Entertaining

Homemade Italian meat broth (Brodo di Carne) is a magical substance. It’s delicious, comforting, soul-satisfying, and adored by children and grown-ups alike. While it simmers on the stove, its heavenly smell permeates your whole house. When you are low, you feel better after just one sip. Happily, it’s easy to prepare. Once you learn how to whip up a broth, a whole world of scrumptious Italian dishes will be available to you. Today, I share an unfussy, home-style Italian meat broth recipe. It can be cooked either for three hours in a normal pot or for one hour in a …

I’m excited to share this carrot loaf cake recipe with you today. Why? It is absolutely delicious, simple, easy, and incredibly light. You can serve it either at breakfast or as an afternoon treat. If you like sweets that aren’t too sweet, then this cake will be perfect for you. (Think of an Italian ciambella or a yogurt cake.) It’s something nice to have with coffee or as a snack. Unexpected guests? No problem. Have slices of this ready in your freezer and you’ll be ready for anything. (I’m eating a semi-frozen piece of it right now. It’s really good. …

It’s August and we are at the peak of eggplant season. Eggplant is my absolute favorite. I like it prepared in every way possible – in parmigiana, fried, grilled, roasted, pureed, stuffed, in pasta sauce, you name it. If you love eggplant as much as I do, you will want to try this heavenly, rich, yet delicate eggplant lasagna. This Lasagne alle Melanzane is filled with a delightful tomato basil sauce, fried eggplant, fresh mozzarella, scamorza cheese, prosciutto cotto (unsmoked ham), hard-boiled egg, and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. It sounds like a lot but is prepared in the Italian-style, meaning, with a …

If you have been following me on Instagram, you know that I recently went to Molise for the first time. (My 18th region out of 20!) What I found there was natural beauty, warm, extremely generous people, excellent food and ingredients, great wine, and… pampanella! What is pampanella you ask? It’s something you need in your life – that’s what it is! Pampanella is a spicy, luscious, rich, and utterly craveable roast pork dish from a town called San Martino in Pensilis. I am ecstatic to tell you about this unheard-of dish and share a recipe for this scrumptiousness. Spice …

Bagna Cauda from Piedmont is one of those iconic dishes that you come across repeatedly when you read about Italian cuisine. What it is, at its simplest, is a warm sauce of garlic and anchovies slowly cooked in extra virgin olive oil until soft and luscious, served in autumn with seasonal raw and cooked vegetables. It’s not just a dish but a communal event shared with friends and family. (Red wine flowing…) If you hear the recipe described – it doesn’t necessarily sound appealing or interesting at first. However, once you taste it and experience a proper Bagna Cauda, it …

Are you a fan of pizzelles? Those typically sweet waffle cookies, traditionally flavored with anise or other flavors such as lemon? Did you know that they can be savory as well? Today I’m going to share with you a very simple and adaptable recipe for savory pizzelles. I will provide a base recipe with four different flavor variations. You can serve these with cured meats, olives, cheeses and any other salty nibble that captures your fancy. Spritz o’clock just got more interesting! Please read on to hear about these traditional cookies from Abruzzo, with a savory twist. I will also …

I adore making fresh pasta. I adore eating pasta. Unfortunately, I can’t do either as much as I’d wish due the reality of my slowing metabolism. (Grrr…) Therefore, when I have the opportunity to do both, I want it to be special and worth my while. This elegant lasagna with mushrooms, ham, and béchamel, celebrating fall mushrooms, and fresh, silky, egg pasta, fit the bill this past weekend.