Growing up Italian, the granddaughter of Italian Immigrants and only the second generation born in the United States, you take for granted the food that you grew up on, and assume that everyone had dined with family over these same foods on Sunday. That the mounds of pasta, homemade Chianti, bowls overflowing of beef braciole,…
Category: Lunch
Sichuan Salt and Pepper Squid
Growing up I had my fair share of squid. Not just fried calamari, but simmered in red sauce, served atop angel hair pasta, and my personal favorite, Italian Calamari Salad. Growing up Italian seafood was in abundance in my home because we adored it in our house. As I got older and dined out more on…
Spanish Style Mussels with Chorizo
I love seafood and fish. I feel so healthy and light when I eat it. It just feels right for my body. I have a fondness for mussels that began early in my childhood as my mother and I loved Spicy Mussel Marinara and I couldn’t get enough when she made it for me. As…
Albondigas (Mexican Meatball Soup)
Another soup recipe..I know what your thinking? Is this all this chick can make? I assure you I have skills. I just really adore soup. It has everything in one pot, woohoo, less cleaning!!! You can vary recipes, learn new techniques, and cultures, and I find it amazing when you consider how culturally different we…
Mexican Chiles Rellenos with Spicy Rojo Sauce
I have said it a million times, and I will say it a million more…I absolutely love Mexican food! I love everything about it, the tastes, the complexity of the flavors and the simplicity of it all at the same time. Now I am saying the simplicity in making the ingredients meld together to create…
Mediterranean Mini Meat Loaves
I am so excited about this recipe I can hardly contain myself. For one it is relatively healthy, and for another it just tastes so damn good. Listen, I know there are some meatloaf purist who want nothing more than good old-fashioned meatloaf the way Mom made it with ketchup and all. Me personally, if…
Red Lentil Sloppy Joes
I love lentils. I use them in soups, stews, and even as a side with rice like I grew up enjoying. Sometimes I like to forgo meat and see what I can conjure up and if I can pull off a healthy hack. I really think I nailed it with these Red Lentil Sloppy Joes….
Tuscan Meatball Soup
My love of soup began early in my childhood. I was always surrounded by some simmering pot of lovely goodness. Whether it was lentils and beans, homemade chicken soup, Pasta Fagioli, or Tuscan Meatball Soup, I loved having a nice hot bowl of soup and of course, this always meant hot Italian bread with butter. …
Pollo Blanco Chili
So I was with friends from high school having dinner last week, and one of my dear friends asked for some healthy recipes, that follow a heart healthy protocol. This dish definitely does just that. This is a simple and tasty chili that is more like a soup. I always have chicken cooked and ready…
Pumpkin Gnocchi with Sage Butter and Maple Drizzle
OK, so if you really read my blog and don’t just pass by briefly, you know I love fall and pumpkin everything, not necessarily in that order. I have been making gnocchi every which way to Sunday, forever. For one, it was super easy for me not to goof up back in my early days…
