For Jane Ciccone, the co-founder of Onesto Artisan Crackers, "simple, authentic, honest ingredients" make all the difference in crafting a winning dish.

Ciccone learned that and other culinary secrets throughout her childhood in a house she describes as "always abuzz in the kitchen." Her mother, an avid home cook and the owner of a cookie company for 19 years, provided an early inspiration for her later work as a healthy cooking instructor and entrepreneur. At age 19, Ciccone spent a semester in Florence, Italy, where she took as many cooking classes as she could manage. It was in Italy that she learned the art of culinary simplicity.

Now married, Ciccone and her husband - another lifelong foodie - were spurred to up their nutritional game after the birth of their two children, citing a lack of truly healthy snacks in most grocery stores.

"The more we've learned about food and what is truly wholesome, the more we've paid attention to what goes into our bodies," Ciccone said in an email interview. "When we really stopped and looked, we were very discouraged with how much junk was in the market claiming to be 'healthy.'"

Necessity soon bred invention - and a delicious cracker.

"I had the recipe for a cracker banging around in my head for some time," Ciccone notes. "When we went to a close friend's for dinner and they were going crazy over the crackers, the idea was born. I thought, there really is nothing on the market like these crackers."

They launched Onesto Foods, based in West Newbury, Mass., in January 2014 as a launchpad for two things: to offer educational cooking classes to similar-minded parents and a venue through which to sell what became the company's flagship crackers. "Onesto" is the Italian word for "honest," a nod to the food and ingredients Ciccone uses in her home and business.

Come July of that year, after several encouraging cracker tastings, Ciccone knew she was on to something and opted to focus solely on perfecting her cracker recipe. Perhaps the highest praise came from her children, Zachary and Josie.

"My kids love them and so do our friends' kids," Ciccone said. "I feel so good knowing that when my kids are hungry, they can eat Onesto crackers with some wonderful cheese or hummus and have a protein-packed snack."

Crafted in small batches with non-GMO ingredients, Onesto crackers are gluten-, dairy- and preservative-free. They are available in four flavors: Sea Salt, Rosemary, "Hint Of Cinnamon" and Ancho Chile. While the flavorings are distinct in the chile, rosemary and cinnamon crackers, they don't overpower the palate and serve to enrich the base flavor of the cracker.

The hearty, tasty crackers owe their unique flavor and texture to well-sourced ingredients, according to Ciccone.

"We only use imported extra virgin olive oil and the almond flour we use is so rich and nutty. We are also fanatics about the coarse sea salt that we hand-grind over the crackers before they are baked," she explains.

A "very hot" convection oven ensures the crackers are perfectly baked - a quality that is apparent with the first bite and makes the crackers all the better to pair with dips, cheeses, fruit and other toppings.

Though she says the best way to enjoy her crackers is with "wild abandonment," Ciccone offers a few other pairing recommendations.

"While we try not to make it too complicated, some people do love finding just the right flavor pairings," she says. "Onesto Sea Salt crackers are so versatile that they really can go with any cheese. The earthy flavor of the Rosemary crackers pairs wonderfully with antipasto platters of roasted meats and Italian cheeses. The Hint of Cinnamon with a bleu cheese and a drizzle of honey is divine! The Ancho Chile crackers are flavorful enough to eat all on their own. They also work well with an aged cheddar or creamy Brie. Just don't pick a cheese that's too pungent!"

Ciccone is hard at work shopping her crackers around to vendors in the region (see sidebar on page D1). Meanwhile, she says Onesto will announce new food products soon. Keep an eye out for Onesto spice rubs for various meats next.

www.onestofoods.com

m.nadonly@theday.com

Twitter: @TheMDesk

Where to buy Onesto Artisan Crackers in Connecticut

Caseus Fromagerie & Bistro, 93 Whitney Ave., New Haven

Fromage Fine Foods, 873 Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook. Old Saybrook

The Cheese Shop of Centerbrook, 33 Main St., Centerbrook

Muddy Waters Cafe, 42 Bank St., New London

The Fairfield Cheese Company, 2090 Post Road, Fairfield

Go to www.onestofoods.com to buy online and for a listing of other vendors in the Northeast.