Category Archives: Italian

Butternut Squash Lasagna

Posted on February 15, 2012 | 9 Comments

If you’re anything like me, instead of counting down the weeks left until spring you’re frantically trying to cram all your remaining favorite winter comfort foods into your meal plan. I certainly spend a borderline obsessive amount of time planning our weekly menu, varying the proteins and starches whilst also taking into account things like budget, cravings, and most importantly, seasonality. What should I make now because a few weeks from now I may not want to/be able to? So many favorites, too few nights, is always my takeaway at the end of the weekly exercise! If you find this conundrum equally vexing, then rest assured knowing this dish is simply a must-make while you can still play the ‘needed some good comfort food’ card.

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Posted in Italian, Vegetarian, Winter, Winter Squash

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Classic Penne Genovese

Posted on July 18, 2011 | 1 Comment

Basil is at it’s summer peak right now! Fellow foodies, I know you recognize the necessity of that exclamation point, and the significance of this joyous equation: Basil = Pesto! Now that is the kind of math I can comprehend.

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Posted in Italian, Pasta, Summer

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Pork Tenderloin with Italian Salsa Verde

Posted on May 7, 2011 | Leave a comment

Salsa Verde, or simply, ‘green sauce’ can take many different forms. Mexican-American salsa verde typically includes tomatillos, roasted or raw, with hot green chiles, onions and cilantro. French ‘sauce verte’  involves mayonnaise mixed with herbs. And the Italian version includes parsley, lemon, capers, garlic, olive oil and anchovies, which is what we’ve got here.

The beauty of such a delicious yet simply whizzed-in-a-blender type of sauce means you can prepare a very simple roast or grilled meat, such as this pork tenderloin, and produce a really interesting meal. All I’ve done with the pork aside from brining (I’ll get to that) is rub it with olive oil and pepper. Then I grill-roasted it, meaning I seared it on my grill (you can use a grill pan) and finished cooking it in the oven. Topped with the salsa verde and some additional parsley for garnish, it made a lovely weeknight meal over brown rice with a salad.

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Posted in Gluten-Free, Italian, Low-Fat, Pork

Spring Vegetable Risotto

Posted on April 9, 2011 | 1 Comment

There are certain dishes that just shout spring, and for me this is one of them. Abundant with garden-fresh spring veggies, this is both light and satisfying, and I make it at least once every spring. And finally, it seems the weather is catching up to my cooking – at least today it has!

I used asparagus, zucchini and peas here, but feel free to improvise. You could add morel mushrooms if you want – those honey-combed gems are only around for a few short weeks. Or you could swap in garlicky ramps for a burst of flavor. Or maybe some baby lettuces. But remember, less is often more and I like to limit the number of ‘mix-ins’ in any risotto to about three. A kitchen-sink risotto usually ends up tasting like a big jumbled mess.

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Posted in Asparagus, Italian, Risotto, Vegetarian

Ravioli with Pea Proscuitto Asparagus Sauce

Posted on March 30, 2011 | 5 Comments

Even if spring hasn’t quite sprung yet weather-wise, it sprung in my kitchen the other night regardless! It will after all be April this week and I figure if I don’t start cooking up my springtime favorites soon before I know it I’ll be outside grilling up burgers wondering where the season went.

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Posted in Asparagus, Italian, Pasta

Gnocchi with Sausage, Onions and Peppers

Posted on March 23, 2011 | 3 Comments

Back in business! My apologies for the longer than expected break between posts. Turns out moving into your first house is a lot of work! Who knew? Fortunately things for the most part went smoothly. We didn’t have to move in the midst of a 2-day snow blizzard (unlike our last move), so thus our moving truck didn’t get stuck in the snow, and the mover’s muddy boots didn’t muck up our floors and carpet before we even stepped foot into the new abode. So hooray! We love the house and while we still have some unpacking to do, we’re beginning to feel more settled and more at home. And nothing makes me feel more at home than cooking.

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Posted in Italian, Sausage

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Spinach Penne with Chard, Pine Nuts and Fresh Ricotta

Posted on March 7, 2011 | Leave a comment

Ok, so you may not be the pub-crawling, green beer chugging type, anymore. But if you’re not gonna drink green, you gotta at least eat green for St Patty’s Day! This deliciously fun and healthy spinach pasta dish with chard is a breeze to throw together. And with far  less sodium and fat than corned beef, it’s a healthy and festive choice. Serve it up with a little luck of the Irish on the side.

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Posted in Italian, Leafy Greens, Pasta

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Tuscan White Bean Soup with Pancetta and Crispy Sage

Posted on March 5, 2011 | 1 Comment

Craving something warming and hearty for these still chilly nights, but on the lighter side in anticipation of spring? This Tuscan white bean soup is just the thing. It’s thick from the starch of pureed beans and a kiss of cream, smokey from pancetta, and earthy from sage. Serve with toasted crostini, perhaps topped with a little pesto or cheese and you’ve got a lovely, lighter meal.

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Posted in Beans, Gluten-Free, Italian, Soup

Italian Braciole

Posted on February 28, 2011 | Leave a comment

I have to give the spirit award for cheerleading our family’s Italian heritage to my cousin. She admiringly studied in Italy, can speak Italian, and was actively involved in the Italian-American club while in college.  I lagged behind in this regard growing up, but in recent years I’ve come to embrace my heritage with pride, and it shows in my cooking. I taught myself how to make homemade gnocchi and fresh pasta. I had my cousin clarify that ‘capicola’ and ‘gabagoul’ are in fact the same thing. I watched every episode of ‘Molto Mario’ that my DVR could tape, and proceeded to re-create, as best I could, many of the iconic Italian and Italian-American dishes that would make Tony Soprano proud, like this one, Italian Braciole. (Pronounced ‘bra-zhul’).

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Posted in Beef, Italian

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Light Alfredo with Fresh Fettucine and Shrimp

Posted on February 12, 2011 | 6 Comments

Photo featured on Photograzing, 2/19/11

It was over plates of Fettucine Alfredo that my husband asked my Dad for my hand in marriage, so the dish is near and dear to our hearts. One of my favorite lines from my Dad’s toast at our wedding was in reference to this moment, with ‘give me fettucine alfredo and I’ll say yes to anything!’. And I completely agree – what could be better than the mouth-feel of creamy fresh pasta, bite after decadent bite?

Unfortunately, in the past I reserved this dish for special occasions only due the cumbersome expanding waistline side effect too much alfredo tends to have. Until now that is. I came upon a recipe for a lightened version using low-fat milk thickened with flour and low-fat Neufchatel cream cheese. Amped up with zingy parmaggiano-reggiano and lemon zest, we honestly did not miss the cream. Now, who wants seconds?!

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Posted in Italian, Pasta, Seafood, Shrimp

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