Nonna Maria's Chocolate Pudding With Tea Cookies

Nonna Maria's Chocolate Pudding With Tea Cookies

This dish can be modified as simple or elegant as you wish. I feel privileged to have inherited this recipe from my mother-in-law, Nonna Maria. My husband and children love this dish because of its tribute to Nonna. I look forward to the day I can make this dish for my grandson, Luca.

Penne Pasta With Tomatoes, Basil, and Pine Nuts

Penne Pasta With Tomatoes, Basil, and Pine Nuts

Warm summer nights with fresh tomatoes from the garden calls for a perfect occasion to cook this dish. As a family, we spend plenty of evenings on the patio enjoying this fresh dish.

Orzo Pasta With Black Beans and Roasted Red Peppers

Orzo Pasta With Black Beans and Roasted Red Peppers

This is a summer salad I enjoy making when I have close to nothing in the kitchen to cook with. Look in your pantry, grab a bowl, and voila! You have a salad.

Chick Pea Salad With Spearmint Leaves

Chick Pea Salad with Spearmint Leaves 

This recipe came from desperation when I had nothing to make. I often make this when I ask myself, "What can I use to make a salad?"

Roasted Garlic in Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Roasted Garlic in Extra Virgin Olive Oil

In our household, we prefer the roasted garlic in olive oil. Roasted garlic in this form has endless uses; garlic bread, roasted chicken, salad dressing, and marinated steak, to name a few. This is something I make in advance and always have on hand.

Rigatoni With Asparagus and Blue Cheese Sauce

Rigatoni With Asparagus and Blue Cheese Sauce

Growing asparagus is a process that requires patience; it is gradual and ultimately rewarding. After years of nurturing, a healthy yield of asparagus flourishes in the garden. First, the asparagus goes to seed and establishes roots. After two or three years, the vegetable finally develops into firm stalks. After three years of growing, I picked my first asparagus. This experience rewarded me with the inspiration for this recipe. 

Chicken Cacciatore

Chicken Cacciatore

I adapted this recipe from both my mother and mother-in-law's versions of chicken cacciatore. I infused favorable aspects of both recipes to develop my own unique dish. This meal is a staple on occasions when my entire family comes together.

Dill Sauce

Dill Sauce

When my children were young, they loved this sauce as a compliment to cod cakes.  As a dip, it also encouraged them to eat raw vegetables.  

Cod Cakes

Cod Cakes

This way of preparing cod was an easy way to introduce my young children to fish, especially with the dill sauce and fresh veggies.

Caprese Salad

Caprese Salad

Growing up in an Italian family with a prosperous garden, this salad was a norm on our family table.

Stuffed Artichoke

Stuffed Artichoke

This was a common dish for Easter dinner. I remember my two sisters, mother and I sitting around the kitchen table, talking and stuffing artichokes. When the grandchildren got older, we would stuff endless amounts of artichokes (+30!) for dinner.