Easter Sweet Bread

    Well, since Easter is tomorrow, I thought I would share a traditional Italian food eaten around this holiday.  There are several foods that can be typically found on an Italian table during this time.....what to choose......what to choose.  Now, before I go further, let me confess that I don't actually have many specific memories of foods we ate during Easter that were particularly Italian.......maybe my memory is failing me??

     I decided to ask my siblings for a little help jogging the old brain cells and, wouldn't you know, two of them remembered my gramma making a bread "with hard-boiled eggs placed in the braids, shell and all?"  Isn't it funny how some memories are so vivid and some things just get a bit lost over time?  (Funny, but also a little sad)  Well..... that's the recipe I'm going to share with you.  It's not my gramma's specific recipe, but one of the many that I came across while leafing through  pages in my stockpile of cookbooks.  This recipe is from Michele Scicolone and can be found in "Entertaining With The Sopranos" .  Now, I never  followed the t.v. series, but the cookbooks are pretty straight-forward and just kind of fun.

Pork Chops with Vinegared Peppers

    Here's another really delicious main dish for you.  Now, I know Easter is just around the corner and this recipe has no connection to the holiday, but, well......it's just really good and I wanted to share.  The tangy "vinegar-i-ness" of the peppers is a really nice contrast to the richness of the pork!  YUM!!  The recipe comes from "The Italian American Cookbook" by John and Galina Mariani.  I've also made this dish with boneless chicken breasts......DELICIOUS!

Fish Piccata

    O.k.,  today I thought I'd share another lighter dish with you.....one that feels like "spring".  You remember "spring", don't you?  That time of year when the temperatures begin to rise and the trees begin to bud; when the flowers start to bloom and you're awakened by the chirping of the birds?  You do remember, right??  I admit, it's been a little difficult around here lately......remembering spring, I mean.  Although, according to the calendar, it's officially here, the weather hasn't played much of a supporting role.  With temperatures still in the 30's (in the teens at night) and even some dusting of snow, it would seem that old Mr. Groundhog was a little off his game this year.  Well, no matter.......we'll just have to be patient a little longer.  SPRING IS COMING!!  MAYBE TODAY!!  For now, I'm just going to enjoy this light, but very flavorful and delicious Fish Piccata and imagine little baby bunnies hopping around in my yard, nibbling on tender shoots of spring grass.

Refreshing Pear Salad in a Tower

        To any of you who have wondered where I've been for the past few weeks, well......life has seemed to get a bit busier.  I'm not sure why, but I just have had a hard time gettin' it together.  It might have something to do with recovering from the enormous sugar high I'd been on in the month of February.  I mean...we're talking A LOT OF CHOCOLATE, people!  Anyway, here we are in the middle of March already.  I thought it was about time to get myself on the computer and reconnect.

    

    So.....after all those desserts, wonderful as they were, I thought it would be nice to share something light and refreshing; something that didn't list sugar or chocolate as the main ingredients!  And here it is......a delicious salad made with pears, watercress, pecans, and blue cheese, dressed in a honey and Dijon vinaigrette.  And, to make it even more fun, it's served in a rather unconventional way.  It's like a little tower of goodness on a plate!