From Libellula's Kitchen & Land — Extra Virgin Olive Oil

The ultimate labor of love: risotto. A dish that requires you spend your time right by its side; stirring the slowly combining broth and rice. That’s also what makes this the perfect dish to make with someone. The more hands that can stir, the merrier! The combination of peas, lemon, olive oil, and mozzarella gives the dish the flavors of a fresh spring evening. This recipe serves two. – Julia & Camillo  

Only four ingredients are needed to make the humble and tasty dish farinata. Originally from Liguria, farinata is now one of Italy’s most well-loved street foods! This savory, pancake-like dish is often used as an alternative to bread. There are two main legends that tell of the creation of farinata. The first legend is that it was created by Roman troops. In Roman times, flour was a luxury that most troops could not afford. Chickpeas were a much more affordable option, and so soldiers would prepare a mixture of chickpea flour and water for their bread. They would then place...

Hearty and filling, pasta e ceci is a traditional winter dish. It originates from the tradition of “cucina povera” cooking, literally meaning “poor cooking.” Cucina povera dishes were created by Italian peasants who could only afford simple ingredients to cook with. These dishes were also often meant to use up ingredients that had started to go bad so as not to let any food go to waste. Another cucina povera dish you’re probably familiar with is bruschetta. Italian peasants would take their several days-old bread, slice it up, and add fresh tomatoes and olive oil. The loaf of bread that...

While our Libellula family is based in northern Italy in the Sabina region, we love visiting fellow farmers all across Italy. With its beautiful coastline and warm weather, Sicily is one of our favorite spots. And nothing says “Sicilian breakfast” more than a cake made with pistachios and lemons – two of the region’s agricultural specialties. Add to the mix extra virgin olive oil, which gives the cake a wonderful sponginess and depth of flavor, and you’ll be transported straight to the Sicilian coast! We recommend saving a few pistachios on the side to sprinkle over the top of the...