Black pepper taralli.
Cute and round and packed with flavors of olive oil, pepper and salt, these little, round, shortbread-like crackers called taralli are perfect with an aperitivo. You could buy them, sure, but they’re SO fun to make!
Tag: Italian cooking
Chicken sausage tortellini soup.
Need something warm and comforting for dinner? This easy Italian Chicken Sausage Tortellini Soup recipe, packed with veggies and low-fat chicken sausage, should do the trick.
Beef and cheddar pasta bake.
So, if you’re looking for recipes that will jump-start your healthy eating habits in the new year … well, this is not that recipe. There’s nothing especially virtuous about this Beef and Cheddar Pasta Bake, dietarily speaking—its virtues are purely sensuous: cheesy, comforting goodness. If you recall that recurring menu item from your elementary school cafeteria days, you might think of this as a sort of upgraded version of Johnny Marzetti. I’ve adapted an old Pierre Franey recipe from the 1990s from the New York Times Cooking app—and it’s pretty much what you’re craving on these bitterly cold nights. Add a brightly dressed green salad and a glass of wine, and you’re good to go. Get the recipe on writes4food.com!
Arancini (delicious balls of fried risotto).
Ahh, these cute little balls of fried risotto and cheese deliciousness. I’m still on a kick for Italian appetizers, and arancini totally fits the bill. Yeah, they’re fried. We can live with that. They’re delicious. Get the recipe on writes4food.com!
Couscous salad with apples and feta.
I made up this recipe after we had a similar salad at a delightful little bar/cafe in Lucca, Tuscany. Couscous is the ideal base for any kind of salad—and this one has a lovely range of flavors and textures: crisp, sweet apple, salty Feta, briny olive, crunchy almonds. It’s kinda perfect, actually. Get the recipe for Couscous Salad with Apple and Feta over on writes4food.com!
Loving Italian food and culture.
Rob and I are just back from 10 glorious, all-to-brief days in Italy. Already, the trip has made a lasting impression on how we eat and live day to day. Here are a few journal notes … and some mouthwatering photos!
Pretty little focaccia rolls.
That time when you have dinner at your city’s best classic Italian restaurant and you try to re-create their amazing focaccia rolls topped with pretty vegetables at home … yeah, that’s this post. These are fun even for bread baking newbies. Get the recipe on writes4food.com!
All-vegetable ‘Bolognese’ pasta sauce.
This vegetable-centric Bolognese pasta sauce is just what I’m craving right now: full of seasonal vegetables (mushrooms, bell pepper, onion, butternut squash), yet not too heavy. It’s just right for fall. Make a big batch this weekend, and stash leftovers in the freezer for frosty winter dinners. Get the recipe on writes4food.com!
Sweet-spicy red bell pepper jam.
What to do with the crop of red bell peppers from the garden or farmers’ market? Make jam, of course! Sweet and a bit spicy (you can up the spice level to suit your taste), this is the perfect accompaniment to a salty cheese like Manchego. Inspired by a dish we had on vacation earlier this year. Get the recipe on writes4food.com!
