Ham

Sometimes I marvel at the sheer number of delicious things that there are to eat and discover in Italian cuisine. Frittatine di Pasta Napoletane are extraordinarily scrumptious Neapolitan pasta fritters that are an important part of the incredible street food scene in Naples. These fried parcels of heaven are crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside. In a word: dreamy. While there are many varieties of Frittatine di Pasta Napoletane, I’ve developed a recipe for a very popular (and mouthwatering) version. This variant includes a mixture of bucatini pasta, peas, ham, cheese, and béchamel. After this mixture cools, …

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 …

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.