Recipe Box

Orecchiette is the pasta shape of the Puglia region of Italy and I was lucky enough to watch it being made by hand in Bari.  It’s also the star of the show in this recipe, which also hails from the…

Even if we don’t live in France, we can still take pleasure in the wonderful cuisine—and without much fuss!  The French take their food seriously. Eating is an act of enjoyment, of relaxation; it is a time to get together…

I have prepared and shared a plethora of Italian pasta dishes in the last three-plus-years on this site.  I have experimented with homemade gnocchi and gnudi before- but one thing that has alluded me was making fresh homemade pasta. Perhaps…

One of the things I love so much about Italy is how Italians cook.  They prepare dishes from seasonal foods while making use of everything they have.  They don’t waste food and they have smart, creative ways to make use…

I have been accommodating my pseudo-husband’s vegetarian lifestyle for the better part of 13 years.  It hasn’t always been a pleasure, but I do it because it is the right thing to do.  Just like he doesn’t blink an eye or…

  Roasting tomatoes is so very easy- and it gives them a delicious sweet flavor!   The process couldn't be simpler, really.  And roasted tomatoes make a perfect pasta topping when you are looking for something quick! Start with a…

Fall is upon us and so is my desire to eat earthy, stick-to-your-ribs dishes.  And that means cooking with mushrooms.  Mushrooms in stew, pasta, soup or even sauteed in a gravy to pour over steaks. Today we are cooking them…

Take one look at that mouth-watering photo, or as I like to refer to it : Food Porn– and you can tell we are dealing with a professional here folks. I met Paula on Twitter, and eveytime I saw one…

For the better part of the last 5 years I have not used store bought dressing.  Nope.  Not when healthy, delicious dressing is so easy to make- and so much better for you! And no Franco-Italophile expat-wanabee would be caught…