It’s Fig Season! What is this fascination Sicilians have with fig trees? I ask this question because I, like most Sicilians, have grown up with the presence of a fig tree sometime during our lives. I have read where many…
Recently, my mom came to my home for a 10-day visit. At 95 years old, my mother is strong-willed, stubborn, has a mouthpiece that will put any long shoreman to shame and has a memory that is still sharp. Her…
Ever since I was a boy, people always asked about my last name. Was it Italian? Was it Arabic? Was it Israeli? Was it Syrian? I always answered I was Italian because that is what I was told I was.…
As an Italian American kid growing up in Brooklyn and living in a two-family house on the second floor above my grandparents, I was surrounded by all things Italian. Things I took as normal everyday rituals and eating Italian foods…
Over 10 years ago while living in southern California, I actively belonged to an Italian cultural organization, which offered classes in Italian language. I had fallen in love with the country of my ancestors and wanted to visit often. I…
Making homemade ricotta is one of the easiest and most delicious foods to make. I will admit, I was intimidated by the process of making my own ricotta (as I was with homemade bread), but the simplicity of the process…
When we arrived back in Palermo to meet the members of our tour group, we had an additional free day to enjoy the city on our own before a planned dinner. As we walked through the city, I saw them!…
Next, all of the documents, apostilles, translations, required forms and payments were sent to my attorney who in turn submitted all the paperwork to the local Italian consulate in Los Angeles. Again, my patience was being tested by the length…
I decided to forge ahead and find out if I qualified. The guidelines for eligibility are contained on several websites that help you through the process (Google: Italian Dual Citizenship) including www.myitalianfamily.com or www.italiandualcitizenship.com . (I did not use either…
The secret to a delicious frittata is to start off with fresh large eggs. Anywhere from 6-12 eggs can be used depending on the size of your frying pan (I use a 13-inch oven-proof non-stick pan.) I typically use 8…
