Merry Christmas everybody! For Christmas, Italians often prepare a pasta bake or lasagne, so today I thought of sharing one of my all time favourite: Porcini and Taleggio Lasagne. This has to be one of my all time favourite vegetarian lasagne! It is very easy to make and it only requires a few ingredients. Yet, the…
Troccoli with Nonna’s Pork Ragu
Today’s recipe is very dear to me. It was my grandmother Maria’s speciality and, as I have recently shared my guide on Palermo, I thought it would be the right time for me to share this recipe, that has been sitting in my archives for a little while now. I learnt how to make this…
Tuna, Olive and Caper Pasta with Garlic Breadcrumbs
Today’s recipe is a classic in my kitchen. I make it often and it is one of my husband’s favourite pasta dishes. I cannot believe that I have been blogging for over 4 years and I haven’t shared this recipe yet! But I guess it’s like all the things that you are very familiar with:…
Pasta with Bell Pepper and Gorgonzola Cream
I first had something similar to this Pasta with bell pepper and Gorgonzola cream years ago in Milano. My husband and I would go and eat at our favourite restaurant for every special occasion and this pasta was often on the menu. Bell peppers/capsicums and Gorgonzola make for a fantastic combination: the first are sweet,…
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…
Beetroot Pasta Hearts with Goat Cheese
As you know, I love to play around with pasta’s colours and shapes. With Valentine’s Day coming up in a couple of days, I thought heart shaped pasta would be in order. And to make it even more appropriate for the occasion, I thought of making it pink. You simply add some beetroot to your…
Swordfish and Pistachio Pasta
Pasta, finally. You know that, even though I am Italian, I don’t share pasta recipes as much as I’d like. The main reason is that I don’t like to take pictures of pasta. There, I said it. When I take the shots for my blog, I don’t like to be rushed and I prefer to…
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…
Casoncelli alla Bergamasca
Today’s post is all about tradition. I often say that talking about Italian cuisine is not very accurate… every region (and sometimes even city!) has its own cuisine, so it would be more correct to say Italian cuisines. Every area of Italy has its own traditional stuffed pasta which can differ in shape, size and/or…
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…
Spaghetti alla Puttanesca
Finally a pasta dish again! I cannot believe I haven’t published a recipe for pasta in a while! When we were living in Italy, we used to eat pasta once a day… almost every day. Yep, that’s the way Italians do it. But after moving to Australia, we don’t eat it quite as often. Still,…
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…
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…
Malloreddus with Walnuts and Prosciutto
Today I am going to share with you one of my Regional Italian recipes! And this time I will take you all to the beautiful island of Sardinia or, as we say, Sardegna. Sardinia is a popular holiday destination for people who love the seaside. In fact it has some of the best beaches and…
An Ode to Pasta and a Barilla Hamper #Giveaway
Today I am very excited as I am partnering with Barilla Australia for a special giveaway! Yes, you got that right: Barilla is offering one of my lucky readers the possibility to win a hamper full of exciting and delicious Barilla products! Read on to find out all the details! Barilla is the number one…
Radicchio and Gorgonzola Tortelloni with Butter and Walnuts #SundaySupper
Happy Sunday everyone! Always more people are looking for meatless meal ideas, especially during Lent, so the fantastic people of Sunday Supper have come up with yet another great event: a fabulous Sunday Supper without meat! I must admit that while I LOVE my vegetables and I have grown up in a family where red meat…
Linguine with Potatoes
Today’s recipe is not my own. It’s actually my mother’s. It is one of her favourite pasta sauces and she made it for all of us when visiting from Italy. Usually, as a rule of thumb, Italians do not eat other carbs together with pasta, but this is a delicious exception. I often say that…
Radicchio and Taleggio Lasagne
This, together with my Pesto Lasagne, has to be one of my all time favourite vegetarian lasagne! It is very easy to make and it only requires a few ingredients. Yet, the end result tastes amazing. I think Taleggio and Radicchio were created to be eaten together as their flavours complement each other perfectly. These…
CAPPELLACCI WITH SAUSAGE AND PORCINI
Happy New Year everybody! I hope you had a fun (and food) filled New Year’s Eve and I wish you all the best for 2014!!! Today I want to celebrate the beginning of the new year with a special recipe. We had these on Christmas Eve and they were a huge hit. Every year we…
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…
ORECCHIETTE WITH SAUSAGE AND FENNEL TOPS
I know many people find making bread relaxing. And I do understand why… kneading is good for you and it does take your mind away from everyday worries. I have a very similar experience when making pasta. And more precisely when shaping pasta with my hands. I find it a very relaxing and fulfilling activity. …