Category Archives: vegetable

Sauteed Scarola – Escarole

Posted on December 27, 2011 by Peter Bocchieri

STOPPA DA BOOM-DIDDI-BOOM-DIDDI-BOOM! It all started when I was around 14 years old and I was sitting around my living room on my mother’s plastic covered sofa and chairs with my friends. Richie “crazy legs” brought over his acoustic guitar and … Continue reading →

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String Beans and Carrots in Tomato Sauce

Posted on December 11, 2011 by Peter Bocchieri

BRUCULINU My grandparents came to Manhattan from Italy. The could have gone anywhere in the United States, but they settled in Manhattan. Most of the immigrants from my grandfather’s town of Vizzini settled in Manhattan, around Elizabeth Street, so my … Continue reading →

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Stuffed Mushrooms

Posted on November 20, 2011 by Peter Bocchieri

With Thanksgiving less than a week away we should all take a moment and reflect on the blessings we have to be thankful for this year. As tough as the past year has been for many Americans we can all … Continue reading →

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Mom’s Broccoli Rabe

Posted on October 23, 2011 by Peter Bocchieri

I know I’m threading on sacred ground here. Today’s chefs prepare this vegetable “al dente”. The stalks of broccoli rabe can be tough if not cooked properly. Many places I’ve eaten at prepare this dish lightly sautéed so the broccoli rabe has a tender … Continue reading →

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Cucuzza

Posted on August 7, 2011 by Peter Bocchieri

You rarely find this vegetable in the supermarkets, if at all.  But if you lived in Brooklyn or any Italian neighborhood you could find cucuzza growing in just about everyone’s garden. It was as much a part of summer as  the … Continue reading →

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Rose’s String Bean and Potato Salad

Posted on May 5, 2011 by Peter Bocchieri

Mother’s day is this Sunday and it got me thinking about some of the things my mom used to cook. The menu is long, but one of her signature dishes that stand out in my mind with summer approaching is … Continue reading →

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Fried Stuffed Eggplant

Posted on April 23, 2011 by Peter Bocchieri

 Whatever happened to the Easter Bonnet? You know, the one with all the frills upon it. Does anyone care to be the grandest lady at the Easter Parade anymore? I remember having a new suite at Easter. OK, so it … Continue reading →

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Sausage Stuffed Red Peppers

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Peter Bocchieri

I knew I hit a good note when my son Joseph tasted these peppers and said they were the most flavorful stuffed peppers he ever ate. That was good enough for me. When I make stuffed peppers I always like … Continue reading →

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a Stemperata

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Peter Bocchieri

My father used to talk about his mother and aunts making this dish in Italy. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I remember eating this as a child, the same way I remember eating caponatina. The smell of the … Continue reading →

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Spinach Mpanada

Posted on January 16, 2011 by Peter Bocchieri

This spinach filled mpanada was another staple for Christmas Eve dinner. Along with the broccoli pie and scaciatta, these savory pies were always a big hit. Whatever we didn’t finish on Christmas Eve was always on hand for breakfast the … Continue reading →

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