Clafoutis pere e mandorle - Pear and Almond Clafoutis

Clafoutis is a French pudding of fruits, traditionally black cherries, mixed with a sweet batter and baked in the oven. So simple and versatile, the clafoutis is the perfect last-minute dessert.

Erbazzone - Swiss chard and Parmesan Pie

Erbazzone is an Italian pie, traditionally made with seasonal greens, flavoured with spring onions and garlic, and bound with eggs and cheese. As simple as that. A true dish from the 'cucina povera', which comes in many variations. 

Pollo marinato allo yogurt – Chicken Casserole in a Yogurt Dressing

I like yogurt, I make my own one at home to have it fresh in the morning, with any fruits, jam or honey. I use it in some cakes but I also like to add it to savoury dishes, such as pulse soups, pesto sauces or to replace mayonnaise in salad dressing. Here, I use it to marinate the chicken, getting closer to middle Eastern cooking rather than Italian. 

Torta polenta e arance - Polenta and Orange Cake

I like the polenta cake crunchy and moist and it took me a while to make the right one. I prepared it yesterday for few friends and nothing was left for today. What a pity, it is so good also on the next day!

Gnocchi di pane - Bread Gnocchi

Bread should never be thrown away. Stale bread can quickly be recycled as breadcrumbs and crostini, or could become an inspirational ingredient for many dishes, such as soups, gnocchi and cakes. 

Gnocchi di polenta - Polenta Gnocchi

Nothing is wasted in the 'cucina povera' and the leftovers are often transformed into a new dish.

Last summer, in a tiny restaurant up in the Alps, I tasted delicious gnocchi made out of polenta leftovers. The chef gave me some useful hints, but I had to sort the recipe out. 

Zuppa cavolfiore e lenticchie rosse - Cauliflower and red Lentil Soup

I could live on soups and I always enjoy making new ones, especially in the cold season.