Cooking in the Time of Coronavirus – Episode 5 discusses the changes we have made in our style of cooking since “shelter in place” went into effect. People are gravitating towards comfort foods and at the same time are getting more creative with pantry cooking: putting together ingredients they have on hand. In today’s episode…
Recipes
‘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…
All About Gnocchi – Podcast Episode 4
You may already know and love these delicious little pillows of heaven or you may know nothing about them. Either way today’s Flavor of Italy podcast episode 4 tells you All About Gnocchi from its history and tradition to how to make this luscious dish – and more. Check out these useful links from the…
Food Memories – Podcast Episode 3
Food Memories – what are they? Food memories are some of the most evocative that can conjure up vivid memories from way back into childhood. Today my frequent cohost Michele Di Pietro (@mangiawithmichele) and I discuss the phenomena of food memories and exactly why they are so important. We share and discuss some of our…
Italian Cocktails, Mocktails and Liqueurs
Cocktail hours and aperitivi have always been a beloved way to get together and socialize. Italian cocktails and mocktails are frequently low alcohol content and often with a hint of bitter flavor. This is changing with globalization. Italian cocktails and mocktails are now beginning to take on an international flare and resemble those you’d see in the United…
Homemade Pizza
Pizza Party Time! Yesterday was my husband‘s birthday so we decided to have a homemade pizza party! OK, so it was just the two of us, but trust me it was a real party! We called it a party and did all the things that we usually do during a pizza party but with a…
Homemade bread with home-ground flours
This has now become my go-to homemade bread. It’s a recipe I’ve been working on for over a year now, adding and subtracting ingredients, and working with different flours and grains. I’ve started grinding my own flours and it really does make a difference. My favorite is farro, a 7,000 year old grain which…
Castagnole di Carnevale, a Delicious Mardi Gras Dessert!
Castagnole di Carnevale are a wonderful treat for Mardi Gras! Italian tradition has it that just before the forty days of lent when one feels compelled to give up tasty goodies, is the time to indulge in sweet, fried foods. Castagnole have been part of this tradition since the 17th century, along with frappe and a…
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…
Broccoli and Mussel Curry
Broccoli and Mussel Curry is a great way to occasionally switch out from my classic Italian style of cooking. I prefer a curry that has a hint of Thai flavors so I like to make mine with coconut milk. I had some fresh mussels and broccoli on hand and decided they would go together beautifully…
Beetroot Fettuccine with Butter and Sage
I love making Beetroot Fettuccine with Butter and Sage for a number of reasons. First off, I love making homemade pasta, both hand-rolled and with a pasta machine. It’s relaxing and there’s nothing quite like the consistency of freshly made pasta. One of my favorite things is beautifully colored pasta as it looks so great…
Pork Sausage and Lentils (Cotechino e Lenticchie)
Pork Sausage and Lentils (Cotechino e Lenticchie) Serves 4-6 Pork Sausage and Lentils is a traditional New Year’s dish in Italy. Lentils are purported to bring wealth and good fortune. In Lombardy dialect zecchini – coins from the 1500’s – were also called lenticchie, which gave rise to lentil’s association with prosperity and good health….