Today, I’m excited to share my take on a manicotti recipe inspired by my first job at an Italian restaurant. The dish was called cannelloni at the restaurant where it was made with pasta sheets and marinara sauce.  I changed the pasta sheets to pasta…

Savor the comforting richness of this reimagined Ragu Napoletano. This fusion dish stays true to the traditional slow-cooked flavors of Neapolitan ragu while adding a bold Italian-American flair, combining ground Italian sausage with whole links in a luscious tomato sauce. It’s a delicious celebration of…

This classic minestrone recipe is brimming with hearty vegetables, tender beans, and savory herbs in a rich, flavorful broth.  Serve it with Focaccia Garlic Bread for a hearty meal. A friend gave me a basket of fresh vegetables from her garden this morning: luscious red,…

Tender meatballs infused with Parmesan, bathed in tangy marinara, and topped with bubbly, melted mozzarella and provolone cheeses, piled on a toasted garlic butter roll—pure comfort on a plate. When I started working at the Italian restaurant back in the day, well, that day was…

I’m going to start this post off with a confession.  I LOVE garlic bread; I mean, really, who doesn’t, right? I remember way back when I was in school, and getting excited because mom was making spaghetti for dinner.  Spaghetti meant garlic bread!  She used…

Back in my days at an Italian restaurant, Ball jars of garlic-infused olive oil ruled the kitchen. We splashed it on pizza, whipped it into vinaigrettes, and marinated everything in its savory goodness. I recall making garlic oil every day so we always had a…

This simple, delicious balsamic beet salad is as easy as it gets with just four ingredients. Tender beets are paired with creamy baby mozzarella balls and drizzled with a rich balsamic/Olive Oil vinaigrette that creates an explosion of flavor with each bite.  This may be…