From Libellula's Kitchen & Land — olive oil

Bruschetta is synonymous with summer in Italy; a time when friends gather, the days are long, the air is hot, and the food is light, easy to make, and even easier to share. Bruschetta was served as a popular aperitivo in Tuscany in the 15th century. However, bruschetta's origins date all the way back to ancient Rome. Olive farmers would taste the quality of their freshly pressed oil with a slice of crunchy bread - delizioso! In modern-day Tuscany, bruschetta is typically made by rubbing bread with garlic and then topping it with ripe tomatoes, fresh basil, and lots of...

Pizza alla marinara is enthusiastically enjoyed by young and old alike all across Italy. It’s a simple dish requiring just a few ingredients, making it easy to throw together for an afternoon aperitivo (we recommond serving it alongside a couple of Aperol Spritzs or glasses of Pinot Grigio!). Once you’re confident with the basic recipe, try adding various topping combinations. Our chef holds a special appreciation for the salty hit of flavor that anchovies add to her pizza. We have included cup and tablespoon measurements for the dough ingredients, although we recommend using a measuring scale as leavened goods require...

You’ve probably eaten polpette many times before. But you would’ve called them by their English name: meatballs! In Italy, polpette are almost never served with pasta. Instead, Italians enjoy polpette as an antipasto or side dish. So if you try to order spaghetti with meatballs while in Italy, you’ll get some funny looks. This recipe for polpette comes from Abruzzo, a sunny region in central Italy. Unlike most meatballs you’ve had before, these are vegetarian and known as “pallotte.” Frying the pallotte in sunflower oil prevents them from becoming too dense, while the final drizzle of 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