A heart caprese salad is a playful, romantic twist on the classic Italian favorite. Juicy slices of tomatoes are topped with creamy fresh mozzarella cut into heart shape.  We finish it with a sprinkle of salt, either fresh or dried basil and a drizzle of olive oil and topped off with a good balsamic vinegar.  Light, fresh, and visually charming, a beautiful contrast of colors and flavors.  It’s a dish that feels both elegant and heartfelt — perfect for date nights, celebratio

I made this heart shaped cake for Valentine’s Day, to have with a coffee for breakfast.  I used a silicone pan for the first time and I just love how well it worked.  I did spray the pan with cooking spray.   This cake has three layers of batter and two layers of cinnamon sugar with blueberries.  The top is finished with a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar.

Scorri a basso per l’Italiano   Serves: 2 – 3   This is an easy, healthy and quick side dish that goes well with anything and today I’ve paired it with my Pork Francaise .  It is a wonderful meal.   Ingredients 640 gr cauliflower cut into florets – I used the three types, but you can use a cauliflower head 75 ml olive oil 1 tsp salt ½ tsp pepper ½ tbsp garlic granules ½ tbsp onion flakes 1 tbsp dried parsley 1 tsp paprika Grated Grana Padano cheese to taste Dried parsley to 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.

Scorri a basso per l’italiano   Makes 24 rolls   I found lemon spread at the grocery store and since Ariana was over and wanted to make cookies we put together these lemon coconut and pecan rolls.  I always have puff pastry in the fridge so it is easy to make these with her.    Ingredients 2 round puff pastry rolls Lemon cream Finely chopped pecans Shredded coconut 1 egg Fancy sugar sprinkles Icing sugar   Directions Preheat oven 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment p

This is a decadent soft banana cookie bursting with coconut, crunchy pecans, and yummy chocolate chips. Sweet, nutty, and impossible to eat just one.   Today Ariana my granddaughter helped me make these.  She loves to help nonna in the kitchen.  Great recipe to get kids involved.

Scorri a basso per l’Italiano   Serves: 2   We just love hot sandwiches with a salad for dinner and when we roast the ingredients it makes it for a healthier meal.    Ingredients 70 gr sliced onions 240 gr sausages 1 tbsp olive oil Garlic salt or salt & pepper to taste 1 tbsp dried oregano 2 red peppers Garlic salt or salt & pepper to taste Dried oregano to taste 2 large buns 6 slices provolone cheese   Directions Preheat oven to 390°F and line a baking sheet with aluminum fo

Scorri a basso per l’Italiano   Serves: 2   BLT or the bacon lettuce and tomato sandwich on toasted sliced bread began appearing in American cookbooks around the early 1900s after mayonnaise was adopted to make sandwiches better.  By 1910, versions of bacon–lettuce–tomato sandwiches were increasingly recognizable as the BLT and with the rise of lunch counters, cafes and hotel dining rooms it became the Standard American lunch sandwich.   Today, the BLT is both the benchmark s

Scorri a basso per l’italiano   Serves: 2   There are days when we just want a light meal and for me that is usually a sandwich with a salad.  Today I had some broccoli and cauliflower in the fridge therefore I boiled them or you can steam them, then I strained them and let them cool and made a cold salad out of the to accompany my quickly cooked pork filets to make it a hot sandwich meal.    Ingredients 80 ml olive oil 60 ml apple cider vinegar 1 tbsp honey 1 tsp Dijon musta

Scorri a basso per l’italiano   Serves: 2 – 3   We love a sandwich and salad for dinner after we have had several big meal days.  Making it a hot sandwich makes the meal feel like dinner.  This sandwich has a good crusty bread to hold the veal, veggies and cheese.  Absolutely delicious with a simple green leaf salad.   Ingredients 1 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp vegetable broth 70 gr diced onions 150 gr small pieces of veal (you can use whatever you like) Vegetable broth as required

Scorri a basso per l’italiano   Serves: 2   Tonight, I had tomatoes, zucchini and peppers in the fridge and felt like comfort food therefore I created this soup and added couple of slices of cheesy focaccia to dip into the soup and it was a perfect combination.  Very easy to make.   Ingredients 1 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp vegetable broth 3 garlic cloves cut into half 60 gr diced onion 210 gr diced red pepper 350 gr diced tomatoes 270 gr diced zucchini 350 ml vegetable broth ½ tsp

Scorri a basso per l’italiano   Serves: 2 - 4   I love a good stracciatella soup and really you can put anything in it then finish it with eggs/panko/parmigiano mixture that gives it a next level of flavour.  Comfort food at its best!    Ingredients 100 gr diced onion 150 gr diced carrots  30 gr diced celery (mostly leaves if possible) 3 vegetable bouillons 350 gr meatballs ( My Recipe ) 3 eggs 20 gr panko ( My Recipe ) 40 gr grated parmigiano cheese   Directions Preheat oven

Scorri a basso per l’Italiano   Serves: 8 – 10   These Brussel sprouts are roasted and tossed in a sweet and tangy glaze which are sure to be a huge hit on any dinner table.   Ingredients 200 gr slices of bacon cut into 1/2-inch pieces 600 gr Brussel sprouts – cleaned, sliced in half and parboiled ½ tsp garlic salt or salt & pepper to taste 2 tbsp butter 2 tbsp honey 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar 1 tbsp Dijon mustard   Directions Sauté bacon in a skillet over medium heat until c

Scorri a basso per l’Italiano   Serves: 24 - 42 depending on how much people like ice cream 😊  IT'S EASY TO MAKE YOUR OWN ICE CREAM!  My kids and grandkids love gelato or Italian ice cream and with the holidays here I decided to make a big ice cream cake full of Biscoff and chocolate.  Super simple to make and delicious as a snack or a dessert after dinner.    Ingredients 86 whole Biscoff cookies 8 crushed Biscoff cookies 1500 ml whip cream 3 tsp salt 1200 gr condensed milk

Scorri a basso per l’Italiano   Makes 30 – 40 cookies depending on size of cookies   These cookies are very light and fragile therefore don’t make a good give-away cookie, but they are a great addition to any Christmas platter, and everyone will love them.   These can be frozen in airtight container for up to three months.  Just take them out and once thawed, sprinkle them with icing sugar.   Ingredients 120 gr pecans 90 gr icing sugar 240 gr unsalted cold butter, cut into sm

Scorri a basso per l’Italiano   Makes 30 – 40 pralines   Pralines are nuts covered in a caramelized sugar coating.  They are candy and usually very sweet.  The French mastered these tasty morsels which used to be made with almonds.  But today it can be made with whichever nut you love.    Storing is key for pralines as exposure to air and humidity will spoil them.  Therefore, the best way to store them is, make sure they are completely cooled before putting them in an airtigh

Scorri a basso per l’Italiano   Makes 12 mini cheesecakes   Mini cheesecakes are always loved by everyone, and I made this one for a special friend who loves cheesecake and can’t get it here in Italy.  Simple to make and absolutely delicious.   These are best made the day before you need to serve as they will set and absorb all the wonderful flavours.   Ingredients 250 gr ground Biscoff cookies 95 gr melted butter 1 tbsp sugar 450 gr softened cream cheese 135 gr Greek yogurt

Scorri a basso per l'Italiano   Makes: 45 - 70 cookies depending on size you make them   Lemon, pistachios and coconut make this cookie delicious and very soft.  I promise once you start eating them, you can’t stop.  They make a great addition to any cookie platter.   Ingredients 225 gr butter 300 gr sugar 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla Zest from 2 lemons Juice from 1 lemon 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 440 gr flour 80 gr shredded coconut 50 gr finely chopped pis

Scorri a basso per L’Italiano   Makes 40 – 60 pieces depending on the size you cut the pieces   Salted crackers are the base of this crunchy, chocolate-covered treat that we top with a little bit of nuts and fleur de sel to give this candy extra flavour.  They are a great treat to add to any holiday baking and loved by everyone.   Ingredients Cooking spray 43 saltine crackers to line a 10 x 15-inch (25 x 38 cm) baking tray 225 gr unsalted butter 220 gr brown sugar 1 tsp vanil

Scorri a basso per l’Italiano   Makes 100 cookies   There is something about the taste of orange and cranberries but add some pecans and these cookies are delicious.  They are a great addition to any Christmas cookie platter.   Plan ahead to make these at they need to chill in the fridge for five hours or in the freezer for 1.25 hours before they can be baked.   Ingredients 300 gr sugar Zest of 4 oranges 450 gr softened butter 120 gr icing sugar 1 tbsp vanilla 4 egg yolks 650