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My best girlfriends came over on Saturday with their kids for a lunchtime playdate. I’ve been hooked on cold sesame noodles lately, so I thought it would be fun to do an Asian-themed menu. I made lunch and my friends … Continue reading →
I have fond childhood memories of my grandmother making roasted broccoli with a buttery breadcrumb topping. She would bake the broccoli florets in a buttered baking dish until the breadcrumbs formed a crispy layer on top of the vegetables. This was a go-to … Continue reading →
Every summer, our family jars homemade tomato sauce. It’s a long, laborious process, but well worth the effort to have the freshest sauce at your fingertips all year long. Most of the time, we use the sauce to make a simple, … Continue reading →
During the warmer months, it’s nice to enjoy cold noodle salads (of course, they can also be served at room temperature if you don’t like them cold from the fridge!). The noodles, whether soba or vermicelli (rice), make for a filling, … Continue reading →
Tiramisu is such a lovely and elegant dessert to make, especially when entertaining. Not only do the layers of ladyfingers and mascarpone filling look beautiful (I like to make mine in a clear glass trifle bowl), but it can be made ahead … Continue reading →
I really love the versatility of Puff Pastry. It’s so simple to use, but looks so impressive when served to guests. Sweet or savory, you can fill the Puff Pastry with just about any combination of flavors and textures. Here’s my … Continue reading →
My husband loves when I make a simple bean salad with chopped Italian parsley and thinly sliced red onion. Dressed with a little salt, pepper and good quality extra virgin olive oil, it’s a tasy side dish that’s packed with … Continue reading →
A few nights ago, I made a big bowl of mini rotini pasta with sauteed garlic and broccoli. Tossed with fruity extra virgin olive oil and a good handful of pecorino romano cheese, this dish is light, but very satisfying. I … Continue reading →
After the winter we had in the Northeast, I’m so excited that grilling season is finally here! These potato wedges are so easy to prepare and make; they are foolproof! Plus, I really enjoy the smoky flavor that the grill … Continue reading →
No matter where you live, citrus-flavored desserts can be enjoyed year-round thanks to the abundance of delicious produce available at the local grocery store. Ripe, sweet varieties like key limes and Meyer lemons are yours for the picking at your local grocery store … Continue reading →
My brother and his fiancee returned from a vacation to Italy this past weekend. He proposed in Rome; how romantic! I knew they’d be hungry after a long international flight, so I wanted to prepare something rustic, but simple, to … Continue reading →
‘Pizzaiola’ is a classic Italian style of cooking where you braise the meat for hours in fresh tomatoes. The tomatoes, infused with lots of garlic, break down and form a delicious sauce that the meat cooks in. You can use just … Continue reading →
I just love making frittatas during the spring and summer. They are easy to prepare, can be made either on the stovetop or in the oven (or a combination of both, which I prefer) and are the perfect backdrop to … Continue reading →
Inspired by a recipe from Rachel Khoo of “Little Paris Kitchen” called Oeufs en Cocotte (eggs in pots), I began to lust over a warm, crusty piece of bread dunked in a bright yellow egg yolk. Rather than making the … Continue reading →
Are you looking for an adorable, easy Easter treat to make for the kids? These two cupcake recipes are not only easy to make, but lots of fun to make with the kids! Nestle them on a bed of green Easter … Continue reading →
Deviled eggs have come a long way since back in the day when your grandmother made them! As a kid, my grandmother used to make them when she had company for lunch. She’d sprinkle the top of the eggs with … Continue reading →
Pizza Rustica (also known as Easter Pie, Cold Cut Pie, or Meat Pie) is a traditional Italian dish that’s prepared for Easter Day and served as part of the antipasto course. It’s a savory pie that uses eggs as the base of … Continue reading →
Eggs are probably one of the most versatile foods. They can be prepared in so many ways; the possibilities are really only limited to your culinary imagination. Not only do they taste delicious, they are budget-friendly, too. If you’re feeding … Continue reading →
It’s the week of Easter, and well, eggs are on the brain! Dyed eggs, poached eggs, hard-boiled eggs, sunnyside up eggs, baked eggs, eggs in cups and deviled eggs. They are all special in their own unique way! To kick off … Continue reading →
Treat your family to one of these divinely delicious desserts. Not a traditional Easter dish, these creamy, light desserts are the perfect ending to your holiday feast. Banana Pudding Cheesecake (Courtesy of Southern Living) Ingredients: 1 1/2 cupsfinely crushed … Continue reading →
Today marks the celebration of Saint Joseph, one of the most beloved saints among Catholics. According to legend, there was famine in Sicily and the villagers prayed to Saint Joseph for help. Their prayers were answered and the end of … Continue reading →
I had a container of plump, sweet medjool dates leftover from another recipe where I stuffed them with cheese and wrapped them in bacon. Dried fruits usually stay fresh for a long time if they’re kept in an airtight container, so … Continue reading →
If you’re planning any festivities in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, this fun and festive cake will be a hit with kids of all ages (and maybe some “big” kids, too!)! (Recipe courtesy of Monica Watson Cucchiarelli) How to: … Continue reading →
My brother and his girlfriend brought me a big, beautiful Italian eggplant. Instead of making the usual eggplant parmesan, I decided to make eggplant ‘meatballs.’ These are a great vegetarian option to traditional meatballs made with ground meat. And they are baked … Continue reading →
Another Girl Scout meeting means another monthly craft. And these two St. Patty’s day cuties will be a lucky find in any house! Ombre Bookmark Materials: Paint chips from a home improvement store Festive stickers Ribbon Hole Punch How To: … Continue reading →
There are a few iconic foods that symbolize St. Patrick’s Day. Irish Soda Bread, Shepherd’s Pie and of course, Corned Beef and Cabbage. This simple, slow-cooked beef brisket packs big flavor from peppercorns, bay leaves and a bottle of dark, … Continue reading →
My girlfriend, Monica, passed this recipe along to me. It was her grandmother Mabel’s recipe. Feeling in the spirit of this lucky holiday, I made it this past weekend for a family gathering. It was delicious! Ingredients: 3 1/2 cups … Continue reading →
My family loves breaded chicken cutlets, but after a while, it can get pretty boring. I decided to add a little pizzazz to my latest batch of cutlets by rolling them up with baby spinach and shredded cheese. It added … Continue reading →
In an earlier post, I shared the delicious moose munch that I made for my son’s first birthday. The moose munch (sinfully good caramel popcorn with marshmallows and chocolate) played the starring role in the centerpieces that I created for each table. … Continue reading →
I created this recipe last month for a contest sponsored by Hellmann’s mayonnaise called the Blue Ribbon Challenge. The requirement was that you use their mayonnaise products creatively, so instead of using eggs for these savory muffins, I used good ol’ … Continue reading →
My friend Monica passed this recipe along to me. Easy to make, light and airy, and ever-so-sweet from the coconut, these macaroons are sure to satisfy! (Yields 2 1/2 dozen) Ingredients: 1/2 cup egg whites 1 1/4 cups sugar 1/4 teaspoon … Continue reading →
For my little guy’s 1st birthday, I went with an adorable woodland animals theme. The centerpiece, which I will post as the third installment of the birthday series, was both elegant, whimsical and best of all, edible! The focal point of … Continue reading →
My youngest child celebrated his 1st birthday last week with a big bash at a lovely restaurant nestled in a quaint little town on the Hudson River. I wanted to create a theme and atmosphere that was both elegant, whimsical … Continue reading →
I needed an easy craft for my Girl Scout troop to do and stumbled upon this idea. What’s nice about this Valentine is that the child can use their caring thoughts to write around the hand heart and make it … Continue reading →
Try making these delicious biscotti, studded with crushed Oreo cookies, for your next special event or gathering. They also make the perfect gift for friends, teachers and neighbors alike. Pack a few in a clear treat bag and place in a coffee … Continue reading →
My friend Monica passed along this delicious coffee cake recipe to me. The crumb topping is so rich and buttery, while the cake is light and moist. It’s the perfect morning nibble or special afternoon treat! Ingredients: For the cake: 1 box … Continue reading →
Don’t ask me why, but I had a craving for beets. Rather than using canned beets, I roasted them whole. Really easy and well worth the little bit of effort. Paired with toasted pecans and creamy goat cheese, this was … Continue reading →
When I entertain, I always seem to buy extra of everything (just in case; I think it’s the Italian in me!). I did a clean-out of the fridge after my last gathering and found a package of Pillsbury crescent roll dough … Continue reading →
For my daughter’s 5th birthday earlier this month, my sister-in-law made a big platter of biscotti: Red Velvet and Cookies & Cream. For me, biscotti is the perfect treat with my morning coffee – but feel free to enjoy them … Continue reading →
The wonderful folks at Pete & Gerry’s Organic Eggs are launching a Pinterest contest today with King Arthur Flour called Baking With Love. So, when they asked if we’d be interested in submitting a recipe for a sweet treat, we … Continue reading →
We’ve had a blast of some pretty cold weather in the Northeast. But despite the bitter cold and snow, our rosemary plant is still going strong. So I thought it would be nice to use some of it for these comforting cold-weather … Continue reading →
In November, Disney launched the premiere of their newest princess movie, Sofia the First. My five-year old daughter and all of her friends were mesmerized by the trailer and the constant tease of the previews, so I thought it would be fun to host … Continue reading →
Happy Apricot Day you golden juicy nugget! In honor of the apricot, we’ve pulled together some alternative ways to make it even yummier than eating it straight from the tree. Apricot Bar Cookies (Courtesy of GoodHousekeeping.com) Ingredients: Apricot filling: … Continue reading →
I came across this recipe for oven-fried party drummettes on yummly.com. I made them this past weekend for my daughter’s birthday party. They were so easy to make and my guests were raving about them. The recipe calls for chicken … Continue reading →
As I cleaned up my holiday decorations, I ended up with two handfuls of candy canes. Loving the taste of peppermint sticks, I started wondering what I can do with them so that we wouldn’t be eating them in June! … Continue reading →
Tomorrow is National Spaghetti Day and who doesn’t love spaghetti! Spaghetti is an all-time back up dinner meal that everyone rushes to the table for. We’ve pulled together some non-traditional ways to cook up this favorite meal that will add … Continue reading →
Happy New Year to all! Now that 2013 has arrived, we need to start the process of eating healthier and getting rid of those extra pounds we may have put on during the holidays. Here are some healthy, low fat … Continue reading →
Nothing rounds out a delicious appetizer spread than a big bowl of deliciously seasoned, roasted nuts. I served these alongside my Antipasto Block on Christmas Day, but they are absolutely perfect for entertaining all year long! You can season the nuts … Continue reading →
For Christmas Day, I decided to set up my appetizers buffet-style in the kitchen. Then, after some food and cocktails, guests moved to the dining room for the pasta and main course. I prefer to entertain this way; it allows guests to … Continue reading →
Can’t believe another year is coming to an end. However, ringing in the New Year can be extra special with these dazzling ideas to mark the occasion. Chosen from Pintrest, we’ve collected a collection of creative and festive ways that … Continue reading →
