ITALIAN-BORN Carlo Ricioppo provides Darwen's large Italian community with genuine pastas, sauces, meats, oils and sweets from his stall at the town's three-day market, Melodia Food.

Carlo sources most of the produce from the Calabria region of southern Italy, where he was born and lived before moving to Darwen as a five-year-old.

Melodia Food has been running for just over a year and the response has been overwhelming — one customer travels from Morecambe — and his imports have proved popular with Italian and local customers alike.

Here Carlo gives three of his favourite quick and easy authentic Italian recipes using ingredients from his stall.

Starter - bruschetta
Toast four slices of ciabatta bread and then drizzle with olive oil.

For optional spice spread a little n’dujia, then add mixed Calabrian vegetables, sun-dried tomatoes and porcini mushrooms.

Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, plus a little oregano and place under grill for 30 seconds and serve warm.

Main Course - Fusilli Linguine Alla Marinara (Serves four)
Prepare fusilli linguine pasta as per instruction on packet.

In a shallow pan heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil, add 2 chopped garlic cloves and a little lemon juice.

Open a jar of seafood mix into the pan, heat through, then add to drained pasta. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve.

Dessert – Panettone Tiramisu
Mix 800 grams of natural mild creamy cheese with 80 grams of icing sugar, 2 egg yolks and teaspoon of powered coffee.

Prepare espresso coffee and sprinkle the slices of panettone using a brush.

Prepare the tiramisu alternating the panettone with generous layers of cream.

Decorate on top with a dusting of cocoa powder.

Buon appetito!

l Visit www.melodiafood.com