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.

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

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

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 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

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

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

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.  

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   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

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