Bolognese Pasta Sauce

Bolognese Pasta Sauce

Actually it’s called ragu alla Bolognese. It’s a long-cooked meat sauce from Bologna, in the northern region of Emilia-Romagna, the culinary heart of Italy. The ragu is traditionally served with tagliatelle in Bologna, a flat pasta a bit narrower than fettuccine. The pasta’s shape is perfect 

Focaccia with Grapes & Walnuts

Focaccia with Grapes & Walnuts

I got off easy this year. I didn’t cook Thanksgiving dinner. I joined friends in the North Bay and had to bring an antipasto. It took me a while to get inspired but an idea hit me at the market. The late harvest grapes were 

Roasted Turkey & All The Fixings

Roasted Turkey & All The Fixings

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 

Butternut Squash Roasted with Honey and Sage

Butternut Squash Roasted with Honey and Sage

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 

Roasted Brussels Sprouts for Your Thanksgiving Table

Roasted Brussels Sprouts for Your Thanksgiving Table

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 

Braised Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Braised Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

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 

Grilled Chicken Marinated with Rosemary & Garlic

Grilled Chicken Marinated with Rosemary & Garlic

Last week we were staying in an updated 1930s cabin overlooking Lake Tahoe. I was excited about the grill on the deck right outside the kitchen door and we used it every day. One of our dinners included delicious grilled chicken breasts simply marinated in 

Marinated Zucchini (Zucchine alla Scapace)

Marinated Zucchini (Zucchine alla Scapace)

I have more late summer zucchini than I know what to do with. Well, almost. I made a fritatta with zucchini, potatoes, wild boar salami and fontina. I made ciambotta, a zucchini stew with potatoes and onions in a tomato sauce. I used what I 

Sweet Potato Gnocchi

Sweet Potato Gnocchi

I was hosting a 4-course birthday dinner for a friend. I asked her what she wanted. “Nothing special. You come up with something. It’s always good,” she told me. But the next morning she sent me an email. “Can you make sweet potato gnocchi? I’ve been 

Pickled Eggplant

Pickled Eggplant

It’s getting near the end of the summer season so I’m putting up some eggplant to tide me over until spring. This a simple recipe from the south of Italia. The pickled eggplant is preserved under olive oil (sott’olio) and will keep in your refrigerator 

Chicken Cacciatore

Chicken Cacciatore

Flavor memories of my Mom’s hunter-style braised chicken overwhelmed me. I headed down the hill to get what I needed to make this easy, rustic dish. I’m a breast man but go ahead and include all of your favorite chicken parts. The breasts take less 

Galloping Figs

Galloping Figs

I love fresh figs. I don’t care, black or white, I eat them all while they are in season. It all started when I was a kid. We had 3 fig trees in our Jersey backyard, 2 black, 1 white. I couldn’t wait for the 

Umbrian Black Truffles @ Cavalli Cafe

Umbrian Black Truffles @ Cavalli Cafe

I was navigating through the crowd waiting for the bus outside of Cavalli Cafe on Stockton and didn’t notice the hand-written sign in the window. Owner Santo Esposito saw me passing by and ran out to tell me that black truffles (tartufi neri) had just 

Baked Baby Eggplant

Baked Baby Eggplant

Don’t miss the next new video recipe. Please subscribe now to my YouTube channel. I love the small Italian eggplant now in the market. Here’s a quick recipe that explodes with flavor. Just cut the eggplants in half and bake them in the oven topped with crushed  San 

Panzanella (Summer Tomato & Bread Salad)

Panzanella (Summer Tomato & Bread Salad)

I never throw away bread. I use stale bread for my meatballs, for stuffings and for breadcrumbs. I always have some hanging around. Day-old bread inspires panzanella, a simple summer tomato and bread salad. Some of you asked for this recipe based on the classic