Roasted Spring Peppers: Yellow and Poppy Red

The Spring colors are vibrant and bright.  Today, I wanted to feature red and yellow peppers.  Did you know that peppers turn green FIRST and then yellow and red.  This is why red and yellow have a fruity and sweet taste.  Green bell peppers have a slight bitter flavor and one of the reasons why some of us cannot digest green peppers!  Peppers also have Vitamin A, Vitamin C and beta carotene.

I remember growing up when my grandmother would pick them fresh from the garden (talk about organic).  Nanna would either roast them in the over or use the outside barbeque.

I’m serving my roasted peppers today as an appetizer.  After roasting, I’m stuffing the halved roasted peppers with fresh bocconcini (bite size fresh mozzarella) with a drizzle of extra virgin oil.  The classic way to serve bocconcini is the classic tomato and fresh basil.  Today, roasted peppers with a garnish of basil.  Try it  –  you will definitely like it!

red+peppers+halved1
peppers1

Cut the peppers in half and remove the core.  Place the peppers in a non stick pan or cookie sheet.  Drizzle a little olive oil and salt.  Pre-heat oven at 350F for :30 minutes.  Turn the peppers every :15 to make sure that are cooked.

bocconcini

a presto,

Maria

 

Happy Spring! Enjoy Maria's Tuscan Salad!

Hi Everybody,

I had a blast with Bob Cowan at  my CHCH TV Morning Live segment to welcome Spring!  Bob helped toss my easy Tuscan Bread Salad.  My table display also compliments the vibrant Spring colors and wanted to kick start with fun on a cold, snowy day!  In Italian, “Marzo Pazzo” means mad March!  One day, it sunny and mild and the next, snow and cold.  My easy Mediterranean recipes will always bring sunshine in your cucina!

CHCH TV 11 Spring 007

Tuscan Bread Salad (with Maria’s Rule Breaking Suggestions)!

5 cups of day old bread (use crusty bread or your favorite)
2 cups diced tomatoes (Greenhouse)
1 medium red onion (finely chopped)
1 cup (green/black olives)
1/2 cup capers
1/2 cup roasted garlic
1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes
salt/pepper to taste

Toss everything in the bowl and drizzle with your favorite extra virgin olive oil.  I featured one of my favorites (premium and fresh) available at www.oliveoilemporium.com.

You can have so much fun by making this as a main meal or a side.  Be creative, have fun and enjoy these Spring ideas with friends and family.

Here’s the link to the segment from CHCHTV 11. http://www.chch.com/morning-live-blog/item/12075-maria-filice

a presto,

Maria

“Seasoning” with Maria on CHCH TV 11, March 20th @ 8:40am ET

Hi Everybody,

I apologize for my long break.  I have been busy with my other job as publisher at Telos Press.  Check out our new website design at www.telospress.com

I did want to share with you that I will be featured on CHCH TV 11, Hamilton, Ontario on Wednesday, March 20th at 8:40am. to kick-off the first day of Spring on  Morning Live with the outstanding anchors:  Bob Cowan and Annette Hamm.  I’ve wanted to share a few photos of the past segments:

Maria with Lori DeAngelisMaria+and+lori+De+Angelis

Maria with Bob Cowan
Bob+Cown1

Maria with Leslie Stewart
Leslie+and+Maria1
My segment will be featured on the first day of each Season:  Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter.  This Wednesday, March 20th, I will be sharing with my viewers foods and tips to help us spring back from a very cold winter!  What are we featuring for Spring at our farmer’s markets and grocery stores…….stay tuned with Maria and anchors:  Will it be Bob, Annette, Leslie or Lori?

I will be posting a couple of the recipes and if you miss the segment, please visit the CHCH TV 11 website for a clip.  I will post it on my blog too.

un abbraccio and ps – great to be back !!

Maria

NY Institute of Technology: Breaking Bread in L’Aquila Talk

NYIT+Talk+12-41

Hi Everybody,

I had a fantastic time meeting students and faculty at New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury for a book talk about Telos and Breaking Bread in L’Aquila.   Special thanks to Adelaide Marciano, NYIT and Anthony Gaspari, President of Il Circolo Italiano for organizing.

I brought my biscotti and amaretti for dessert – – they catered a delicous pasta bowl during the talk – great hospitality.

Il Circolo Italiano keeps up with the spirit of Italian culture.  This banner has been part of the Columbus Day parade in NYC for the last few years – –

NEW!:  My ebook “Breaking Bread in L’Aquila” is now available on Amazon.com

a presto,

Maria

Festival of Amaretti

IMG_8469sent2

Stuck on last minute Holiday Gift? Make a batch of my amaretti cookies as gifts when you are visiting friends and family during the holidays. They are perfect with coffee, tea, sweet liqueurs, or your favorite gelati.

You can package a dozen with a decorative tea towel or cellophane.

Amaretti Cookies

Ingredients:
3 cups almonds, plus an additional 36
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoons almond extract

2 cups of confectioner’s sugar spread on 12 inches of wax paper (for rolling)
Vegetable spray for the baking sheet (though Mom sprinkles the baking sheet with flour)

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Using a food processor on pulse, chop the 3 cups of almonds until they are finely ground.

Beat the eggs, sugar, and almond extract. Add the ground nuts and gently fold them together until you have a moist mixture that you can form into balls.

Lightly grease three baking sheets. Using a teaspoon (or your hand), scoop up the batter, form balls, and roll them in the confectioner’s sugar. Place them at least an inch apart on the greased baking sheet. Prior to baking, press one almond into each ball.

Bake for about 15 minutes, or until the cookies are golden in color and firm to the touch.

Let them cool before removing them from the pan.

Buon Natale e Auguri Per Hanukkah!

maria x