In Italy you can find yourself without many staple items like brown sugar, sour cream, and salad dressing. What are you supposed to do without things you’re so used to buying? Make it, duh! Did you even know you can make sour cream? I didn’t! I’m going to give you the list of things I’ve learned to make completely from scratch since moving to Italy:
Pumpkin puree
all salad dressings
cornbread
pancakes and crepes
brown sugar
cole slaw
salsa
hummus
barbecue sauce
cough syrup
grits
croutons
popcorn
sour cream
Some of these things you can find in Italy, others you just can’t, some you’re better off making yourself anyways for the correct flavor or texture. You can find popcorn in bags, but I don’t have a microwave as I have no space for one in my tiny kitchen. So, I reverted to putting kernels in a pot on the stove! I made myself a little butter and salt sauce and coated the popcorn after it all popped and it was delish! I felt like I was living in the 1950s and I loved that feeling. I felt so free and independent of modern machinery, a true chef 
The brown sugar in Italy is brown crystal sugar, not the compact brown sugar you get from the States, so I had to learn to make that quick in order to use half of my recipes! The salsa here is just yuk, so I figured it would be better if I just made it myself. I realized I had to make my own pumpkin puree when Thanksgiving rolled around. I started practicing my pumpkin pie in October, I’m glad I started early cause I had to chop up a pumpkin, bake it, puree it, can it…mamma mia, I’m an expert now.
Since learning to make this stuff from scratch I’m telling you that I will never ever buy some of these things again for the rest of my life. Pancake mix is a COMPLETE RIPOFF. They actually make you pay for mixing flour and salt together with a little bit of baking powder…come on, it’s so fast to whip it up yourself it’s not worth the space in your pantry. The same goes for salad dressing, just make it as you need it. If you do that you’ll realize how much space you save in your fridge, and how much healthier you’ll be from using fresh ingredients. As for the pumpkin puree, it tastes better fresh but may not be worth the effort if you don’t have the time and you’re only making one pie. Nevertheless, if anyone wants a recipe let me know in the input tab at the top of the webpage.
Another thing I’d like to do for this post is give you a magical list of all the Italian cooking terms in English! I found this randomly online last year and it has been such a help for an expat like me trying to figure out Italian cookbooks. Here it is:
A:
abboccato sweetish (wine)
l’acciuga sardine
l’aceto vinegar
l’aceto balsamico balsamic vinegar
l’aceto di mele apple vinegar
l’aceto di vino wine vinegar
l’acqua di rose rose water
l’acqua minerale mineral water
l’acqua minerale gassata mineral water with gas
l’acqua minerale naturale mineral water without gas
l’acquavite brandy
affetttato – affettare sliced – to slice
affogato – affogare poached – to poach – also used to describe coffee and ice-cream “gelato affogato” -
affumicato – affumicare smoked – to smoke
l’aglio(masc) garlic
l’agnello lamb
l’agnello di latte baby lamb
agro sour, bitter
agrodolce sweet and sour
l’agrume citrus fruit
al forno oven baked
l’albicocca apricot
alcolici spirits
l’alice anchovy
al cartoccio wrapped in aluminium foil and cooked in the oven (fish)
all’arrabbiata with chilli sauce
alla casalinga home cooking style
alla griglia grilled
l’alloro bay (NB - bush with big shiny leaves and black berries is poisonous – called “lauro ceraso”)
amabile sweet (wine)
amaro bitter
l’aneto dill
l’anguilla eel
l’anice aniseed
l’anice stellato star aniseed
l’antipasto hors d’oeuvre
l’aragosta lobster
l’arancia orange
l’aranciata orange drink
gli aromi aromatic or seasoning herbs
arrostire to roast
l’arrosto roast
l’asparago asparagus
l’asparago selvatico wild asparagus
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B:
la bacca berry
il baccalà dried salted cod
il baccello pod
bagnare, bagnato to soak, soaked
il bagnomaria bainmarie Exp.: cuocere a bagnomaria (cook in a double saucepan)
il barile di vino wine cask
il basilico basil
battere to beat
la batteria da cucina set of pots and pans
bere to drink
la bevanda drink, beverage
la bibita drink, beverage
il bicarbonato di sodio bicarbonate of soda
la bicchierata glassful
il bicchiere glass
il bicchiere da vino wine glass
il bicchiere di vino glass of wine
il bicchiere a calice goblet
la bietola silverbeet, beet, chard
la birra beer
la biscottiera biscuit barrel or tin
il biscotto biscuit
la bistecca steak
la bistecca alla brace BBQ steak
la bistecca al sangue rare steak
il boccone mouthful
bollire to boil
bollito boiled (adj)
il bollito boiled meat
il bollitore kettle
la bomboniera sweets box given as a souvenir at weddings, first communions, christenings
la bottiglia the bottle
brasato braised (adj)
il brasato braised beef
la bresaola dried salted beef
brindare to make a toast
il broccolo broccoli
il brodetto light broth
il brodo broth or stock
la brocca jug
il brodo di manzo beef stock
la bruschetta slice of toasted bread
la buccia skin, pod, peel or rind
il budino pudding
il buongustaio gourmet
il burro butter
la bustina di tè tea bag
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C:
il caffè coffee
i calamari squid
il calzone pizza pastie
la camomilla camomile
il canederlo meat ball
la cannella cinnamon
il cannellone pasta in the shape of a large tube filled with meat or ham and baked with sauce
il cappero caper
la capra/ il capretto Goat/Kid
il cappone capon
il cappuccino frothy white coffee
la caraffa carafe – decanter
il carciofo artichoke
la carne meat
la carne al arrosto roasted meat
la carne al ferri grilled meat
la carne bollita boiled meat
la carne di maiale pork
la carne di manzo beef
la carne di vitello veal
la carne in scatola tinned meat
la carota carrot
il carpaccio a dish made of very thin slices of meat, generally raw or smoked, with condiments
le castagne chestnuts
il cavatappi corkscrew
il caviale caviar
il cavolo bianco cabbagge
il cavolfiore cauliflower
il cedro lime
le ciliege cherries
la cipolla onion
il cioccolato chocolate
la cola coke
il colapasta pasta colander
il coltello knife
condire to season
congelare to freeze
il cornetto croissant
il cosciotto d’agnello leg of lamb
le cozze mussels
la crema di caramello creme caramel – pronounce “cren caramel”!
la crema inglese custard
il cucchiaio spoon
il cucchiaino teaspoon
cucinare to cook
il cumino cumin
cuocere to cook
cuocere al forno to bake or to roast
cuocere a vapore to steam
cuocere e far addensare to reduce – to thicken through cooking
cuocere in padella to fry
cuocere in umido to stew
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D:
il dattero date
il dentice sea bream
disossare to bone
disporre a strati to arrange in layers
disgelare to thaw
il dolce sweet, dessert
dorare to brown
il dragoncello tarragon (also called “estragone”)
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E:
l’erba ciipollina chive
le erbette aromatiche aromatic herbs
l’escanda cereal “Triticum durum dicoccum” also called “farro”
l’estragone tarragon
l’estratto extract
evaporare to evaporate
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F:
il fagiano pheasant
i fagioli beans
far legare to bind
la faraona Guinea hen
la farina flour
la farina bianca white flower
la farina di castagna chestnut flour
la farina di riso rice flour
la farina di segala rye flour
la farina gialla maize flour
la farina integrale wholemeal flour
la farina con lievito self-raising flour (“miscela di farina e lievito”)
il farro cereal “Triticum durum dicoccum” also called “escanda”
il farsumagru stuffed shoulder of veal, Sicilian cooking
fatto in casa home-made
il fegato liver
il fegato d’oca goose liver (“foie gras”)
fermentare to ferment
la fetta biscottata slicead, toasted bread or biscuit
il fico d’India prickly pear
i fichi figs [singular: il fico]
filettare to slice meat thinly, making fillets
il filetto fillet
il finocchio fennel
il fior di farina superfine flour
il fior di latte cream
i fiori di sambucco elder flowers
la focaccia special type of bread
la fonduta cheese fondue
la forma di formaggio whole cheeses\
il formaggio cheese
il formaggio di pecora sheep’s milk cheese
il formaggio duro hard cheese (i.e. Parmesano)
il formaggio fresco ”ricotta style” cheese that you can spread
la fragola strawberry
le frattaglie offal
friggere to fry
il frigorifero fridge
la frittata Italian omelette
fritto fried
il fritto misto mixed fry
il frizzante sparkling wine
il frumento grain, wheat
la frutta fruit
la frutta di bosco wild berries mixture
la frutta secca dried fruit
i frutti di mare seafood
i funghi mushrooms
i funghi secchi dried mushrooms
il fuoco fire
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G:
il gamberetto shrimp
il gambero prawn
gelare to freeze
la gelatiera ice-cream machine
la gelatina gelatine
la gelatina di frutta fruit gelatine
gelatinoso gelatinous
il gelato ice cream
il gelato di crema dairy ice
il gelso mulberry
il germe di grano wheat-germ
il ginepro juniper
girare/voltare to turn
il girello round steak or topside
il glutammato sodico monosodium glutamate
i gnocchi small dumplings made of potato or semolinga
gocciolare to drizzle
la granata pomegranate
la grancevolla spider crab
il granchio crab
la granita kind of water ice
il grano duro durum wheat
il grano integrale wholemeal wheat
il granturco maize
la graticola grill
il grasso fat
il grasso per cucinare cooking fat
gratinare/gratinato to cook “au gratin”
la grattugia grater
grattugiare to grate
il grissino bead-stick
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I:
imbottire to fill or to stuff
imburrare to butter
impanato/a covered with breadcrumbs
impastare to knead
impastato/a covered in dough
in agro cooked and preserved in a mixture of oil, vinegar, herbs and spices
in agro-dolce same but in a sweet and sour version
in brodo with broth or stock
in marinata marinated
in padella fried or cooked in a frying pan
in umido stewed
l’indivia endive
l’insalata brasiliana iceberg lettuce
integrale wholemeal
l’involtino roulade
l’iogurt yogurt
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K:
il kaki (cachi) persimmon
kasher kosher
il ketchup ketchup
il krapfen doughnut
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L:
il lampone raspberry
lardellare to lard
il lardo bacon fat, lard
lasciar andare to allow to cook
lasciare in concia to allow to rest, to keep aside
il latte milk
il latte di bufala buffalo´s milk
il latte intero full cream milk
la lattuga lettuce
i legumi pulses
i lenticchie lentils
la lepre hare
lessare/lessato to boil, boiled
il lievito yeast
il lievito di birra brewer´s yeast
il lievito in polvere baking powder
la limonata lemonade
il limoncello lemon liqueur
il limone lemon
la lingua tongue
la liquirizia licorice
il liquore liqueur
la lisca fish bone
la lombata loin
il luccio pike
la lumaca di mare sea snail
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M:
la macedonia fruit salad
macerare to marinate (particularly in the case of fruit preserved in liqueur)
la macina grinder
la macinacaffè coffee grinder
il macinato minced meat
la maggiorana sweet marjoram
il maiale pork
la maionese mayonnaise
la mandorla almond
il mango mango
il manzo beef
marinare to marinate, to pickle
la marinata preparation to marinate or to pickle
la marmellata marmalade
la marmitta cooking pot
il marrone chestnut
il marzapane marzipan
il mattone earthenware skillet to cook chicken, etc.
il mazzetto bunch
il mazzetto di aromi bunch of aromatic herbs, “bouquet garni”
la mela apple
la melanzana aubergine
il melagrano pomegranate
la meringa meringue
il merluzzo cod
mescolare to mix
mescolando bene stirring well
mettere ammollo to soak
mettere in concia to marinate
la microonda microwave
la miele honey
il miglio millet
la minestra soup
la minestra di verdura vegetable soup
il mirtillo rosso cranberry
la miscela blend
misto mixed
il mollusco mollusc
la mora mulberry
la mora di rovo blackberry
la mostarda mustard
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N:
il nasello hake
la nespola medlar
la nocciola hazelnut
la noce walnut
la noce di cocco coconut
la noce di burro knob of butter
la noce moscata nutmeg
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O:
l’orata bream
l’origano oregano
l’orzo barley
l’orzata barley water; almond-based cordial
l’osso bone
l’ossobucco bone marrow
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P:
il palombo dogfish; wood pigeon
la pancetta bacon
il pane bread
il pane a cassetta sliced bread
il pane bianco white bread
il pane casareccio homemade bread
il pane di burro butter block
il pane di segale rye bread
il pan di Spagna sponge cake
il pane integrale wholemeal bread
il panino bread roll
la panna cream
la panna montata whipped cream
il parmigiano Parma cheese
passare to strain
il passato/la passata puree
passato di cottura to be overdone
la pasta pasta; dough; pastry; paste
la pasta di acciughe anchovy paste
la pasta di mandorle almond paste
la pasta frolla shortcrust pastry
la pasta leggera tipo biscotto light biscuit dough
la pasta lievitata leavened dough
la pasta sfoglia puff pastry
la pastella batter
il pasticcino petit four
il pasticcio pie
la pastina small pasta shapes used in soup
la pastinacca parsnip
la patata potato
la patata dolce sweet potato
pelare/pelato to peel/peeled
la pentola pot, saucepan
il pentolino small saucepan
il pepe pepper
il peperoncino chili pepper
il peperone capsicum
il peperone ripieno stuffed capsicum
il peperone rosso red pepper/capsicum
il peperone verde green pepper/capsicum
la pera pear
la pernice partridge
pesare to weigh
la pesca peach
le pesche peaches
il pesce fish
il pesce gatto catfish
il pesce spada swordfish
il pestello di legno wooden pestle
il petto di pollo chicken breast
piccante hot and spicy
il piccione selvatico wild pidgeon (game)
la pietanza dish
il pimento pimento, allspice
la pinna fin
il pinolo pine nut
il pinzimonio crudites, raw vegetables served with a dip
pirex pyrex
la pirofila heat-resistant glass or dish
pirofilo heat-resistant
il pisello pea
il pistacchio pistacchio nut
il pollame poultry
la polpa pulp, flesh
la polpa di carne lean meat
la polpa di pomodoro tomato puree
la polpetta meat ball, rissole
il polpettone meat loaf
il pomodoro tomato
il pompelmo grapefruit
il porcellino di latte suckling pig
il porro leek
la pralina confection
la preparazione preparation
il prezzemolo parsley
il primo piato entree or first dish served
il prodotto alimentario foodstuff
il prosciutto ham
il prosciutto affumicato smoked ham
la prugna plum
la prugna secca prune
pulire to clean
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Q:
la quaglia quail
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R:
il rafano horseradish
raffredare to cool down
raffredare in acqua to cool down in water
il ragù meat sauce for pasta, etc.
la rana pescatrice monkfish (also called “il rospo”)
la rapa turnip
il ravanello radish
il rene kidney
resistente alla fiamma fireproof
ribes bianco whitecurrant
ribes nero blackcurrant
ribes rosso redcurrant
il riccio di mare sea urchin
ripieno stuffed
la ribollita soup that has been boiled twice
riscaldare to heat up, to reheat
il riso comune ordinary rice
il riso in brodo rice soup
il riso in bianco boiled rice
il rombo turbot
il rosmarino rosemary
il rospo monkfish (also called la rana pescatrice)
la rucola rocket
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S:
la salamoia brine
salato salted
la sale salt
il salmone salmon
la salsa sauce
la salsiccia sausage
la salsiera sauceboat
la salsina thick sauce
la saltimbocca rolled veal with ham
la salumeria delicatessen
il salumificio cured pork meat factory
il sapore flavour
saporito tasty
la sardina sardine
il savoiardo sponge finger
sbollentare to parboil
scaldare to heat
lo scaldavivande dish-warmer
lo scalogno shallot
la scaloppina escalope
lo scampo prawn
schiacciare to crush, to mash, to crack
sciogliere to melt, to dissolve
lo sciropo syrup
scottare to scald, to burn
scremato skimmed
secco dry
il secondo piatto second course
il sedano celery
la selvaggina game
il seme (il nocciolo) seed, pip, stone
i semi di finocchio fennel seeds
i semi di sesamo sesame seeds
semi-secco demisec
il semolino semola
la seppia cuttlefish
servire to serve
il sesamo sesame
sffettare/tagliari a tranci to slice
lo sformato type of souffle
sgelare to defrost
sgocciolare to drain
lo sgombro mackerel
sgranare to shell, to remove grains or kernels (corn)
sgrassare to remove grease or fat
sobbollire to boil slowly, to simmer
soffrigere to fry lightly (il soffritto)
il soffritto fried base of vegetables, herbs, meat or bacon
la sogliola sole
la soppressata pressed salami
il sorbetto sherbet, fruit ice confection
sott’aceto marinated or preserved in vinegar
sott;olio marinated or preserved in oil
la spalla shoulder
spalmare to spread
spazzolare to brush
spennellare to brush
spezzettare to break up into small pieces, to crumble (bread)
spianare to roll out (dough)
lo spiedo spit (BBQ) Exp.: “allo spiedo” = on a spit
la spigola bass
gli spinaci spinach
spinare to bone
spolverare to sprinkle with
la spremuta fresh fruit juice
lo spumante sparkling wine
la squama scale (fish)
squamare to scale fish
stagionato/a seasoned, matured
lo storione sturgeon
stufare to stew
il succo juice
sventrare to disembowel
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T:
il tacchino turkey
tagliare/tagliato to cut
tagliare a dadini to cube
tagliare a tranci/sffettare to slice
tagliuzzare to cut into small pieces
il tarassaco dandelion
il tartufo bianco white truffle
il tartufo nero black truffle
la temperatura di cottura cooking temperature
il timballo timbale
il timo thyme
il tonno tuna fish
la tortiera cake tin
il tortino savoury pie
il tramezzino sandwich
la triglia mullet
la trippa tripe
tritare to mince/to chop
il tritatutto mincer
la trota trout
il tuorio egg yolk
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U:
l’uovo egg
l’uovo a la coque/sodo soft boiled egg
l’uovo all’ occhi di bue fried egg
l’uovo al tegame fried egg
l’uovo fresco freshly laid egg
l’uovo in camicia poached egg
l’uva grape
l’uva passa raisin
l’uva spina gooseberry
l’uvetta raisin
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V:
la vaniglia vanilla
versare to pour (out)
il vino wine
il vino bianco white wine
il vino di tavola table wine
il vino liquoroso dessert wine
il vino rosatto rose wine
il vino rosso red wine
il vitello veal
la vongola clam
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W:
il würstel hot dog
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Z:
lo zabaione dessert made of egg yolks, sugar and marsala wine
lo zafferano saffron
lo zampone stuffed pig’s trotter
lo zenzero ginger
la zucca pumpkin
zuccherare to add sugar to
lo zucchero sugar
lo zucchero a velo icing sugar
lo zucchero caramellat caramel
lo zucchero di canna cane sugar
lo zucchero filato candy floss
lo zucchero vanigliato vanilla sugar
lo zucchino/la zucchina courgette (BE) / zucchini (AE) – it’s feminine when it’s the vegetable
lo zuccotto ice cream sponge
la zuppa soup
la zuppa inglese triffle
la zuppiera tureen
Happy cooking~ Jessica
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18.178445
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