Tag: cooking

Breaded Chicken Cutlets

Breaded Chicken Cutlets

Fried, breaded cutlets are one of my favorite dishes and I make them often. They’re quick to fry up and are delicious. If you’ve been a fan of this site for a while, you’ll remember I’ve shown you chicken cutlets before, but it was in 

Eggplant Balls

Eggplant Balls

I never had polpette di melanzane (eggplant “meatballs”) before I stumbled upon them 8 years ago in Napoli at a family trattoria behind all the fancy hotels facing the Bay of Naples on the Lungomare. Despite the literal translation “eggplant meatballs” there’s no meat in 

Roman-Style Chicken with Peppers

Roman-Style Chicken with Peppers

Pollo alla Romana con i Peperoni: Chicken Roman-Style with red and yellow peppers in a sweet tomato sauce punctuated by crispy prosciutto bits is a simple one-pan recipe that is ready in about 30 minutes. I prefer boneless, skinless chicken breast but you can use 

Belly-Button Ricotta Gnocchi in a Quick Tomato-Basil Sauce

Belly-Button Ricotta Gnocchi in a Quick Tomato-Basil Sauce

  I was hungry and wanted something I could whip together in less than an hour. I was thinking about gnocchi and decided to make ricotta gnocchi instead of potato gnocchi that take longer. Just make sure you drain excess liquid from the ricotta in 

Sautéed Escarole with White Tuscan Beans + Uccelletto

Sautéed Escarole with White Tuscan Beans + Uccelletto

The last episode of Lunch with Gianni was a special episode. After the privileged opportunity to cook with expensive winter black truffles for which I am grateful, I’m back in the kitchen cooking what I describe as my “cucina povera”, my “cucina rustica”, the rustic 

Cooking Foraged Chicory in Roma

Cooking Foraged Chicory in Roma

The last time I was in Italy I hooked up with my friend Luca and the crew from his video company, HB Productions. We spent days together shopping and shooting episodes of me cooking in my apartment near the Spanish Steps. Here’s the first of those 

My Family Christmas Menu Suggestions

My Family Christmas Menu Suggestions

Some say that the most important meal this season is the Christmas Eve fish dinner. I’m doing the Neapolitan-inspired Feast of Seven Fishes, La Festa dei Sette Pesci. But you gotta eat after everyone is done opening all their presents Christmas day, right? When I’m 

Christmas Eve Feast of 7 Fish Recipe Roundup

Christmas Eve Feast of 7 Fish Recipe Roundup

I’ll be with family and friends for Christmas. Our Neapolitan family tradition is to prepare a 7-fish Christmas Eve dinner, La Festa dei Sette Pesci. Seven fish unless I’m with the Sicilian branch of the family, then it’s 13! I hope you will be with 

Porchetta War: Who will win?

Porchetta War: Who will win?

I shot a porchetta episode a while ago. It’s a favorite among my friends and family so I had to share my recipe. And the episode got lots of views and tons of positive comments. Then, things suddenly turned nasty. The Italians got involved. They 

Make A Perfect Antipasti Platter

Make A Perfect Antipasti Platter

An antipasti platter is your culinary canvas. Lay out a couple of your favorite Italian cheeses and salumi (cured meats) that pair well together. Add some veggies for color. Olives maybe? And what about some taralli scattered all around? A feast for the eyes but 

Food Network? Me?

Food Network? Me?

Whadda youse crazy? I can’t compete on Food Network. I don’t like tension in the kitchen. My focus is the food not the drama. And I gotta do things my own way. When inspired I share recipes on my blog. When my producers’ and my stars 

Turkey, Stuffing & Gravy the Italian-American Way

Turkey, Stuffing & Gravy the Italian-American Way

This year I’m making a roasted boneless turkey breast stuffed with spinach and prosciutto. But I’m thinking fondly of my whole succulent roasted turkey and stuffing. Did I make the wrong choice for my Thanksgiving table? Nope, I’ve gotten over my ambivalence. I’m sticking with the 

Roasted Turkey Breast with Spinach & Prosciutto Stuffing

Roasted Turkey Breast with Spinach & Prosciutto Stuffing

This is part two of our Thanksgiving special. Check out part one here. I’m not in the mood to roast a whole turkey this year so I came up with this easy tasty boneless breast roast that’s ready after about 90 minutes in a hot 

Pumpkin Ricotta Cheesecake

Pumpkin Ricotta Cheesecake

Want a light dessert for your holiday table? I love this ricotta cheesecake with pumpkin as an end to a fall meal. It’s a nice change from the heavier New York cheesecake. Pumpkin ricotta cheesecake is easy to make. It doesn’t have a pastry crust 

Mashed Potatoes with Roasted Garlic & Olive Oil

Mashed Potatoes with Roasted Garlic & Olive Oil

This is part one of a 2 part Thanksgiving special. Stay tuned for part two next week. Easy and delicious, mashed potatoes flavored with mellow roasted garlic and extra virgin olive oil, pairs well with meat, fish or poultry. My Mom didn’t call them mashed potatoes, she called