Peach pudding (also vegan). Flavors from the past

Peach pudding has a nostalgic flavor, a soft texture, and is easy to make. All you need is water, fruit, sugar, and a thickener (agar-agar or gelatin sheets). It’s a simple dessert that a scoop of ice cream or a spoonful of whipped cream can make shine like a dancing star. I can’t even tell you…

ByMonica6 September 20260Comments

Breakfast and Merenda Cakes and Cookies COURSES OCCASIONS RECIPES

Jam tart 125 (egg-free). A simple recipe and the power of word of mouth

The 125 tart is made with four ingredients in equal amounts, 125 grams each. Four-quarter cakes are soft, buttery desserts made with four basic ingredients: flour, butter, sugar, and eggs, in equal amounts. Usually, the weight of the eggs determines the quantities of the other ingredients, making it a perfect base for tall, fluffy cakes. All clear? Well,…

ByMonica13 March 20260Comments

Bologna Food Chocolate Christmas COURSES Desserts INGREDIENTS OCCASIONS RECIPES

Chocolate block dessert (Dolce mattone), without eggs and baking

At home, it was called chocolate block dessert. However, I only discovered as an adult that in Emilia-Romagna, this dessert is more commonly known as Dolce Mattone (literally, Cake brick). It requires very simple ingredients. It has the aroma and flavor of old-fashioned desserts, the kind our grandmothers used to make. Although in this case,…

ByMonica16 December 20250Comments

COURSES INGREDIENTS Legumes RECIPES Soups

Giugetti pasta in bean stock. Cucina povera of Romagna

Giugetti is an identity dish of the cucina povera of Romagna. Known as giugetti, giogetti, or patacucci, they belong to the large family of maltagliati and manfrigoli. They are small squares of sfoglia matta (eggless) cooked in a brodo matto (meatless broth) . This forgotten dish was typical winter eating in the second half of the 19th…

ByMonica28 January 20250Comments

COURSES First Course INGREDIENTS OCCASIONS RECIPES Seafood Sunday Lunch

Eggless potato gnocchi with clams. Cucina povera of Romagna

Online, you can find dozens of recipes for potato gnocchi with clams posted by as many Italian food bloggers. In this way, the recipe is everyone's and no one's. Yet, like so many other dishes, this one has its own history that no one remembers or that some people spread with mistakes attached, like the ones…

ByMonica14 January 20250Comments

COURSES Desserts OCCASIONS RECIPES Sunday Lunch

Melon panna cotta to celebrate Ferragosto

This melon panna cotta was born by accident and necessity. Now I tell you. From the weekly trip to the local market for fruit and veg shopping haul, I returned with a sweet white onion that, by itself, weighs a kilogram, lots of tomatoes since, at last, I can eat them again, and then a tiny…

ByMonica11 August 20240Comments

COURSES First Course OCCASIONS RECIPES Sunday Lunch

Homemade purple potato gnocchi (eggless)

The intense chirping of cicadas underscores the heat. How long has it been since I last shared a recipe on the blog? It's been a few months. As I knead the purple potato gnocchi dough, I can't help but think about how quickly these past few months have gone by. Now I will tell you why I've been away…

ByMonica27 July 20240Comments

COURSES Desserts OCCASIONS RECIPES Sunday Lunch

Chocolate salami (without eggs). Nonna’s recipes

If a book about grandmothers served the purpose of not missing mine, I would look for it. I'm usually able to manage memories, but some days, it is hard to manage their B-sides. Yes, memories have two sides, like coins and old vinyl records. Side A makes memories a soft dough that will rise in the oven; it…

ByMonica1 March 20240Comments

Chocolate Christmas COURSES Desserts INGREDIENTS OCCASIONS RECIPES Sunday Lunch

A recipe for chocolate pralines called Cri Cri

Cri Cri are chocolate pralines of Piedmontese origin, and if you're wondering what they have to do with me recounting the cuisine of Emilia-Romagna, I'll tell you right now. On January 6 in Italy, we celebrate the Befana, which closes the festivities of the Christmas season. That day, I would wake up early while the house was…

ByMonica4 January 20240Comments

Cakes and Cookies Chocolate Christmas COURSES INGREDIENTS OCCASIONS RECIPES

Chocolate panpepato from Ferrara, the recipe

The panpepato, or pampapato, is a skullcap-shaped cake. Dedicated to the Pope, created in 1580 from an idea of Alfonso II d'Este, the Lord of the city of Ferrara, and still produced both artisanally and commercially. Made from a mixture of cake flour, honey, bitter cocoa, toasted almonds, a mixture of spices (the composition is…

ByMonica12 December 20230Comments