Scorri a basso per l’Italiano Serves: 3 – 4 for dinner   I wanted to make a frittata but decided to change it up for something a little hardier and this recipe is perfect because it is full of eggs, ham, cheese, peppers and wonderful zucchini.  I made it for dinner with a green salad, and it will serve 3 – 4 people.  However, you can serve as an appetizer and cut them into small slices.   Ingredients 5 eggs 150 gr flour 2 tsp baking powder ½ tsp salt 375 gr grated zucchini, s

Scorri a basso per l’Italiano   Serves: 2   Zucchini and cheese rolled up in thin pork filets and served with rice is a delicious meal and easy to pull together in less than an hour.    Ingredients 250 gr thin pork filets Baby zucchini to taste Herbed cream cheese to taste Shredded mozzarella to taste 150 gr bacon 1 tbsp vegetable broth Basmati rice for 2 Seasoning spice to taste   Directions Preheat oven to 370°F Place pork filets in between two pieces of saran wrap and poun

Scorri a basso per l’Italiano   Serves: 2   I love that here in Italy I can get sausage balls without casings and am able to create quick recipes using balls or mashing them to make a sauce.  Today I used them to make a quick and easy tagliatelle pasta.   You can use sausage links and remove the casings as well.   Ingredients 2 tbsp vegetable broth 250 gr sausage meat 3 tbsp vegetable broth 50 gr diced onion 210 gr tomato sauce 130 gr arrabbiata sauce 2 tbsp tomato paste Garl

Cooking with friends is priceless - I came up with this recipe because I wanted something I could cook around midday.  A dish perfect for a late lunch or early dinner — and one that my friend Indira and I could make together while enjoying each other’s company. Rice, creamy chicken and a tomato, cucumber and bocconcini salad made this a complete meal.

Whenever we had Thanksgiving dinner in Canada, I would make this as a side dish, and it is loved by all.  I didn’t measure the ingredients as I didn’t have a scale but gave rough estimates.  You can make as much or as little as you want.

Scorri a basso per l’italiano   Serves: 6   This lasagna with left over Ricotta Spinach filling from my Italian Chicken Rolls and then I added ground turkey, asparagus and orange cauliflower with a béchamel sauce is absolutely a lasagna full of yummy layers.  Great option to the traditional Bolognese style one and your guests will love it.    Like all lasagnas you have to prepare all the layers which takes time but it is worth it.    Ingredients 2 tbsp vegetable broth 220 gr

Scorri a basso per l’italiano   Serves: 3   Having tortellini in the freezer makes it for a quick full of flavour meal because the tortellini thaw out as you cook them and the extra filling inside them also makes the meal hearty.  Today I used pork filled tortellini, but you can use cheese ones if you like.   Ingredients 2 tbsp vegetable broth, plus as required 50 gr sliced onions 115 gr sliced pancetta or bacon 3 tbsp mascarpone cheese 1 tsp minced hot pepper paste 100 ml ve

These chicken rolls are stuffed with ricotta, spinach, pancetta and cheese therefore, it doesn’t get more Italian!  I made extra filling so I could make a baked pasta the next day which was just as delicious as the chicken rolls. 

Scorri a basso per l’italiano   Serves: 8   This turkey with asparagus and cauliflower in a white sauce pasticcio or also known as lasagna is a great option to the traditional Bolognese style one because it is a lot lighter but full of flavour.    Like all lasagnas you have to prepare all the layers which takes time but it is worth it.    Ingredients 270 gr diced and steamed asparagus 500 gr diced and steamed cauliflower 1 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp vegetable broth 600 gr ground t

My nonna used to make pasta e patate when I was little because dad and I loved it.  I’ve tried to replicate her recipe, and I think it was pretty close.  Being Calabrese, she always added a little bit of hot peppers or flakes to make it taste better.

Puff pastry is always a great thing to have in the house when you just don’t know what to make.  Today I made these ham and cheese pockets and my Caprese Salad for two and it was a perfect light meal. 

Scorri a basso per l’italiano   Serves: 3 – 4   Tortellini alla Panna has always been a pasta that the whole family loves.  To the roux I add onions, whip cream, layers of cheese and peas which makes this pasta very creamy and delicious.   Ingredients 500 gr tortellini 50 gr butter 50 gr diced onions 50 gr flour 250 ml whip cream Milk – as required to get the consistency you want 2 slices processed cheese 50 gr grated Pecorino Romano cheese Garlic salt or salt and pepper to t

Scorri a basso per l’italiano   Makes: 12 polpette, baby meatballs & enough meat for a small meatloaf Spaghetti dinner for 2   I’ve been making spaghetti and polpette (meatballs) since I was seven years old, when my mom would be working long days.  The great thing about meatballs is that you can make them with anything in them.  Today, I made a big batch so I could have some for this spaghetti and meatballs recipe, and for the freezer; six meatballs, baby meatballs for soup a

Scorri a basso per l’italiano   Serves: 6, plus rice for next day   I love stuffed peppers and this recipe with sausage, veggies and rice then infused with scamorza cheese is absolutely delicious.  Served with some sautéed green beans and cheesy garlic bread makes this a complete meal.    Note: I purposely made twice as much as I needed for the peppers as I put the rice with some mozzarella cheese in the oven and we had a new meal the next day.    Ingredients 350 gr basmati

Scorri a basso per I’italiano   Serves: 4 Today I let my good friend and neighbour in Arona, Loredana, make this incredible meal. She wanted to learn something new and after we cooked our full meal, our husbands Luciano and Gianni sat down for a delicious dinner. This easy and delicious layered eggplant brings eggplant parmigiana to the next level.  Served with rice, makes it a full hearty meal that everyone will love.  If you want to make it vegetarian, don’t add the roast

Scorri a basso per l’Italiano   Serves: 3   My granddaughter Ariana loves to help her nonna bake and cook and at 2 years 8 months old, she is a great little helper and understands the baking and cooking process.  I love having her help me.   Today she made this simple red sauce pasta, which is delicious for little ones.  She is our little pasta monster and got to love her hair!!!   Ingredients 210 gr crushed tomatoes 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tsp garlic salt or salt and pepper to ta

Scorri a basso per l’Italiano   This funny looking Christmas tree is a great appetizer during this holiday season.  It is simple to put together, and it cooks up in 20 minutes.  I used a Thai Hot Chili Sauce as the dip, but you can use whatever your favourite dip is.   Ingredients 2 rectangular puff pastry dough Herbed cream cheese, to taste 4 – 6 large ham slices Sliced pimento stuffed olives, as required 2 egg yolks, beaten Thai Hot Chili Sauce   Directions Roll out the fir

Scorri a basso per l’italiano   Serves: 2   Baked baby gnocchi are great in this simple bacon and zucchini sauce.  Great any time of day.   Ingredients 500 gr fresh packaged gnocchi 1 - 2 tbsp olive oil Garlic salt or salt & pepper to taste 1 tbsp vegetable broth 150 gr bacon 1 tbsp vegetable broth 160 gr diced zucchini 50 gr diced onions Vegetable broth as required Garlic salt or salt & pepper to taste Hot pepper flakes to taste Grated pecorino Romano cheese to taste   Direc

Scorri a basso per l’italiano   Serves: 4   I had several zucchini and ham in the fridge, added some eggs and cheese and made this amazing zucchini bake.  I served it with my simple Tomato Bocconcini Salad which was a perfect light meal.   Ingredients 400 gr thinly sliced zucchini 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tsp salt 3 eggs 75 ml milk 50 ml Greek yogurt 2 tbsp grated parmigiano cheese 1 tsp paprika Cooking spray Grated parmigiano cheese to taste Cooked ham slices cut into pieces, to

Scorri a basso per l’Italiano   Serves: 2   I love buying store bought Mac & Cheese packages and adding different ingredients to create a yummy meal.  I can’t buy Mac & Cheese package in Italy so when in Canada I enjoyed having this option with onions, pepper, ham, spicy pepper sauce then topped with extra cheddar cheese.   Ingredients 1 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp vegetable broth Fresh peppers to taste 1 small onion 175 gr ham steak Minced hot pepper to taste Garlic salt or salt &