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Yellow pepper pasta

By Joanne, on May 9th, 2011%

For a long time and for a lot of people, Italian food was limited to just a few dishes. Pizza, lasagna and spaghetti and meatballs (which, for the record, Italians never eat together). Pasta in a tomato sauce (with or without meat) has become a real symbol of Italian food. Try it. Google: Italian food, go to Google images and see what comes up most. There’s a lot of red in those pictures. Continue reading Yellow pepper pasta

Pasta con gli asparagi

By Joanne, on April 21st, 2011%

Just about every where I look these days I see fresh asparagus and I have been itching to use some. Now that spring is in full bloom here and we have had some pretty high temperatures, my allergies have knocked me flat on my back – literally, but the thought of using some fresh asparagus has kept my spirits high and my energy up.

Continue reading Pasta con gli asparagi

150 years of Unification Happy Birthday Italy!

By Joanne, on March 17th, 2011%

Today is a national holiday in Italy – this year only – because it marks the anniversary of 150 years of Italy being a united country.
Schools and businesses are closed and we are enjoying a day off from the daily grind.
To celebrate with my boys to day, I am putting the Italian flag on the table. Continue reading 150 years of Unification Happy Birthday Italy!

Dinner for one

By Joanne, on February 27th, 2011%

I have a serious issue with cooking for one.
I have a hard time getting the amounts right. I always make too much.
Growing up I always saw my grandmothers making huge batches of whatever it was they were cooking from sauce to lasagne to veal cutlets.
Whatever wasn’t eaten right away went into the freezer for a future . . . → Read More: Dinner for one

Vegetable Ragù

By Joanne, on February 14th, 2011%

Surprises come in all shapes and sizes but perhaps the best are when the surprise is a person and not a thing. Today, for Valentine’s Day I want to celebrate a different kind of love, the love we feel for friends and the bonds we create with them. This is a love letter of sorts, I used to write them regularly but I haven’t written one in long time. Continue reading Vegetable Ragù

Sausage and spinach risotto

By Joanne, on October 26th, 2010%

It has been miserable here in Milan, cold, rainy, windy and generally unpleasant. I have already had flu symptoms. Seriously, that’s what my doctor said, flu symptoms – not the flu, but flu symptoms. Between the weather and NOT having the flu I have been craving hearty meals, classic winter fare that will stick to the ribs and heat a body up from the inside out. Continue reading Sausage and spinach risotto

Canning your own pasta sauce (not just tomato paste)

By Joanne, on October 12th, 2010%

Just a quick note to announce the winners of the Amazon gift certificates: Ginda Simpson, Saretta and Robin have each won a gift certificate to Amazon worth € 30. Congratulations ladies! Continue reading Canning your own pasta sauce (not just tomato paste)

New Beginnings and risotto

By Joanne, on October 1st, 2010%

Welcome to Frutto della Passione’s new home.

For so many reasons this has always been my favourite time of year, and against all logic autumn has always felt like a time for new beginnings for me. Continue reading New Beginnings and risotto

Smoked swordfish and vegetable pasta

By Joanne, on September 20th, 2010%

So autumn is quite literally just around the corner. And yet I don’t quite feel ready for it yet. This year summer seemed to go by far too quickly. Continue reading Smoked swordfish and vegetable pasta

Hand made fettuccine

By Joanne, on September 13th, 2010%

Both my husband and I are story-tellers. By that I mean, that given the chance, we will happily entertain anyone who will listen with anecdotes and tales from our travels and mildly adventurous pasts. Continue reading Hand made fettuccine