream Cheese
palline di zucchero argentato
rose di zucchero

Mettere le more, il mascarpone e il cream cheese in un mixer e miscelare bene.
pasta frolla fatta con 1 tazza di farina, 1/3 tazza di burro, 2 o 3 cucchiaia di acqua freddissima

I found this recipe in Good Housekeeping magazine (British Edition)

INGREDIENTS
250 g raspberries
500 g mascarpone cheese
250 g Philadelphia Cream Cheese
sugar silver balls
sugar roses

Place the raspberries, mascarpone cheese and cream cheese in a blender and mix well.
for the crust : 1 cup flour, 1/3 cup butter, 2 or 3 tbs. ice water

IL MIO LOOK "OVS" . . . DRESSED IN OVS FROM TOP TO BOTTOM

2011-03-20T08:49:00.000-07:00

La nostra OVS ha ristrutturato il suo locale e quando ha riaperto sono subito andata a vedere i nuovi arrivi e ho trovato delle cose carine, nel reparto Young Woman ovviamente:) Ecco il mio guardaroba primaverile OVS: cappellino rosso, camicia a quadri, giacchino shocking pink, e pantaloni color prugna in cotone elasticizzato.

Our local OVS department store has been totally renovated and when it reopened I rushed to see the new arrivals and I found some really cute things, in the "Young" Woman Dept. obviously:) Here is my spring OVS wardrobe: red hat, checkered shirt, bright pink wind-jacket and maroon stretch pants.

Siccome dopo tutto quello shopping ero troppo stanca per preparare il pranzo, ho deciso di mangiare all'americana con un bel HOT DOG!

After all that shopping I was too tired to cook so I decided to eat the American way....a nice HOT DOG!

7-UP IS GETTING FASHIONABLE IN SICILY

2011-03-19T13:47:00.000-07:00

Oggi sono andata in un nuovo supermercato e cosa ho trovato? 7-UP!!! E' una bevanda americana che bevevo da ragazzina quando abitavamo a New York. Da anni la cercavo in Sicilia, ma trovavo soltanto Sprite, mentre io invece preferisco 7-UP.
Da notare il mio cappellino H&M, borsetta H&M, il giacchino Dragon Center, leggings Tezenis e stivali da Scarpe E Scarpe un favoloso supermercato di scarpe che si trova a Roma in Via Marconi.

For years I have been looking for 7-UP here in Sicily but only found Sprite. Today I was so surprised to find it in a new supermarket which recently opened in my neighborhood. I used to drink 7-UP in the 60s in New York so I really missed it.
Note my H&M hat, H&M bag, jacket from Dragon Center, leggings from Tezenis e boots from Scarpe e Scarpe a huge shoe department store in Rome in Via Marconi.

PANE AMERICANO IN CASSETTA FATTO IN CASA

2011-03-18T10:18:00.000-07:00

Questa è una ricetta facile e veloce. Gli ingredienti sono

farina 450 g
acqua tiepida (oppure acqua e latte) 250 ml
sale 1 1/2 cucchiaino
zucchero   20 g
burro     40 g
lievito  di birra   1 cucchiaio

Mescolare il burro con lo zucchero e sale, aggiungere l'acqua tiepida, la farina e il lievito. Impastare e lasciare in un posto caldo per lievitare (circa 1 ora)
Prendere l'impasto e dividerlo in due. Fare due sfoglie e piegare ogni sfoglia come nella foto. Poi arrotolarle (come nella foto) e metterle in una teglia imburrata. Lasciare di nuovo lievitare per circa 30 minuti. Infornare a forno caldo per 25 minuti.

ORANGE CREAM CAKE & GRAND MARNIER

2011-03-14T09:02:00.000-07:00

Ci vuole un pò di tempo per fare questa torta però vale la pena.
It takes a bit of time to make this cake but it's worth it.

TORTA GENOISE fatta con 4 uova, mezza tazza di zucchero, e 2/3 di tazza di farina e 60 g di burro, sciolto

Ingredienti
2 tazze di zucchero
3 tazze di acqua
4 arance affettate
Bollire lo zucchero e l'acqua in una pentola finche lo zucchero si scioglie. Aggiungete le fette di arance e cuocere a fuoco lento per due ore. Scolate le arance e raffreddatele.

CREMA PASTICCERA
6 tuorli
2/3 tazza di zucchero
2 tazze di latte
2 cucchia di farina
2 cucchiai di maizena
1 cucchiaino di essenza di vaniglia
Aggiungete lo zucchero ai tuorli, poi aggiungere la farina, maizena, 1/2 tazza latte e vaniglia nel mixer. Sbattete tutto. Bollite il rimanente latte in un'altra pentola e aggiunte il composto di tuorli. Mettete tutto in una pentola e cuocete fin quando la crema si addensa. Raffreddare la crema.

CREMA CHANTILLY
300 ml di panna da montare
1 cucchiaio di zucchero a velo
1 cucchiaio di essenza di vaniglia
Montate la panna con lo zucchero a velo e vaniglia. Aggiuntete la crema chantilly alla crema pasticcera, e mischiate bene.

SCIROPPO D'ARANCE
1/2 tazza di acqua
1/3 tazza di zucchero
2 cucchiaii di succo d'arancia
1 cucchiaio di Grand Marnier
Mescolate l'acqua e lo zucchero in una pentola mischiando senza bollire finchè lo zucchero sia sciolto, poi aggiungere il succo d'arancia e Grand Marnier.
Imburrate una teglia di 23cm. cospargete con un pò di zucchero.
Mettete le fette di arancia sul fondo e i bordi della teglia
Spalmate uno strato del composto di crema sulle arance. Mettete metà della torta sulla crema e spennelate con metà dello sciroppo tiepido. Spalmate la rimanente crema sulla torta e coprite con l'altra metà della torta inzuppandola con il resto dello sciroppo. Coprite con un piatto e mettete in frigorifero per un paio d'ore.
Invertite la torta e servite

FASHION FOR THE YOUNG-AT-HEART, MISS ALMOST-60 WEARING H&M AND EFFETTI

2011-03-13T05:35:00.000-07:00

Questo giacchino di Effetti Moda me l'ha regalato mia figlia circa 6 anni fa, prima della crisi. Ho abbinato un cappellino e accessori che ho trovato da H&M. Mi credevo molto stylish, molto "alla moda", invece mia figlia mi ha detto che sembro uno YETI!

About 6 years ago, before the financial crisis, my daughter bought this cute jacket for me from Effetti Moda. Recently I found a pink hat and accessories at H&M so I decided to put them together and here is the result. Personally, I thought I looked quite fashionable, but my daughter thinks I look more like BIGFOOT!

PINEAPPLE UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE - TORTA DI ANANAS SOTTOSOPRA

2011-03-12T11:48:00.000-08:00

Ecco la ricetta, rigorosamente in ITALIANO (anche se il mio è molto "broken") come richiesto dalla mia amica http://sdauramoderna.blogspot.com/

Ingredienti

un barattolo di ananas in sciroppo
4 uova, albume e tuorlo separati
1/2 tazza di burro
1 tazza di zucchero di canna
1/2 tazza di noci pecans
1 tazza di farina
1 cucchiaino di lievito per dolci
un pizzico di sale
1 tazza di zucchero bianco
1 cucchio di burro sciolto
1 cucchiaino di estratto di mandorla

Riscaldare il forno a 150 gradi.

Sciogliere la mezza tazza di burro e versarlo in uno stampo per torte (quello rimovibile), incorporare lo zucchero di canna e poi mettere le fette di ananas sopra e le noci pecans.
Sbattere i bianchi d'uovo con lo zucchero bianco. Sbattere i tuorli fin quando sono diventati densi. Mescolare i tuorli, la farina, lievito e sale con i bianchi di uova. Aggiungere il cucchio di burro sciolto e l'estratto di mandorla.
Mettere il composto sopra l'ananas e cuocere per 30-35 minuti. Sfornare, lasciare raffreddare per alcuni minuti e capovolgere la torta su un piatto.

SAUCE SICILIANA .....FAST AND EASY! NO COOKING!

2011-03-11T07:32:00.000-08:00

This is the easiest and quickest tomato sauce and it's so appetizing...the only ingredients you need are tomatoes, basil and, of course, GARLIC!

For two people

4 large tomatoes
4 garlic cloves
a bunch of fresh basil leaves
olive oil
salt

short pasta

In pestle and mortar, mash up the garlic with some salt, add the basil leaves and continue mashing. Add the peeled, chopped tomatoes, mix well. Add extra-virgin olive oil. Pour over the cooked pasta, sprinkle some pecorino cheese...Buon Appetito! Ohhhhh....I can smell the inviting garlic scent:))

TELEPHONE CALL BY MASTERCHEF ITALIA!!!

2011-03-10T13:50:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago my daughter, while searching the net, found out that Masterchef Italia was inviting aspiring cooks to register for the auditions. She barely finished telling me tthis news and I had already sent them an email with all the details they required.
Two days later I get a call from Andrea from Masterchef. Among the questions he asked me was "what is one dish that you have difficulty preparing? Crème Caramel I replied. What is your signature dish (piatto forte). I couldn't think of anything so I repeated "what is my signature dish" looking at my daughter who was listening excitedly to our conversation. Curry, she whispered. So I told Andrea my signature dish was curry. For a few seconds there was silence at the other end of the phone. A SICILIAN applying for Masterchef ITALIA saying that CURRY was her signature dish!?!? He must have had quite a shock. When he spoke again it was to ask me if I would be available for the auditions in Naples on 12/13 March. I said I would. Then he said that "eventually" he'd call me back and give me further details.
I did receive a second call from Masterchef, this time from Marina, on Thursday March 9 late afternoon. She asked me if I could be in Naples on the 12th. I said no. I could not pack, book the train and hotel etc. in one day. So she said they will call me again when they do the auditions in Milan, around the end of March. I don't know if I want to go all the way to Milan just to be among the thousands who have applied and who probably know what they're doing when it comes to cooking. Moreover, I like to cook slowly and calmly. I don't like cooking at high-speed, under pressure, and prepare an original, creative dish with two ingredients in three minutes! Non andare e salvare la faccia o andare e fare una figuraccia?

COTOLETTA ALLA SICILIANA - SICILIAN CUTLET

2011-03-10T12:11:00.000-08:00

La cotoletta Siciliana è una variazione della cotoletta alla milanese e del tonkatsu giapponese. Il tonkatsu si prepara con la carne di suino, e la cotoletta milanese, se non sbaglio, con il vitello. Noi in Sicilia invece usiamo il manzo. Con la crisi che ci ritroviamo oggi però, sarebbe più consigliabile usare il pollo, che costa meno. Inoltre, meglio non mangiare carne rossa troppo spesso.

Ingredienti per tre persone

3 cotolette (fettine) di carne
1 uovo
200 grammi di pangrattato
2 spicchi d'aglio
1 cucchiaino di prezzemolo (secco o fresco)
1 cucchiaino di basilico (secco o fresco)
1/2 cucchiaino di alloro secco, spezzettato
1/2 cucchiaino di rosmarino secco o fresco
2 cucchiai di pecorino grattugiato
olio d'oliva
sale

aggiungete l'aglio, prezzemolo, basilico, alloro, rosmarino, e pecorino al pangrattato e miscelate bene.
sbattete l'uovo e bagnate bene le fettine
mettete le fettine nel pangrattato, aggiuntete il sale e friggetele nell'olio caldo fin quando sono cotte

SALT ANYONE? VI SERVE DEL SALE?

2011-03-09T10:01:00.000-08:00

Here in Trapani we never run out of salt. I couldn't find any salt in my pantry so I just went and got myself some at the Saline, the salt mines.

In Trapani il sale non manca mai. Non avevo più sale in cucina allora sono andata alle saline dove ce n'è per tutti!

TODAY IS WOMEN'S DAY IN ITALY AND MY HUSBAND TOOK ME OUT TO LUNCH...GUESS WHERE?/OGGI E' IL GIORNO DELLA DONNA E MIO MARITO MI HA PORTATO FUORI A PRANZO...INDOVINATE DOVE?

2011-03-08T12:33:00.000-08:00

Today is Women's Day here in Sicily, and all over Italy. Husbands, boyfriends, bosses, friends, relatives bombard us women with bunches of smelly yellow mimosas. Personally I've never liked mimosas. I prefer going out to eat. So my husband took me out for lunch to ...McDonalds!

Italian women traditionally go in groups to see Male strip shows.
What do you do for Women's Day if there is such a day in your country?

Oggi è il giorno della donna. Non mi piacciono le mimose. Preferisco andare a mangiar fuori. Allora mio marito mi ha portato da ...McDonalds!

Cosa avete fatto per il giorno della donna?

MY HOME MADE CROISSANTS/I MIEI CORNETTI FATTI IN CASA

2011-03-08T09:35:00.000-08:00

Making croissants at home is very time consuming but not difficult. You just need patience. It took me two days to make these flaky, melt-in-the-mouth croissants but it was all worth it. I find the ready-made ones not fit for consumption... who knows what kind of ingredients they put in them? Moreover, the croissants we find in the bars in our area always taste of lemon, and I think it just doesn't suit a croissant.
P.S. Bars in Sicily are "cafès", where one can sit and enjoy a coffee, cappuccino, a pastry and most important...read the daily newspaper for free!

Prepare i cornetti in casa non è cosa semplice però con un pò di pazienza, si può. Mi ci son voluti due giorni per fare questi deliziosi cornetti ma ne è valsa la pena. Sono veramente squisiti!

SICILIAN LEMONS

2011-03-08T04:26:00.000-08:00

Here is a Lemon Bundt Cake which I made with freshly picked Sicilian lemons.

2011-03-08T03:28:00.000-08:00

The weather report had predicted that today we would have spring weather so I put away my winter clothes and go out with a light jacket. As soon as I walked out the main gate I had a feeling that perhaps I should have worn a woolen sweater under my jacket. But then I saw the sun shining and went on walking. I got on the bus, reached the center of town and went to our "shopping mall" Grande Migliore (a rather small version of a mall, but as we say in Italy "meglio di niente" (better than nothing). Grande Migliore is a department style store where you can get anything from electronics to garden supplies, kitchen ware and appliances, Televisions, cameras, mobile phones, toys, toiletries and furniture. There's even a small bar ...we call cafès "bars" but they're nothing like American bars, although they do sell wine and liquors. People go there mostly for coffee and cornetti...and to read the daily newspaper free of charge.
Anyway, getting back to the weather. I thought I was going to be blown away by the wind. Grande Migliore is situated right next to the sea...in fact, if there was a high wave, the store would be inundated...and the wind is really chilly and strong near the sea. Even the seagulls weren't around, that's how cold it was.