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

I love creating new recipes, and this apricot chicken turned out absolutely delicious. My granddaughter Ariana was over, and naturally, she had to help Nonna make dinner. She’s not even three years old and already feels at home in the kitchen. Cooking with little ones is such a joy — those moments become precious memories, especially since they grow up far too fast.

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

Scorri a basso per l’Italiano   Serves: 2 – 3   This recipe is usually made with chicken, but I had these thin pork filets in the freezer and created this recipe that is not only easy but very tasty.   I paired it with my Roasted Cauliflower  to make it a full meal.   Ingredients 250 gr thin pork filets Garlic salt or salt and pepper to taste 5 tbsp flour 1 tsp granulated garlic 1 tsp granulated onion 1 tbsp dried parley 2 eggs 2 tbsp grated parmigiano cheese 2 tbsp butter 3

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.

Scorri a basso per l’italiano   Serves: 2   I love buying premade meatballs and sauces so when I know I have little time to cook; the meal comes together quickly.    Ingredients Basmati rice for 2 1 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp vegetable broth 100 gr sliced onions 350 gr fresh turkey and pork meatballs Vegetable broth as required  Teriyaki sauce   Directions Cook rice per directions on package In a coverable skillet sauté oil, broth and onions until they start to turn golden Remove

Scorri a basso per l’italiano   Serves: 2   A wrap with a salad is an easy and light dinner.  I used store bought chicken strips and baked them with the peppers and onions before putting it all together in a wrap. Easy and delicious!   Ingredients 1 yellow bell pepper cut into strips 1 red bell pepper cut into strips 2 small onions cut into wedges Garlic salt or salt and pepper to taste Olive oil 5 chicken strips 250 gr Greek yogurt 1 tbsp maple syrup or honey Chili powder or

Scorri a basso per l’italiano   Serves: 2   Fresh pasta with a creamy turkey spicy sauce is perfect to pair up with some bread to ensure you scoop up all the delicious sauce.    Ingredients 1 tbsp vegetable broth, plus as required 200 gr ground turkey 1 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp vegetable broth 70 gr sliced onions 120 ml vegetable broth 140 gr frozen peas – thawed out 1 tbsp hot pepper paste Garlic salt or salt and pepper to taste 150 ml heavy cream 80 gr shredded cheddar cheese

I had left over potatoes, meat/veggie mixture, yogurt, lettuce and guacamole from my “Potato Taco Bowl” recipe and used it to make this Taco Tart recipe.  

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: 2 - 3   I love it when I can put everything in a container, shake it up and marinate for a few hours and then bake and have a complete meal once cooked.  This has so many sweet and savory flavours that combine well together.    Ingredients 4 chicken thighs, skin and fat removed 75 gr chopped carrots 130 gr sliced onions 145 gr canned pineapples – no juice 1 tbsp capers Green pimento olives to taste 2 tbsp honey 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp I

Scorri a basso per l’Italiano   Serves: 4   Today full chicken legs were on sale and I wanted to make a creamy style recipe that I could pair with a plain rice.  With Gianni’s diet that I have to mitigate as much fat as possible, I boiled the chicken for 15 minutes prior to making the sauce so I could easily remove the skin and fat.  This is also good because with bone-in chicken like this it takes a long time to cook on the stove.   I served with cheesy garlic focaccia.   In

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   With family coming to visit I made a big batch of my Turkey Cutlets for Freezer  which today made 36 cutlets. Therefore, I froze 32 of them and made this cutlet salad meal for dinner tonight.  Any type of cutlets are great to have in the freezer because we can easily make a full meal out of them by adding veggies and a salad.    Ingredients 1 bunch of asparagus tips 1 red bell pepper cut into slices Cauliflower florets to taste Garl

I love the custardy Portuguese Nata but I know the authentic ones are a lot of work.  Being in Italy, I have access to really good puff pastry therefore I created this recipe that is simple to make, not the authentic but still delicious.

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