Grandma’s Italian Vegetables
Most of us can probably recall fond memories of spending time in the kitchen with our grandmothers cooking all day to prepare delicious, home cooked food. I can fondly remember picking white peaches off ‘my peach tree’ at my Grandmother’s house in Pennsylvania and spending the day making preserves with her. I would spend the day helping her peel and chop the fruit, boil the jars, and proudly taste the final product. Something about your Grandmother’s touch, makes everything taste better. Or maybe its just that as you get older, you appreciate the time that went into making the food. Gisella Civale, the owner of Dolce Nonna also recalls these moments during her childhood, growing up in Italy. Her grandmother would pick the bounty of fruits and vegetables from their garden and spend the day pickling them in preparation for the winter months. Her products are derived from old world recipes that are over 100 years old, originating from the Campania region of Italy, specifically the Amalfi coast.
She created Dolce Nonna in honor of her mother & grandmother and their authentic Italian recipes. One of seven children, her family immigrated to the US in 1958. After constantly being bombarded in the grocery store by unhealthy junk chock full of citric acid and preservatives, she decided to take action and bring the old way of eating back to the present day. Enjoy her selection of preserved vegetables & fruits (Agri-Dolce Peppers, Marinated Eggplant, Pickled String Beans, Succulent Spiced Pears or Gourmet Sampler) from her family’s authentic Italian recipes, 20% OFF Today Only! Read our Q&A with Gisella Civale to learn more about Dolce Nonna and her Italian roots.
1. So you moved to the US from Italy as a child – what are your memories of living in Italy?
I grew up on a livestock farm and I have fond memories of waking up in the morning to the smell of freshly made bread and freshly squeezed cow’s milk. I also remember playing hide and seek in the peach and plum orchards. My mother would also make homemade ricotta from the cow’s milk.
2. What are some creative ways to use your products?
Our products can be used in a variety of different ways such as topping for pastas, meats, salads and sandwiches. They can also be made into quick and easy tapenades, appetizers, and blended into dips.
3. What are three adjectives that describe your products?
Authentic, versatile, addictive
4. Your recipes originate from Campania, Italy. What is the style of cooking that is done there?
The style of cooking is very rustic yet simple food. Most of the food originates from the small regional farms within the surrounding areas. Everything is prepared from fresh, locally grown seasonal produce.
5. How do you come up with new recipes?
I often resort back to my childhood memories of what I grew up eating and I try to give those foods a fresh, modern twist.
