Besides experimenting with Japanese cooking, I have also cooked some good old Italian food. This Risotto with Zucchini Cream and Basil is one of my latest favourite risotto and I have it quite often, alternating it with the Pumpkin and Gorgonzola one. I love the combination of zucchini and basil as I think their flavours…
Freekeh Soup
As you know, I am travelling at the moment, so I thought of asking some of my favourite food blogger friends to come over and share some of their amazing creations with all of you! I told you I would leave you in great company, right? I am double excited about today’s guest: Sawsan from…
Gyoza
I love potstickers and Japanese Gyoza – 餃子(ぎょうざ) are my absolute favourite! I love the crunchy skin and the soft and tasty filling.
Beer Braised Chicken Tenders
I always have chicken tenders in the freezer. Chicken is what my kids like to eat the most and tenders are very handy as they are very versatile and cook quite fast. The other day I had some beer in the fridge that begged to be used, so I whipped up a quick and delicious…
Ravioli di Magro #SundaySupper
This week’s #SundaySupper theme is “Retro Food”. Ah, how fun is that? The thing is, being Italian, I have no idea what people in other countries used to cook and eat in the past… so, I had to resort to an Italian recipe. And I went for a classic. I must admit that this dish is…
Pappardelle alla Contadina
A few weeks ago, I reviewed the Toollio, an amazing multi-function food processor that really makes your life easier in the kitchen. I am very happy with it and, as promised, I am doing a little series on recipes developed using the Toollio to showcase its versatility. After making some hearty meatballs and a luscious cheesecake, today…
Saffron Gnocchi with Ham and Peas
Today it’s back to basics, with an Italian classic recipe… but with a twist. Ham and peas are a very common pairing and Italians love to use this combination in a pasta sauce. I love it too and it reminds me of when I was a child and I would often ask my mum to…
Burrata and Truffle Oil Risotto
Maybe not everyone is familiar with Burrata. It is a kind of fresh cheese typical of the Italian region of Apulia, in the south of the country. It is in fact a “composite” cheese as it is made of a mozzarella outer shell filled with soft mozzarella scraps and cream and then closed to form…
Minestrone
Having grown up in Milan, where winters are quite cold, I have had my fair share of soups. In fact, my mum would often make soup for dinner. My favourite has always been Pasta e Fagioli, but she has always made a fantastic Minestrone. Contrary to what it may seem, Minestrone is actually a pretty…
Gnocchi alla Romana
This month, the Daring Cooks challenged us to think inside the box – the icebox, that is! Audax taught us some really cool tips and tricks for stocking our freezers with prepare-ahead meals that can keep our taste buds satisfied even during the busiest of times. It is back to school time for many families in the…
Beetroot and Ricotta Gnocchi with Gorgonzola
I have always love beetroot, a taste I share with my dad. I remember often buying it at the store whenever it was available. We would buy it cooked, ready to be sliced and eaten. My favourite way to eat beets was to make them into a simple salad with extra virgin olive oil and…
Salmon Sliders with Aioli
Who said burgers have to be made with meat?? I love a good veggie burger and I love a fish burger even more. These sliders are made with fresh salmon, home-made buns, vegetables and home-made aioli, so besides being utterly delicious they are also fully home-made and they are a healthier take on regular sliders. …
Risotto with Zucchini and Pesto
I know some people find the idea of making risotto daunting. I have shared many risotto recipes on this blog and it is actually the dish I first learnt how to cook on my own, as it was my favourite dish. I was 6 or 7 years old, so as you can understand, making risotto…
Cassoeula
As I mentioned in my previous post on how to make Verzini sausages at home, Cassoeula is one of the most iconic dishes from Milan, the city where I was born. Cassoeula is a stew made with pork meat and cabbage. In the past, people would cook pig’s ears and trotters in it too, but…
Taleggio and Walnut Mezzelune with Parmigiano Reggiano Fondue
I love making pasta from scratch. Some people find making bread relaxing and soothing… to me making pasta has the same effect. I love kneading the dough and creating all kinds of different shapes. I was going through my pasta tutorial page a couple of days ago and I realised I do have quite a…
Pomegranate Risotto
As you know, autumn has come to the Southern hemisphere. I can’t lie… I don’t mind it. I welcome the fresher air and the leaves changing colour on the trees. It is a beautiful season. And I LOVE autumn food: mushrooms, chestnuts, quince… pomegranates. In fact, pomegranates always put a smile on my face: I…
PASTA BAKE – PASTA AL FORNO
MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone! I hope you are all having a fantastic holiday season, full of laughter and love. I hope you are spending more time with your family and friends and that you take some time to slow down and really savour each moment of this special time of the year. I am blessed as…
BUFFALO STYLE WINGS
It is time again for the “Secret recipe club” reveal! I am sure you all know what the club is about, but for the few of you who still don’t know about it, here goes a brief explanation. It is a great concept… each month you are assigned a participating food blogger to make a…
FRESH TUNA RAGU
This is a recipe that I learnt from my dad. He loves tuna (and so do I), so whenever we saw tuna at the markets, we would buy some and make a ragù with it. Ragù is a generic term that Italians use for tomato based sauces predominantely made with meat, but not only. The…
SPAGHETTI WITH MUSSELS
Today’s recipe is yet another classic of Italian cuisine. It is originally from the South, where fresh mussels are very common, but it is one of those dishes that is now widely eaten throughout the country. It is a very simple recipe, which doesn’t require many ingredients and, like all simple recipes, needs to be…
SAFFRON GNOCCHI WITH SAUSAGE AND PORCINI
Todd, who is The Daring Kitchen’s AWESOME webmaster and an amazing cook, is our September Daring Cooks’ host! Todd challenged us to make light and fluffy potato Gnocchi and encouraged us to flavor the lil pillows of goodness and go wild with a sauce to top them with! YESSSSS! I love gnocchi of all sorts,…
GINGER SESAME CHICKEN
I always have chicken tenders in my freezer… they are very versatile, quick to cook and they always please the whole family. I love the fact that they are always moist and not dry. I have never seen these in Italy, where you either buy breast or thighs (or the whole chicken). I stumbled upon…