Sichuan Salt and Pepper Squid

Jump to Recipe 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…

Albondigas (Mexican Meatball Soup)

Jump to Recipe Another soup recipe. I know what you’re 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…

Crazy Easy Refrigerator Garlic Dill Pickles

I absolutely love pickles.  I love spicy garlic dill pickles, I love plain garlic dill.  I love to incorporate them into my lunch since I don’t do carbs.  I just wrap my turkey and cheese around a spear and I am good to go for lunch. My favorite pickles are at the PA Dutch Market…

Fig and Goat Cheese Flatbread with Bacon

I love fresh figs.  Growing up we had these all the time as they were an Italian staple.  One of my favorite ways to enjoy figs are to have them sliced with fresh Homemade Italian Style Ricotta Cheese with a drizzle of honey atop some fresh crostini.  I could make a meal out of this alone…

Carne Mechada (Venezuelan Shredded Beef)

Carne Mechada is a flavorful Venezuelan meat dish that is usually served in arepas, which are cornmeal cakes that can be filled with a variety of things, such as pork carnitas, black beans and cheese, or Carne Mechada, which is a traditional Venezuelan shredded beef dish, that is made by slow boiling skirt or flank…

Stuffed Buffalo Chicken Rolls

This is one of those recipes that you throw together because you just want something different to make for the family.  My family loves buffalo chicken in many forms.  I simply took all of the elements of buffalo chicken and made them into an elegant rolled chicken breast, that is beyond amazing.  I love this…

Potato and Cheddar Cheese Pierogi

Growing up, our culture was celebrated proudly by our family.  I am Italian, Irish, Polish, and most recently through a DNA testing, I discovered I am French, Albanian, and North African.  So growing up food was a big part of celebrating our roots as is with most families.  Universally, we all celebrate moments of our…

Sassy Honey Garlic Chicken

This is one of those recipes that is simplicity and sexy all at once.  Not only does it taste amazing, it is so simple to make but tastes like it took all day.  I love to make this in a cast iron skillet, started on the stove then popped in the oven to finish, then…

Sous Vide Cajun Spiced London Broil

Sous Vide meaning (under vacuum) is a French term for placing a food item such as poultry, meats, eggs, fish, and veggies, in a vacuum sealed bag, cooking in a water bath, more importantly, at a consistent temperature for an extended amount of time, and in doing so, will yield perfectly cooked, perfectly moist food…

Italian Ricotta Meatballs

I have found that meatballs are a very personal and potentially, a very touchy subject, in some circles.  Mostly by anyone who cooks!  Everyone believes that their “ball game” is tight, and theirs are the best.  I am no exception to this.  I have found that recently I have upped my game, by adding fresh…