No Bake Strawberry Icebox Cake Serves: 12-16 1 box graham crackers 2 pounds fresh strawberries 4 cups heavy cream 1 banana, sliced thin ½ cup powdered sugar – or more to taste/ 2 tsp vanilla (sometimes I use almond) Pinch of salt Cream powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt with the heavy cream in the bowl of [...]

Father’s Day is Sunday, June 21st. Let’s Celebrate. Fathers come in all different shapes, sizes and colors.  They are super heroes for little boys and prince charming for little girls. A Father is a loving parent who is always there to support and guide you, who believes in you endlessly and will always guide you [...]

PISTACHIO RASPBERRRY SEMI-FREDDO Serves 6 INGREDIENTS 1/4 c. cold sour cream 1/2 c. confectioners’ sugar 1 c. cold heavy cream 1/4 c. pistachios, chopped 2 pt. raspberries, divided 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice 1 tbsp. pure honey 2 tbsp. fresh mint leaves - optional DIRECTIONS Line an 8-by-4-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap, leaving an overhang on all four sides. This helps to [...]

STRAWBERRIES AND SOUR CREAM POUND CAKE 1 CUP BUTTER – room temperature 2 ¾ CUPS SUGAR 6 EGGS – large 2 TSP ALMOND or VANILLA EXTRACT ½ TSP BAKING SODA PINCH OF KOSHER SALT 3 CUPS FLOUR – all purpose 2 CUPS STRAWBERRIES – rinsed, sliced 1 CUP SOUR CREAM 1 PINT WHIPPING CREAM Preheat [...]

THE E. 48TH STREET MARKET IS OPEN TODAY! SPRING HAS SPRUNG, DAFFODILS ARE BLOOMING AND EASTER WILL HAPPEN THIS YEAR! In the midst of all the confusion and concern about what’s happening and what will happen we have to try to live as normal a life as we possibly can to maintain our sanity as [...]

To our Home Gardeners and Valued Friends and Customers, Many of you have experienced the bounty of your garden since you have propagated the vegetable seeds of Franchi the major Italian producer of vegetable seeds. This year again we will have available selections of many vegetable and herb seeds except for tomato and green peppers, [...]

ITALIANS CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF ST. JOSEPH In all of Italy, St. Joseph is considered their Patron but it is in Sicily where His celebration is  the most  prevalent. According to legend there was a severe drought at one time and the people of Sicily prayed to St. Joseph to bring them rain. They promised [...]

ITALIAN EASTER COOKIES – yield 15 – 18 cookies 1 1/2 cups + 2 tablespoons flour 3 1/4 tablespoons granulated sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 pinch salt zest of one lemon – plus extra for icing topping (optional) 1 large egg 1/4 cup butter (melted and cooled) 4 tablespoons milk ½ tsp vanilla – or to taste LEMON GLAZE 1 1/2 -2 cups powdered sugar 1 tablespoon lemon juice – or as needed [...]

BASIL PARMESAN SALMON OLIVE OIL or OLIVE OIL SPRAY Juice of ½ LEMON 4 5 Oz SALMON FILLETS – skin removed PINCH OF KOSHER SALT FRESHLY GROUND BLACK PEPPER 3 Tbs MAYONNAISE 3-4 Tbs FRESHLY GRATED PARMESAN or ROMANO CHEESE 6 LARGE FRESH BASIL LEAVES – minced, plus more for garnish Preheat oven to 425º. [...]

SEAFOOD BISQUE (A little like soup and a little like stew) 8 Tbs UNSALTED BUTTER 3 SHALLOTS- finely chopped or minced 6 Oz SMALL SHRIMP 6 Oz BAY SCALLOPS 8 Oz CRAB MEAT 1/3 CUP MARSALA or DRY SHERRY ¼ CUP FLOUR ½ CUP DRY WHITE VERMOUTH 4 CUPS FISH STOCK or 2 CUPS FISH [...]