Bitter, sweet, and creamy with a zing of alcohol to tickle your throat, tiramisu is the adult version of a chocolate fudge Sunday: if it's on the menu, you're getting dessert. Traditionally made with savoiardi (lady fingers) soaked in espresso and marsala wine, mascarpone cheese, eggs, sugar, and cocoa powder, it is a rich and balanced cake that will wow any crowd.

Velvety, nostalgic, and needy, risotto is a lot like love. Much like your first encounter with the heart-hurting, all encompassing emotion, your first bite of a perfect risotto will haunt you forever. Just like love, the creamy yet textured, luscious and balanced taste of risotto has been carefully worked, ardently watched, and patiently nurtured. We've put together a little guide to help bring this beloved friend into your home on a regular basis.

Foraging for mushrooms is ritualistic and requires immense patience. After hours spent tromping through mushroom territory, you may come home bearing pounds, ounces, or none of the marvelous treasure. Filled with the earthy nuances of wild fungi, this mushroom risotto balances rich textures with umami flavors with a bright pop of lemon, fresh herbs, and aromatic fennel pollen. A wonderful dish to serve throughout the year, it is particularly nice during the holiday season.

Bringing influences from Arabia, Greece, Spain, and France, Sicilian caponata is an expression of the islands history. Stewed into a deliciously tangy, sweet and sour agrodolce sauce, eggplant is traditionally the hero of the classic dish. This adaptation swaps eggplant for hearty squash, making it the perfect dish to serve for the holidays.

As one of the world's leading almond producers, the delicious nut flavors many Sicilian dishes. From pastas, to fish, salads, and of course desserts, almonds have been worked into various shapes, tastes and uses to flavor local cuisine for centuries. Crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, Pasticcini Siciliana alle Mandorle (or amaretti) are a holiday favorite.

A staple throughout Italy, spezzitano recipes vary depending on who's cooking. Where some use beef, others use veal. While some are purists, many add tomatoes and herbs to add complexity. In northern Italy, spezzitano di manzo is served with polenta, while in the south, it is more typically enjoyed with crusty bread. At the end of the day, a good soffritto, fresh aromatics, and lots of patience, served alongside a beautiful Etna Rosso, will make this dish a family favorite in no time.

From wild foraged to farm harvested goods, the Sicily's year-round production makes it a true cornucopia of fresh, high quality produce. As a result, Sicilian food traditions and heritage are deeply rooted in the natural cycles of the island’s productivity, giving Sicilians an endless list of exceptional recipes to enjoy throughout the year. We’ve pulled some of our favorite bites together to help dip your toes into the wonderful, endless pool of Sicily’s most celebrated dishes.

The flesh of a sun-warmed tomato hangs to the heat as it pulls quickly from the vine. Even after it’s been sliced, diced, or quartered and sprinkled with sea salt, the juicy, sweet fruit of the earth is still warm when it reaches your lips. Tomato season. Is there really anything better?

Find some new and delicious uses for your summer’s bounty with our favorite summer tomato recipes.