There’s nothing tastier than cheese with pears and Cacio e Pepe with Pear Slivers exemplifies this magical pairing to the fullest. There’s a saying from the 1200’s about the delightful pairing of cheese with pears: “Dio non ha mai fatto un matrimonio così riuscito, ossia il connubio tra pera e formaggio.” – God has never…
Pasta
Traditional Italian pasta becomes art and origami – Podcast Episode 19
Traditional Italian pasta becomes an edible art form in the hands of Laurie de Filippi from Baltimore Home Cook as she creates her pasta art and origami. Pasta, like language, is a constantly evolving cultural part of life and in Italy it’s supremely important. Laurie is steeped in Italian tradition through her 100% Italian bloodline from…
The magic of Pasta Grannies: a chat with creator Vicky Bennison – Podcast Episode 17
Don’t miss this wonderful interview and chat with Vicky Bennison from Pasta Grannies. Her videos of octogenarian (and older) Italian women making homemade pasta are captivating and heartwarming. Plus they dig deep into the hundreds upon hundreds of different pasta shapes throughout Italy. Vicky’s Pasta Grannies brand started off six years ago and she realized…
Easy Lemon Spaghetti – or use your favorite pasta shape!
If you haven’t figured out what to make for lunch today then go for a great plate of easy lemon spaghetti! I hadn’t made this spaghetti with a creamy lemon sauce for a while and since we have a wonderful lemon tree that yields lemons year round it was perfect. Best to use untreated lemons…
Spaghetti with a Spicy Tomato Anchovy Sauce
, Spaghetti with a Spicy Tomato Anchovy Sauce is one of my favorite pasta dishes and incredibly easy to make! If you think you don’t like anchovies you might actually change your mind once you try them in this dish. They’re not the hero ingredient here but instead they add rich flavor and wonderful umami…
Spring Ravioli: Stinging Nettle and Ricotta Filling with Spring Peas, Fava Beans & Asparagus
I’m still strongly in foraging mode, and stinging nettle is abundant. Along with seasonal spring vegetables I’ve thrown all these ingredients together to make a wonderful spring ravioli recipe. We’re in that magic moment of springtime when there’s an abundance of newly harvested fava beans and spring peas, and wild asparagus. It’s wonderful to be able…
Penne or Rigatoni all’Amatriciana
Amatriciana sauce in the making… Amatriciana or matriciana, the sauce is still the same: rich, spicy, with crunchy bits of guanciale. The name varies based on who’s trying to lay claim to this pasta sauce’s origins. The sauce is supposedly named after the town of Amatrice in the Appenine hills to the North East of…
Homemade Cavatelli
Homemade Cavatelli are one of the wonderful homemade pastas so typical of the poorer areas of southern Italy, like Puglia. In the past eggs were scarce, so farmers and home cooks made do with eggless pasta dough. Cavatelli are made with a semolina flour and water rather than with all purpose, or “00″ flour that’s used for…
Cavatelli with a Spicy Tomato Mussel Sauce
Cavatelli with a Spicy Tomato Mussel Sauce is a wonderful southern Italian dish typical of the coastal area of the Puglia region. We order everything online now that we are in lockdown which is infinitely safer than going to a grocery store ourselves. The one caveat with our favorite store is that orders must be for…
Spaghetti with Clam Sauce (alle Vongole)
Italy has such delicious clams that spaghetti with clams is always one of my top choices when we eat out. It’s also something I make at home frequently. It’s easy to prepare and I have a few magic ingredients that make this dish extraordinary. Everyone you serve it to will ask what you do to make…
‘Nduja Spaghetti with Slivered Zucchini and Arugula
‘Nduja Spaghetti with Slivered Zucchini and Arugula I have to be honest that it never crossed my mind to make pasta using ‘nduja, a delightful spicy Calabrian spreadable pork paste, and I have to thank my friend Michele (@mangiawithmichele) for the inspiration. Everyone is cooking differently now that we’re in coronavirus “shelter in place” mode…
Pasta with Wild Boar Sauce
Pasta with Wild Boar Sauce is my favorite dish on cold winter days! If you don’t have pappardelle on hand then use another pasta like rigatoni or fettuccine. There are many dishes that I love but make infrequently because they just take too much time to prepare. I found that a pressure cooker or instapot allows…