Vin Cotto Roasted Rainbow Carrots

I have an undeniable weakness for heirloom varieties of fruits and vegetables. My heartbeat accelerates at the glorious sight of gnarly shaped heritage tomatoes, miniature beets specked with gold and rippled in pink patterns, or baby carrots painted in vivid yellow and purple hues. I could not resist grabbing a few bunches of these gifts…

Beer and Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Flat Bread (Pizza Scima alla Birra)

It has become a tradition now to kick off the new year with a bread-dedicated post. After all, I am a self-confessed avid baker (read “bread-baking addict”) and very little else elevates my culinary spirit to blissful excitement more than kneading, beating and shaping a starchy good. I have spent the last couple of weeks…

Pane all’Olio (Italian Olive Oil Bread)

Silvia is back in her Cucina! After two and a half months away in Melbourne threading the boards at the Malthouse theatre, playing the role of a dilemma-stricken bride who runs off with her ex-boyfriend on her wedding day, I feel an utter sense of well-being walking around in my kitchen, re-familiarizing with my tools, pots…

Infornata di pollo con origano e pomodori (Chicken, oregano and tomato bake)

This dish is quintessential Italian. It’s a peasant, rustic assembly of fresh ingredients mixed with left-overs and brought together by the crisp dryness of white wine. It’s a dish that appeals to children and grown-ups alike and is therefore the perfect family meal. I normally make this when I have left-over boiled potatoes and stale…