Posts categorized as Recipes

Previously published in The Wave. A few weeks ago on the drive to my cousin Sarah’s baby shower (Yay! Sarah and Dan!), I was talking with my Aunt Brenda about dieting. I told her since I’m not eating much meat, I’ve been munching on way to many carbs. Brenda said she’s been experimenting, using cauliflower as a bread substitute. “It’s really trendy now Paula, you should give it a shot!” And so I did! If you’re looking for a creative low-carb bread alternative, make a batch of cauliflower “bread”. I was […]

Eggs, for thousands of years and in many cultures are symbolic of birth and renewal. Deviled eggs* are commonly made as an appetizer (pickys!) on Easter Sunday for this reason. My family follows this custom every year. My mother has always used a traditional mix of mustard, mayo and egg yolks for her deviled eggs. She garnishes with a sliced black olive and paprika “for color”, as Flo always says. But there are many contemporary variations – you can use combinations of garlic, horseradish, pickles, turmeric, relish, chilis, salsa, thyme, cilantro, […]

My brother-in-law JUMBO says it’s like eating a salty wet sponge. This is highly upsetting to me. He and other olive-haters are missing out on one of the most delicious of Italian pleasures. The olive tree is native to the Mediterranean region, Asia, and Africa. It was one of the first trees harvested by humans some 7,000 years ago.  Now, it’s grown in warm climates worldwide. There are hundreds of cultivars with distinct, rich, savory flavors. Olives are commonly served in all manners of deliciousness – marinated, cured and stuffed. They’re […]

Shortly after my sister Natalie got married she hosted her first family party. “Bryon, can you go to the food store and get the pickies?” she said to her husband. Bryon was happy to help and went to the store. An hour passed. Bryon came home frustrated and empty-handed. “I asked everyone in the supermarket where the pickies were and know one knew what the hell I was talking about??!” Natalie realized he was clueless about what she meant, and rightfully so. “Pickies” is a DiGioia-ism, a word used by […]

I had a little get together with some friends last week to carve pumpkins. My friend Meredith Urban, designer and owner of De La Mer 1981 clothing, brought to the party her grandmother’s sweet pickles. They’re honeyed and buttery with a tang, sliced thin and so so delicious (Grandma Rita we need that recipe!). My husband is a pickle fanatic. I had to hide them in the back of the fridge so he wouldn’t eat the jar in one sitting (gavone!). Grandma’s Rita’s pickles reminded me of a recipe for […]

As a follow up to my Wave column this week, I’m posting three dandelion recipes. If you have know idea what I’m talking about, pick up a copy of the paper or you can subscribe online to read the column. In short, I wrote about foraging for locally grown dandelion leaves. I’ll have the orginal column on the blog in a few days. If you decide to try these recipes out, I would love to hear what you think of them, and see the pictures too! Sautéed Dandelion Leaves over Angle Hair Pasta […]

This was my first try at homemade icing. I don’t have much baking experience and so this was an attempt to gain some. It was so easy and guess what… it tasted like real frosting! I want to try different flavors next time and add nuts or strawberries. I found this recipe on delish.com. My only tip is to make sure the frosting is at room temperate before using. I’m sure all the bakers out there are laughing – you would think this is intuitive but I made the frosting the night before and put it […]

My friend Melissa brought over homemade dressing the other night and wow, it was delicious. Not only is Melissa a creative talent (she’s a jewelry designer) she is an excellent cook. Making dressing in advance means less mess. Prepare it for the week and your not bringing out the oil, vinegar, and spices every day. The dressing is sweet, tart, and rich – but not overpowering. I used it on salad. The dressing would also work very well over roasted chicken or sautéed veggies – yummers! Give it a shot and get creative. I want to experiment with Melissa’s dressing and maybe add chopped […]

I’ve been making this tomato salad for a decade, at least. Gosh, that sounds like a long time doesn’t? The weather is getting colder and my inclination is to eat cheese, bread and meat but I’m really trying to keep the veggies in the forefront this fall.  I over-bought  tomatoes last week and thought this was the perfect dish to make with them. This salad doesn’t take much time to prepare. I like making it in advance so when I’m hungry and looking for something  to eat, it’s ready to go. […]

Summer is the best time to eat fresh fish! I love it and so does my husband. I’ve been trying to make fish once a week. Rockaway people – if you can’t make it to the Cross Bay Market, Stop and Shop on 70th street actually has a great selection. I recommend buying your fish the day of, wherever you get it. I found this tasty recipe on the FoodNetwork.com. It’s easy to make and only takes about a half hour, start to finish. The sauce is Indian inspired – creamy and full bodied with a kick. You can […]