CUTULETTA - Mamma Stag's Sicilian Schnitzel

I have fond memories of my mother cooking these thin crumbed Sicilian meat delights and me stealing one or two really hot ones straight out of the fry pan – when I smell these cooking I just can’t wait – even if it means burning the roof of my mouth and getting a hit across my head from mum!

Feed on Weeds part 1 - COSCI VECCHI

Welcome to my first article on edible weeds. Growing up as in a Sicilian family with fairly old school parents culinary wise you were sure to eat greens that most non-Sicilians would call weeds, but our family would call mangiare or food.

MACCARRUNI - Mamma Stag's Hand Made Sicilian Macaroni, No Machine Required

Like to give home made pasta a go? But can’t bring yourself to buy a pasta machine which will just take up valuable kitchen room. And you really don’t know how often you’ll use it anyway? Then give my mum’s pasta machine free Maccarruni a go...

PERFECT PASTIZZI - Gotta be Gato's

There are many brands of pastizzi available in Australia but the only ones that have the true maltese flavour and crunch in my opinion (and my maltese wife’s opinion) are Gato's Pastizzi. They are a little smaller than some of the other brands but quite simply are a lot better.

PIPPI RRUSTITI – Mamma Stag's Grilled Peppers (Capsicum), Sicilian Style

Here is another simple dish that I would like to share with you. Just like my mum’s Grilled Eggplant it is something she wacks together almost every time the BBQ is fired up.

It is a great side dish grilled meat or simply with some Italian bread or in sandwiches.  Works well on an antipasto platter too.

In Sicilian we call this “Pippi Rrùstiti”

TORTA TAL QARA AHMAR – Nanna’s Maltese Pumpkin and Rice Pie

Being with my Maltese girl (now my wife) for over 10 years I have been exposed to quite a bit of Maltese Cuisine. And although I tease my wife telling her that Maltese food is just a cheap imitation of Sicilian food, they do have their own unique dishes. Torta Tal Qara Ahmar (silent Q) is my favourite Maltese dish!

My wife’s Nanna (pronounced Nah-Nah, it’s Maltese for Grandmother) cooks this pie mainly during lent or when uncle Joe decides to grow an abundance of pumpkin and off load it to his mum.

CARNE PICANTE - Mrs A's Authentic Pork Vindaloo (Fiery!!)

A good friend of mine, Zac, is of East Timorese and Goan background. From the first day I visited his family home in Sydney’s Inner West when we were in high school I was opened to a whole new world of cuisine. I can’t recall if I ate anything that day, but the fantastic aroma in the house was introduction enough.

MULINCIANI RRÙSTITI - Mamma Stag's Grilled Eggplant (Aubergine), Sicilian Style

I thought it would be a good idea to kick off this website with a simple recipe that I would like to share with you. This dish is something my mother prepares, more often than not, when the BBQ is fired up, but she also whips it up in kitchen using the electric overhead grill.

It is a great side dish to your BBQed meats or simply with some Italian bread or in sandwiches. In Sicilian we call this “Mulinciani Rrùstiti”