Helena Attlee and Alex Ramsay have been writing about and photographing Italian gardens for 20 years. Here Attlee describes two created within sight of Mount Etna.
At San Giuliano, the 800-year-old estate of a Sicilian marquis, evolving displays of succulents and tropical flowers ensure the garden always feels beguiling and alive.
Take a trip to your local farmers market, grab some farm fresh Roma tomatoes (or yellow tomatoes if you need a less acidic sauce), some fresh oregano, basil, and thyme plants, and let’s get to making Susan’s famous Sicilian Pasta Sauce.
Sicilian tomato pesto, also known as "Pesto alla Trapanese," is a bright, summery and refreshing version of the beloved Italian condiment.
Sauted shrimp in a garlic/onion butter and white wine sauce, poured over crunchy bread with olives, green onions and tomatoes to garnish. Who wouldn't like it? It's my brother's favorite item at the Olive Garden, I've never had it but fooling around in the kitchen he said it was very close to the actual thing. I like it, so yay me! I guess this clarifies as a copycat. I plan this as the main dish of a meal, but it normally is an appetizer.
Take a trip to your local farmers market, grab some farm fresh Roma tomatoes (or yellow tomatoes if you need a less acidic sauce), some fresh oregano, basil, and thyme plants, and let’s get to making Susan’s famous Sicilian Pasta Sauce.
A blog about food, cooking and recipes.
Sicilian tomato pesto, also known as "Pesto alla Trapanese," is a bright, summery and refreshing version of the beloved Italian condiment.
Learn how to make homemade caponata with this recipe! This boldly flavored Sicilian appetizer or side dish is perfect for late summer meals. Recipe yields about 6 side servings.
This year I have been lucky enough to go on a second holiday to Agrigento in Sicily. After a bit of research I booked us into Azienda Agricola Mandranova, though Mr and Mrs Smith. Situated in the southern Sicilian countryside, this superb working olive grove farm is also a 13 room boutique hotel. The Main House The Fab Fiat 500!! After successfully driving our little fiat 500 hire car from Catania airport, missing on-coming Sicilian drivers on the wrong side of the road! Please note playing chicken with Sicilian drivers is not recommended however you will find you have no choice in the matter. We pulled up 2 hours later, parking the car in the shade of some olive trees and made our way up the main house. Both wearing straw hats and freckles on show, we spied three people relaxing on the bamboo chairs. One was Giuseppe, one of the duo that run Mandranova. Introducing ourselves he walked towards us, arm out stretched "Emma, Ben!" "Ah beautiful. Beautiful!" I have never had such a wonderful welcome to a hotel in my life. It was like we were long lost members of his family! He then walked us across the grounds to our room. We were based in the station building, that I think has three rooms. Our room was Eritrina, which Giuseppe informed me was not biggest but his favourite room. I can't blame him, it was gorgeous! A four poster bed, a sea view from one window, the next a view of the gardens and the the main house and another looking out onto the swimming pool which was nestled inside the olive groves themselves. He left us to settle in and said that he'd let the kitchen know we'd be having lunch. Fantastic. Guiseppe giving us a tour of the Olive Oil process at the farm. So entertaining! Sitting in the bamboo chairs after breakfast. The walk up to the pool Healthier breakfast before tucking into the freshly baked cakes that were served every morning!! Divine!! Walking down for breakfast. We'd usually eat outside with the lovely Bella at our feet. "To stay at Azienda Agricola Mandranova is to be thrust into the heart of Sicilian family life - with its emphasis on conviviality and the cucina."Harpers Bazaar Hotel restaurants Eating at the Mandranova restaurant is like being part of the family. Tables are situated outside and are spaced so that you are able to have private conversations yet close enough to chat with the other guests. It has a wonderful relaxed atmosphere, candle lite and to top it off delicious food. Silvia, the other half of Mandranova's duo, serves up traditional Sicilian dishes which are brought over in large dishes and you decide on the portion you take. Don't be fooled the pasta dish is not the main, it's merely one of the starters! TIP: Do not request balsamic vinegar! You will note that there is a small bottle always available, but don't use it. As it is believed that the mandranova olive oil should be enjoyed on it's own. Balsamic vinegar in Sicily is used on strawberries and ice cream not on your salad. A bit like asking for tomato ketchup in a Michelin star restaurant. Also the one they have on offer is purposely rubbish ;) The ingredients are plucked straight from the olive tree-filled gardens, make the evening meal a focal point of the blissful day. Here are a few photos of the food, not from the same night. At the beginning fresh bread and Mandranova oil served into individual dishes like a fine wine - which since trying it is! This is then followed with the four courses of the evening! A starter like Aubergine croquettes or aubergine salsa followed by a pasta dish, then the main. Which was a meat dish served with grilled vegetables or salad and then ending with desert. Such great food. Orange segments, pistachios, scallions and extra virgin oil - Starter Aubergine, courgette and basil pesto pasta - 1st Course Not sure what this was but delicious!!! Packing tips It's more a case of what not to pack. Travel light as you'll want to bring home as much of Mandranova's homemade orange marmalade, pistachio pesto, and as much extra virgin olive oil as possible! But bring yourself a good book and learn to relax at your new home. Plus if you can find them, get yourself a pack of Sicilian playing cards! You'll see all the old guys in town playing Scopa! They'll be the ones shouting with their arms in the air. Learn to play and you'll end up doing the same ;D Holiday Buys I bought for the trip that I found were great included A navy blue skater dress with sweetheart neck, that was ideal for a summer evening. Then, perfect for going to the beach or pool, a towelling Beach Playsuit. A pair of JOLLY Slingback Espadrilles which were so comfy! A hardwearing Vintage Sisal n Leather Tribal HandBag to carry all my paraphernalia! Hotel bars There's no actual bar, but guests can enjoy aperitivi or digestivi in the two living rooms or on one of the stylish mint-green plastic sofas set in the gardens. Just nip into the kitchen and you are sure to find a smiling face to sort you out with a drink and some nibbles. Silvia & Giuseppe I just want to end this post to say a BIG thank you to both Silvia and Giuseppe. They were such a fantastic hosts. They genuinely seemed to love having guests come and stay and Silvia's food was fantastic, good tasty home cooked italian food, just wished we'd had time to have a go cooking with her! Also do go on the olive grove tour, Giuseppe is a fantastic guide and incredibly entertaining! I could write so much about this place and describe all the little details that truly made it feel home from home but I'd end writing the longest post in the world! So if you have any questions about my trip to Southern Sicily or staying at Mandranova, just drop me an email or leave a comment below. There are a couple more posts to follow about a few places we visited whilst there, so watch this space!
This Olive Garden Sicilian Sunset recipe is a refreshing, easy-to-make cocktail that blends prickly pear lemonade, pineapple juice, and vodka. This delicious drink has a tropical, fruity flavor. With just a few simple ingredients, you can recreate this colorful and vibrant beverage at home.
The long winded Latin name, Anthemis punctata subsp. cupaniana, belies the fact that it’s one of the easiest plants to grow and keeps on giving and giving.
With its high defensive walls, magical stone courtyards, and luxurious art-themed rooms, this ancient Sicilian masseria is an invitation back in time to
Take a trip to your local farmers market, grab some farm fresh Roma tomatoes (or yellow tomatoes if you need a less acidic sauce), some fresh oregano, basil, and thyme plants, and let’s get to making Susan’s famous Sicilian Pasta Sauce.
Tilda Swinton, Ralph Fiennes and Dakota Johnson star in A Bigger Splash, filmed on the Sicilian island of Pantelleria
Discover the hidden gems of Palermo! Explore off-the-beaten-path treasures perfect for 55+ travelers seeking a month-long cultural journey.
The Forestiere Underground Gardens (pictured) were tunneled out in the early 1900s by Sicilian immigrant and citrus farmer Baldassare Forestiere, who dug it by hand, in California.
IL MONACO, L’ALLIEVO E L’ASINELLO Tanto tempo fa un santo monaco aveva con sé un allievo, un ragazzo molto attento e ubbidiente. Un giorno lo chiama e gli dice: «Vai a prendere l’asino e andiamo in città». Il giovane prende l’asino, aiuta l’anziano monaco a salirvi e si avviano verso la città, il monaco in groppa all’asino e il ragazzo a piedi. Alla prima svolta incontrano un gruppo di persone. Qualcuno, naturalmente, ha qualcosa da ridire: «Ma guarda quanto è infingardo quel vecchio monaco: lui a cavallo, e quel povero ragazzo così gracile e delicato lasciato a piedi!» Il vecchio monaco, appena udite queste parole, scende dall’asino, vi fa salire il ragazzo e tutti e tre si rimettono in cammino. Poco più avanti incontrano altre persone: «Oh, guarda cosa si deve vedere. Un giovane sano e robusto a cavallo e un povero vecchio a piedi. Non c’è più rispetto, non c’è più carità». A queste parole il ragazzo salta giù dall’asino, aiuta l’anziano monaco a salirvi di nuovo, risale anche lui e proseguono verso la città. Strada facendo, altra gente, altri commenti: «Guarda quella povera bestia! Fra poco morirà stremata, sotto il peso di quei due fannulloni! Ci vorrebbe almeno un po’ di pietà». Il santo monaco e il ragazzo, allora, scendono in silenzio e proseguono il cammino a piedi. Qualcuno, però, non è ancora soddisfatto: «Guardate, guardate... S’è vista mai una cosa più sciocca? Quei due hanno l’asino, e vanno a piedi!». A questo punto l’anziano monaco dice al ragazzo: «Torniamo a casa». Strada facendo gli spiega: «Hai capito la lezione, figliolo? Per quanto ti sforzerai di assecondare gli altri, ci sarà sempre qualcuno che avrà qualcosa da ridire. E allora tu impara a tirar diritto per la tua strada e a non prestare ascolto alle chiacchiere della gente». 𝒟𝒶𝒾𝓁𝓎 𝐼𝓃𝓈𝓅𝒾𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 Things That Inspire Me Everyday. Spero che abbiate tutti una bella giornata! 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒, 𝒙𝒙 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒇𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒂 p.s. more daily inspiration ︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵ GIARDINO SICILIANO Un dettaglio del magnifico giardino siciliano in continua evoluzione di piante grasse e fiori tropicali nella casa del marchese Giuseppe Paternò Castello di San Giuliano. San Giuliano in Sicilia, Italia. @houseandgardenuk STYLE INSPIRATION @leandramcohen con l'abito Sigourney di @homeofhai VIVERE ALL'ARIA APERTA Ibiza, estate, vivere all'aria aperta cuscino di @lagaleriaelefanteibiza STYLE INSPIRATION Hai x @reqinsofficiel ballet flat @homeofhai MAGNIFICI FIORI Bouquet « Méduse » @victoiredecastellane da @castorfleuriste 𝒟𝒶𝒾𝓁𝓎 𝐼𝓃𝓈𝓅𝒾𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 : ogni giorno nel blog per scoprire cose belle. 𝒞𝓁𝒾𝒸𝓀 𝓉𝑜 𝓈𝑒𝑒 𝑜𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝒟𝒶𝒾𝓁𝓎 𝐼𝓃𝓈𝓅𝒾𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒, 𝒮𝓉𝑒𝒻𝒶𝓃𝒾𝒶 Fashion, Family, Lifestyle & Entertaining Ideas that celebrates everyday life. La ricerca quotidiana di cose belle: stile, moda, arredamento, bellezza, curiosità, viaggi, living e ricette 🌹 𝓍𝓍 𝒮𝓉𝑒𝒻𝒶𝓃𝒾𝒶 A Italian Kitchen by Stefania: Simple, healthy and good recipes from my home kitchen. Cool Chic Style Confidential
Sweet Garden Topping Crème Caramel™ Tickseed! Caramel & Creamy Peachy-Pink Blooms Prolific Flowers All-Season! Fine-Cut Leathery Foliage Mounded Compact Habit Ultra Easy to Grow & Low Maintenance Butterfly and Pollinator Friendly Tolerant & Hardy Native Container Ready Blooms Deer Resistant Birds Love the Seeds Xeriscaping & Firescaping Your favorite gooey Latte and ice cream topping now in a less sticky version! Just as sweet and delectable, the Crème Caramel™ Tickseed (Coreopsis verticillata 'Novcorcar') is just what your garden has been craving! Also known as Coreopsis, which usually comes in shades of yellow, Crème Caramel™ instead is a gorgeously creamy, pinky-peachy colored bloom with golden yellow centers. They look just like waves of caramel topping rising over deep green foliage! Even when not in flower, Crème Caramel™ has beautiful, mounds of leathery deep-green leaves. Deeply cut and with long deep lobes, Tickseed emerges a bit later in the spring than other perennials, but last vigorously until hard frost. The fresh color and delicate foliage are perfect backdrops for the dreamy blooms to follow in late spring to early summer! How to Use Crème Caramel™ Tickseed In The Landscape These sun-loving, gorgeous blooms meld amazingly with all plants in your perennial beds and line borders in tidy mounds. Cottage gardens benefit from these creamy Daisy-like, sublime blooms. Tickseed is Xeric (very drought tolerant) and works great in urban or water-wise designs. Wildflower gardens are, of course, perfect sites for Creme Caramel™ Tickseed; your Rock Gardens and prairies as well. Just the right size as potted plants, they add a sweet dessert topping to your sunny planters, containers and window boxes, on both porches and patios alike. Tiny gardens, urban lots or even the smallest yards all have space for this densely-growing perennial. Mass plantings fill hot dry areas with honeyed blooms and provide hardiness that won't back down from tough conditions. Naturally forming colonies along roadsides and in old fields by self-seeding, they naturalize prairie sites and sunny drifts with color. With blooms lasting well into autumn, Crème Caramel™ has those perfect hues that mix and mingle among a wide range of other fall plants and their colors! The long-stemmed blooms are lovely cut flowers. Add these to your cutting gardens and of course your pollinator gardens to draw in the butterflies! The more you cut, the more blooms will return throughout the growing season! #ProPlantTips For Care Doing best in any kind of well-drained soil, Coreopsis are successful in poor, sandy and average soils; Crème Caramel™ is really not particular as long as they don't sit in water. These even show some resistance in saline conditions. Once established, Tickseed is very drought tolerant and thrives in those hottest, dry sites most plants cannot tolerate. A hardy native plant, these thrive in USDA zones 6-9. Highly disease resistant, these tough natives endure the harshest locations! Crème Caramel™ thrives in full sun, though also appreciates some part shade in those warmer growing zones during the hottest part of the summer afternoon. A generous layer of mulch helps retain soil moisture as well as insulate the root system from heat and chill. Deadheading encourages blooms all season, but be sure to leave some dried seed heads for the birds to feast on in the autumn! Drizzle on the soothing, sweet and sublime hues that Crème Caramel™ Tickseed can add to your garden today! For a dessert treatment to your garden! Order from Nature Hills today!
Eggplant Caponata is one of the golden staples of Sicilian cuisine. Try this Authentic recipe full of rich summer flavors!
Many people visit the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, Sicily and completely miss the luscious botanical garden called the Kolymbetra. Originally, the Kolymbetra was an exquisite artifici…
Chicken soup has never been easier! Warm up with a huge bowl on a cold winter day. All from scratch with tender chunks of veggies, ditalini pasta, and shredded chicken. Yum!
This Sicilian watermelon pudding is the perfect summer dessert! This version is dairy-free, and made with simple ingredients.
