I purchased a Presto Kitchen Kettle to use at my party with the Wingman at the beginning of the month, and I must say, it deep-fries fantastically! Besides that, it steams, stews, roasts and boils—a great investment for anyone who considers such kitchen gadgets to be great new toys like I do. Spring is officially here and it’s a great time for new toys!

Two weekends ago was St. Patrick’s Day and St. Joseph’s Day. Soon enough Easter Sunday will arrive (albeit late this year). The Lenten season is my favorite time of the year, and I’ve been utilizing my new Presto appliance to make zeppoles, vegetables in pastella (broccoli and cauliflower florets in homemade batter), potato croquettes and mozzarella in carrozza to name a few deep-fried delights.

I’m going to wait until Easter to do panzerottis—mini calzones filled with meat—which will be my interpretation of the “meat pie” this year. I spoke extensively last year in my “Food & Faith” blog about the multiple versions of the Pasqua “meat pies” and it’s multiple names (the large pies which are the pizza rustica / gaina varieties or the half moon pocket size I grew up with called the panzerottis / calzonettis / casatiellos / tortanos / freets / pane-dels). We’re talking about Lenten meatless favorites today, because as us Catholics know, you refrain from meat on Fridays or burn in Hell.

I’ve always refrained from meat on Fridays during Lent in lieu of “giving something up” as many used to do (there’s no way I could give up meat for all 40 days). It’s not so much the fear that I am sinning, I do it more out of a personal choice to sacrifice one vice at least one day of the week (incidentally awhile back the belief that you were sinning if you broke this rule was actually lightened to a non-sin offense). Ok, did I just say that MEAT is my vice? Well, I am Johnny Meatballs after all, and if my pal Ryan from Vh1 is the Ultimate Wingman, then I am the Ultimate Carnivore. I salivate over every species—pig, cow, lamb, chicken, you name it!


Of course there are tons of great non-meat items which I love, including those that I mentioned frying up with my new toy. Growing up it was a lot of pasta n’ beans, peppers (or potatoes) and eggs, eggplant cutlets and LOTS of seafood. Now I got a new fave to add to the list.

My pal Tony took me to an authentic Sicilian café down in Parsippany called Bella Cucina where he introduced me to Alessio Troia’s pane e panelle (chick pea fritter) specialty. I haven’t attempted to make it yet at home (my hope is that he opens a Bella Cucina II down the block from me so I can get these more often). For those who may not be familiar, it’s basically a small polenta-looking patty, or a yellow pancake made of chick pea flour (I guess picture a flat falafel) served on a soft seeded roll. My description doesn’t do justice to this very unique item, so light and crunchy and needing nothing but a little squeeze of lemon and sprinkle of salt. Unbelievably simple but so delicious!!!


I’m told that in Brooklyn the pane e panelle is served with ricotta and/or caciocavallo. Alessio explained that the real pane e panelle are from Sicily (Palermo) are always just plain with salt and lemon. I love cheese on almost everything but I don’t think I’d want to ruin the flavor by adding any. Bella Cucina to my knowledge is the only place in Jersey that does these, and I could see it becoming the next popular mainstream sandwich. I just hope it doesn’t become a “fast food” trend where everyone is trying to capitalize on it like the meatball. But that’s definitely for a whole other blog!

So what are your Lenten favorites? Pizza? Pasta? Pesce? Panelle? Whatever it is and however you prepare it, enjoy…and God Bless.