Sicilian menu ideas?

[NoYOUbekind]

We're hosting a Sicilian friend who hasn't been able to get back 'home' for a couple of years now due to Covid and who had to cancel a planned half-term trip due to Covid, so I'd really like to do a Sicilian menu for her... any thoughts?

I'm definitely doing pasta alla Norma because DS can actually make that and wants to contribute (bless him!), some antipasti/caponata (but might that be too similar to the pasta?). I read somewhere about spring onions wrapped in prosciutto and fried (oh yes please!) but any other ideas?

I know they eat a lot of fish but getting decent fish is quite hard here, we don't have a fishmonger locally. It could be done but I'm ideally looking for non-fishy options.

Any thoughts wise and well-travelled MNers?

That’s a really nice idea.
I’d do arancini rather than caponata. The traditional method is a bit of an art, so I’d probably opt for a baked version: www.healthylittlefoodies.com/baked-arancini/ or www.asda.com/good-living/recipe/cheesy-baked-arancini?recipe_id=384edd79-2aff-11e9-8802-7daf07a34f81
For dessert, I’d do ricotta cheesecake or almond or coffee granita (served in a glass with a spoon).

I don't know how easy it is to make at home, or alternatively how easy it would be for you to buy it from an Italian deli, but cannoli is the classic Sicilian sweet pastry. Immortalised (for me) by The Godfather. "Leave the gun – take the cannoli."

As a contrast to the tomato/aubergine flavour of Pasta Norma, I’d do a Sicilian orange salad as a starter. The salad looks really attractive on the plate and ingredients are easy to buy.
If I spotted some ready made arancini I’d serve them with an aperitif.

For pudding I’d do a Sicilian cassata ice-cream with candied fruits and grated lemon rind stirred into slightly softened ice-cream and refrozen. I’d serve that with limoncello. 🍋 🍋 🍋 🍋

Gino Dacampo did a programme about Sicilian & Sardinian food called "Islands in the sun".
Might be some ideas on his website.
If she's a wine drinker, she might appreciate some Canonau.

Thanks everyone. Love the idea of an orange salad. I really don't like arancini but if I can get them ready made then I can have them as antipasti, another great shout. Will see if I can dig up the Gino programme too.

So many good dessert ideas, maybe I should just have had them over for pudding

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g

I don't know how easy it is to make at home, or alternatively how easy it would be for you to buy it from an Italian deli, but cannoli is the classic Sicilian sweet pastry. Immortalised (for me) by The Godfather. "Leave the gun – take the cannoli."

My pal bakes her own cannoli but she is fearless. I'm kinda hoping she'll bring some though, she usually does.

Win win!

Saw this guy on Saturday Kitchen, he has a restaurant called Norma after the pasta dish...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sicilia-love-letter-food-Sicily/dp/1472982754/ref=ascdf1472982754/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=463218007660&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9304435321365300838&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007199&hvtargid=pla-1014041383367&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

Panelle to start with, then a cassata cake, the gaudier the better. Both really easy to make and so delicious.

Just to update, I did salami as an antipasti, which I laid out on the coffee table. We all then turned our backs to look at something, and the dog ate it. So that was a triumph

I did spring onions wrapped in prosciutto and fried and omg, that was worth doing. So good. Olives and some other improvised nibbles. Fizz with pomegranate juice as a spritz. Then pasta all Norma for primi, secondi was a sort of lemony chicken thing that I bastardised from somewhere else, with a blood orange and fennel salad.

The brought cannoli - result!

'Twas a great night. Thanks all for your help.