From Libellula's Kitchen & Land — easy recipes

Life in Milan in the 1960s was booming. With World War II firmly behind them, a flood of farm workers were making their way to Milan, trying to make their fortunes in the big city!And what did all of these bright, eager young workers need?Food!Something quick, filling, and delicious (we’re talking about Italians after all!).A young, enterprising sandwich maker figured that if he came up with a solution, he could boost his business while filling the bellies of the city’s energetic new residents.After a bit of trial and error, he presented the panino to his customers!With lines soon stretching out...

Located in the northwest corner of Italy, and isolated from most of Europe by the Alps, is the region of Piedmont. For centuries, residents of the hills of Piedmont would journey into the woods each autumn to gather hazelnuts, which flourish here due to the ideal climate and topography of the region. They would then dry and roast the nuts, using them as a key part of their diet all year round. Torta di Nocciole, like many old-school Italian recipes, is based on “cucina povera,” a concept that we often feature in Libellula dishes. “Cucina Povera” is Italy’s “poor cooking”...

It was the summer of 1487. Lucrezia Borgia was about to get married. For the third time. You see, her dearest father,  Pope Alexander VI and mother (who happened to be one of his favorite mistresses), had decided that they would marry their daughter as many times as they could to advance their political standing.  As soon as one husband didn’t quite give them as many political or financial benefits as they had hoped, they moved onto a new conquest for their daughter. And they weren’t too subtle about it either. Her father ordered the execution of her first husband....

Cooked on a garden BBQ or over campfire coals, it’s hard to beat the earthy, robust flavor of smoked vegetables. Unfortunately, an open cooking fire isn’t always readily available. So for this recipe, we’re recreating that smokey-campfire magic from within your own kitchen. These oven-roasted peppers pair wonderfully with fresh burrata and a splash of Riserva extra virgin. Watch the video of our chef creating the full recipe on our instagram or facebook. – Julia & Camillo