Arancini (Rice Balls) and a Rice Blog Hop

Posted on Feb 15, 2013 | 24 comments I didn’t think I could love risotto more than I already did. But take leftover risotto, roll it into rice balls, stuff them with cheese, bread and deep fry and you’ve got an entirely new beast. Called arancini (which means little oranges in Italian), this Sicilian specialty is a vegetarian bar snack worth trying. They’re crispy on the outside with a melty, gooey surprise in the...
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Guest Post: Orecchiette with Leeks and a Leek Blog Hop

Posted on Nov 30, 2012 | 11 comments Today I’m doing a guest post over at Shut Up and Cook: The Attainable Gourmet, and I hope you’ll stop by and check it out. Besides the recipe for orecchiette with leeks and ricotta (yes, it’s as good as it sounds and easy as can be!), Erina’s blog is just a joy to explore. I’ve known Erina since college, when she was one of the stars of the all female a cappella...
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Garlic Bread Buttermilk Biscuits

Posted on Nov 5, 2012 | 25 comments This month I left my Secret Recipe Club recipe until the very last minute – I made it yesterday. I don’t usually leave it to the end like that, but besides having a busy month, I also just couldn’t decide what to make. So many recipes on my assigned blog, Cookin’ Mimi, called out to me. Finally, though, I declared these garlic bread buttermilk biscuits the winner and set...
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Saffron Lasagna ~ Lasagna alla Zafferano from A Family Farm in Tuscany

Posted on Oct 31, 2012 | 18 comments As an Italian-American, I’ve eaten plenty of lasagna in my day. But none like this. I’m used to layers of noodles and sauce that are cemented with mounds of cheese. This authentic Italian lasagna, however, relies primarily on a saffron-hued béchamel sauce to act as the glue. There’s no mozzarella, no ricotta. Just grated Parmesan, meat sauce, and a luscious besciamella made with butter,...
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Easy Homemade Pizza and a Pizza Blog Hop

Posted on Oct 12, 2012 | 32 comments As soon as I saw this no rise, practically no knead pizza dough recipe on the web I knew I had to try it out (you’ve probably seen it too – it’s got over 84,000 pins on Pinterest!). This easy pizza seemed too good to be true and had an intriguing secret ingredient: Yogurt. I love adding yogurt to everything from baked goods to pasta dishes, and from salad dressings to sauces to...
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Pasta with Ricotta and Brussels Sprouts

Posted on Oct 8, 2012 | 22 comments Although I didn’t grow up eating Brussels sprouts, as an adult I’ve fallen in love with them. And, while I make them often, I’ve only posted one Brussels sprouts recipe on the blog. I knew I had to change that. Fortunately I came across this easy and delicious pasta with ricotta and Brussels sprouts recipe from Culinary Adventures with Camilla, my assigned blog for this...
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Heirloom Tomato Bruschetta and a Tomato Blog Hop

Posted on Aug 17, 2012 | 31 comments Bruschetta was one of the first dishes I taught myself to make. I was only just learning to love tomatoes, and I remember preparing batches freshman year in the communal dorm “kitchen”. It was equipped with a fridge, sink, and microwave, so no-cook recipes were key. As soon as the first hint of spring warmth hit I’d walk, bike or get a ride to the grocery store and pick up fresh...
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Ricotta Gnocchi and a Cheese Blog Hop

Posted on Jul 27, 2012 | 43 comments If you’ve ever been too intimidated to make your own pasta, gnocchi is a great place to start. And if regular potato gnocchi seems like too much work, well ricotta gnocchi is the way to go. This Italian pasta dumpling has three – yes just THREE! – ingredients and doesn’t require the use of a pasta maker. You just mix together ricotta, flour, and an egg and gently knead it...
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Tomato, Mozzarella, Basil, and Spinach Frittata and an Egg Blog Hop

Posted on Jul 6, 2012 | 34 comments Tomato, mozzarella, and basil comprises one of my all-time favorite flavor combinations. It always makes for a reliable panini, is perfect served on its own as an appetizer, and is fun to play around with (as in here, here, and here). Combine this with the fact that I’ve been obsessed with my new cast iron pan (as evidenced here and here) and it was only a matter of time before this...
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Spaghetti Carbonara for #SundaySupper

Posted on Jun 3, 2012 | 31 comments The theme for this week’s #SundaySupper is “Celebrate Your Heritage” and, in case my last name didn’t give it away, I am Italian-American (and Hungarian, and other stuff too, but mostly Italian). Although my family hails from the South of the boot, I couldn’t resist bringing Spaghetti Carbonara – a decidedly Roman dish – to the table. Although I...
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