The Best Italian & Italian-American Recipes on the Internet
I’ll be in Rome and Naples soon so I’ve been cooking dishes from both cities to get ready for the trip. Here’s another Roman favorite that would be at home in Naples as well. The Romans prefer long pasta in their chickpea soup and the …
La Vignarola, stewed spring vegetables, is a simple dish that’s a real crowd-pleaser in Rome this time of year and you can be eating some in about 30 minutes. Quickly braise each of the 3 spring vegetables separately. Brown guanciale or pancetta with a little …
You may have seen the news reports about the Mediterranean diet study just published in the New England Journal of Medicine. People who eat lots of beans, nuts, fish, vegetables and fruits, use extra virgin olive oil and drink wine with meals have a lower …
You know how much I love eggplant and this is one of my favorite dishes. On my restaurant’s menu in the 80s, Eggplant Rollatini was a popular main dish. I ate it often at the end of the evening service. Make the marinara sauce, fry …
What do you expect from a guy in San Francisco’s Italian North Beach who hopes the Lombardi Trophy comes home with the 49ers? Here’s an Italian-American appetizer for your Super Bowl buffet that sports the Niner’s red and gold. The meatballs are easy to make and …
Add this recipe to your list of dishes that you can have on your table in less than 30 minutes. It’s healthy and delicious. I love the simple taste of green beans drizzled with extra virgin olive oil, a sprinkle of sea salt and a …
This is getting to be a habit. Another gathering of friends and another request to bring an appetizer. “No meat and no cheese please, and make sure the appetizer is “finger food.” OK, I’ll take the challenge. I’ve been thinking about these stuffed pepper roll-ups …
My friend Susan called from Jersey and the subject of her renowned cavatelli with broccoli came up during our conversation. Actually, we talked about “gavadeal” and broccoli, as cavatelli is known in the Jersey southern Italian-American argot. The broccoli in my fridge had to be …
A friend suggested a winter squash as a side for my New Year’s Eve veal roast stuffed with spinach. Spaghetti squash was a perfect choice. The yellow spaghetti squash balanced the colors on the plate. The slightly sweet squash accented by mild sage and garlic infused …
North Beach’s Little City Meats was an inspiration for my New Year’s Eve dinner. A boneless leg of veal caught my eye. Mike trimmed it up for me to make a stuffed roast. This is a butterflied roast. Lay it down flat, spread on a …
Still undecided about your Thanksgiving dinner? Try my recipes for Roasted Turkey scented with rosemary, sage, lemon and garlic, chestnut/sausage stuffing and easy pan gravy. While the oven is hot, add brussels sprouts roasted with pine nuts and parmigiano and butternut squash roasted with honey …
I love butternut squash and make it often, especially in the fall. A favorite is roasted butternut squash lightly flavored with honey and sage. You can have this dish on your table in less than 30 minutes. The hardest part is cutting and peeling the …
I’m not cooking Thanksgiving dinner this year but I will be bringing some vegetables to add to my friend’s table. I know, you either love or hate brussels sprouts. I happen to love these crispy little orbs and I hope you will too. Coat the …
Cabbage stuffed with rice and flavorful browned ground beef braised in San Marzano tomatoes is a comfort food that helps me transition to early fall. I don’t give up late summer easily. Stuffed cabbage is easy to prepare and packs a ton of texture and …
Neapolitan Christmas Salad
I just love this classic Neapolitan Christmas Salad, insalata di rinforza, in Italian. Insalata di rinforza translates into Reinforced Salad. How did such an important part of the Christmas table get such a silly name? Here’s the tale. Giardiniera, vegetables stored in a vinegar bath, …