This is a sponsored conversation
written by me on behalf of SmithfieldⓇ. The opinions and text are all mine.
Flavorful
pasta salad with fresh veggies and oven roasted turkey breast
Now that school is back in session,
so is the daily struggle for all the moms (or dads!) out there. Can you feel it
too?!? I'm talking about the daily effort to create and pack a lunch for our
kids to take to school. It's really quite complicated when I think about it.
This lunch needs to be
SCRUMPTIOUS and FUN, so it won't make its way back home after school in an
untouched container next to a starving and unhappy little child.
It needs to be WHOLESOME and
NUTRITIOUS, of course! It's our kids that we are talking about.
At the same time, it needs to
be QUICK and EASY to make. Let's face it, none of us wants to get up a
whole hour earlier just to make a meal.
This traditional pasta with green beans, potatoes and pesto sauce is the perfectly delicious one-pot, one-dish dinner that’s ready in about 20 minutes
This is a sponsored post written by me in collaboration with Alessi Foods. Opinions, recipe and text are all mine.
Here is one of my all-time favorites, easy and quick dinner recipes. It's a flavorful and hearty pasta mingled with tender green beans and wholesome potatoes. All coated in a creamy and aromatic pesto sauce. A drizzle of flavorful olive oil, a touch of freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and a sprinkle of pine nuts (optional but highly recommended!). This dish never fails to satisfy my pasta cravings, and make my mind travel back to last summer and those magical evenings spent dining al fresco on a terrace in Cinque Terre. Overlooking the Ligurian Sea while sipping a refreshing glass of wine and enjoying this truly Italian traditional dish. Can't taste and aromas also transport you back to some special and unforgettable memories?!?
This hearty Pasta and Chickpeas Soup is the perfect last-minute dinner that’s ready in less than 30 minutes.
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Knorr®. The opinions, recipe and text are all mine.
Here is
one of my favorite, quick and easy, go-to dinner recipes, that’s perfect for
these chilly winter nights. It's scrumptious and wholesome. It's creamy
and flavorful. It's sure to fill your stomach and warm your soul.
Irresistible Italian casarecce pasta coated with fork-tender braised beef, slow cooked in red wine, flavorful porcini mushrooms and a sprinkle of pecorino cheese
Truly unforgettable!
This post is sponsored by Santa Cristina Wines in collaboration with Honest Cooking Magazine. All opinions are mine. #ad
With the holiday season quickly creeping up on us, have you started planning your dinner menu yet?!? It's never too early to think out what you will bring to the table for your family and friends. It's sure nice to serve the always-delicious turkey with all the fun stuff around it, from the flavorful stuffing to the creamy sweet potatoes, from the dense gravy to the cannot-be-forgotten cranberry sauce. But for once, why not add something new?!? Something exciting. Something elegant and scrumptious. Something that will wow your guests, leave them in awe and all talking about those amazing, non-traditional but so-Italian casarecce pasta you made. Topped with a fall-apart-tender and extra flavorful beef ragu' braised in red wine. How about that?!?
Here are all the steps and secrets to make the perfect fresh, handmade egg pasta
It's easier than you think. All you need is flour, eggs and a rolling pin
Here it is. My recipe on how to make homemade, fresh pasta! It's National Pasta Day and I couldn't miss the chance to post this again. Making fresh pasta is pretty easy and a lot of fun. And check out the list of ingredients. ONLY flour and eggs! Amazing, right?! And all you need in addition to the flour and eggs is a rolling pin or a pasta maker to roll the dough. I don't own a pasta machine, but yes! it is in my Christmas' wish list :-) The rolling pin can do all the work, but the machine is probably a good investment, saving you some time, making the pasta all the same thickness, and cutting it in perfect shapes. Hand cut pasta will not be perfect, but I find that's the beauty of it too... otherwise, how would your guests know you actually made it?!?
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ElevateYourMeal #CollectiveBias
Elevate your weeknight dinner from an ordinary supper to an heavenly gourmet experience with Barilla® Collezione pasta and this easy to make Italian vegetarian sauce
An amazing combination of truly Mediterranean flavors Buon appetito!
Happy Monday everyone!
I'm so excited today to be working with Barilla® pasta to present you one of my favorite, go-to dinner recipes. A pasta dish that's perfect for any week-night dinner for family or friends, but also fancy enough for your next dinner party. No matter what's the occasion, these bucatini alla siciliana will make your meal special and memorable.
Learn how to make this Italian pasta with a creamy mascarpone and prosciutto sauce
Super easy and ready in no more than 20 minutes
Buon appetito!
Here is one of my favorite, super easy, last minute go-to dinner recipes. A pasta that's flavorful and delicate. Light, creamy and cheesy all in the same mouthwatering bite. Just picture this: fresh egg tagliatelle (even better if homemade!) coated with a scrumptious layer of mascarpone sauce, exploding with bits of heavenly prosciutto, all mingled with crunchy walnuts pieces and freshly grounded pepper. Are your tastebuds as excited as mine now?!? Well, if you've never enjoyed the flavor combination of mascarpone cheese with prosciutto (a common pizza topping in Italy) you really should! It's a true match made in heaven. Italian food heaven in this case ... if there is such a thing :)
Healthy, quick and delicious pasta salad with colorful grilled peppers, savory grilled zucchini and fresh mozzarella.
I say, it's time for a savory and healthy recharge today! I realized I've been posting lots of sweet recipes recently, and not enough wholesome dinner ideas. And I do claim mine is a blog about Italian food. So for a minute, let's not think about chocolate covered almond cookies or moist and buttery cakes exploding with fresh berries. And let's dive, headfirst, in this healthy and scrumptious vegetarian pasta. It's super easy and quick (ready in no more than 30 minutes) and it can be prepared ahead of time. I'm sure you are going to love it as much as I do!
Here is a collection of summery, wholesome and fresh recipes. Perfect for a picnic on the sand, a barbecue at the park, or your next outdoor party.
I've handpicked these recipes just for you. All healthy, laughably easy, and ridiculously quick to prepare. And that's not all. You can make these dishes ahead of time. I simply love recipes that work on MY schedule. From a crispy and fun appetizer to homemade focaccia. From a pasta, rice or couscous salads to a must-have yummy dessert.
Who wants to spend too much time in a hot kitchen whipping up some complicated concoction when it's this warm and sunny outside?! Now, you don't have to.
You can drop the apron, kick off your shoes, put your feet up, and relax. That's what summer is all about :) Artichokes and Pancetta Puff Pastry Cups Crispy and cheesy puff pastry cups filled with the perfect combination of delicate artichokes and savory pancetta. Using frozen puff pastry makes the job super easy and fast. Just thaw the pastry sheets, prepare the stuffing in only a few minutes and throw in the oven.
Make any dinner special with this easy and quick linguine pasta
made with crispy asparagus, delicate, and perfectly seared sea scallops
mixed in a rich and flavorful saffron creamy sauce
Great news! You survived :) Yes, if you are reading this post it means you endured the craziness of this long holiday weekend. Woohooo!
First of all, I hope your Thanksgiving was super delicious, not too stressful, and as fun-filled as mine. As you can see, I went horseback riding over the weekend. And I absolutely loved it!
Second of all, let's weight the damages... Did you step on your scale and see what all that turkey and mouthwatering pies have done to you?!? I say, if you haven't done it yet, let's NOT!! At least, not yet :)
My suggestions for this week are a few little extra workouts, and a light and healthy (non-turkey, please!!!) dinner. And you'll be back to your fantastic shape in no time.
Over the weekend, other than horseback riding, I played squash and tennis. And beach volleyball twice this week. That's a good start, right?!? My secret to working out is doing something that I love, that gives me motivation and extra energy. Something that I can't wait to do, and always (or almost always) find the time for.
Now let's talk about dinner. No more turkey leftovers in my house, thank goodness! I really liked my turkey, but there are so many ways in which you can eat it (sandwich, salad, wrap, quesadillas...) before you cannot take it anymore.
So for dinner tonight: a light, creamy and mouthwatering linguine pasta with low-calorie sea scallops and healthy asparagus. It's a one dish dinner, easy and super quick. Who wants to spend too much time in the kitchen, after all the cooking madness last week?!?
This pasta combines the fresh, earthy taste of asparagus, with the sweet and delicate flavor of the sea scallops, seared to perfection in only a few minutes. All tossed with a delicious sauce made with heavy cream and a dash of saffron. Flavorful and luxurious. You won't be disappointed.
And a big thank you to Lobster Anywhere for the sea scallops. This company not only offers overnight delivery of live or frozen, top quality lobsters from Maine, but also other delicious seafood. The sea scallops were truly amazing. If you are interested, make sure to check them out: www.LobsterAnywhere.com
A fresh and healthy pasta salad with grilled eggplants, sun-dried tomatoes and fresh mozzarella
An irresistible combination of Mediterranean flavors!
A hot weekend is coming up here in Los Angeles. I can't wait to jump in the warm ocean water and relax on the sand. And if, like me, you are planning to spend your Sunday at the beach or somewhere else fun, here is a great picnic lunch idea.
This pasta salad is very simple to make. It's vegetarian, healthy, fresh and very tasty. You can prepare it ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator. And then you just bring it along to the beach or park in your cooler.
I generally prefer eating this salad at room temperature (not cold from the refrigerator and not hot from the stove). I chose farfalle pasta this time, but you can really use any shape of short pasta. I would really not recommend spaghetti for a pasta salad.
Here is the recipe for you. And have an amazing weekend :)
Perfect one-dish dinner, ready in less than 30 minutes
Creamy and rich penne pasta with wholesome zucchini, flavorful pancetta and delicate ricotta cheese.
Here is another recipe great for a family dinner on a busy weeknight.
This pasta is super easy to prepare. It won't take you more than 30 minutes from start to finish. And it makes a healthy, complete and balanced one-dish meal. It has a full serving of vegetables, carbs from the pasta, proteins from the ricotta and Parmesan cheese and ... oh well, the pancetta. Not as healthy as the rest, but it's sinfully delicious taste makes this dish incredibly flavorful.
Here are other simple and quick pasta recipes with zucchini that are ready in less than 30 minutes. Buon appetito!
Spaghetti drizzled with hot and garlic-infused olive oil.
A classic Italian dish, so simple and yet so delicious.
The classic Italian spaghetti aglio, olio and peperoncino (garlic, oil and hot peppers) is the quickest and easiest pasta you can possibly prepare.
And it's one of my family's favorite. It's a great recipe for all those occasions when time is of essence: the kids are starving and begging for food. Or also when the fridge is mostly empty, and there is no time for a run to the grocery store.This pasta takes no more than 15 minutes from start to finish. And it's made with very simple and basic ingredients which I always have available in my kitchen.
To make this recipe a success you need a good quality extra virgin olive oil, fresh parsley (better if the flat, Italian type) and hot peperoncini, which are those tiny, dry, and extremely spicy red peppers. The fruity flavor of the olive oil is complemented by the spicy and nutty taste of garlic and peperoncino. And the chopped parsley, sprinkled over the pasta at the end, balances all the flavors and adds freshness to this typical Italian dish. As I said: so simple, yet so delicious!
Buon appetito!
This one-dish pasta dinner is made with shrimps, zucchini, saffron, heavy cream and fresh Italian parsley.
Simple ingredients to make a very special weeknight dinner.
No need to wait for a special occasion to try this pasta with shrimps and zucchinis.
You should make your family dinner remarkable and unique every night. And you can do that when you have a recipe like this one: easy to follow and quick to make.
This pasta features few simple ingredients into a super creamy and rich dish. The buttery and sweet flavor of the shrimps perfectly combines with the delicate taste of the zucchini. All mixed together with velvety heavy cream, a dash of lavish saffron, and a sprinkle of fresh Italian parsley. Delicious!
with artichoke hearts, cherry tomatoes, olives, fresh mozzarella and basil.
An amazing combination of Mediterranean flavors!
I always appreciate a pasta salad that takes little time and little effort to prepare. This pasta salad with artichoke hearts, olives, mozzarella, and cherry tomatoes is fresh, healthy and delicious. Perfect for a family picnic, or to take along for a lunch or a dinner at the beach.
With the beginning of spring break, and many beach days coming up, this quick recipe will come really handy. Especially when the weather is so nice and the kids can't wait to get out there and play! Even when my morning gets pretty busy with all the packing for the day, I can find time to cook this dish. Ready in less than 30 minutes. Amazing, right?!?
All you have to do is cook the pasta, chop and combine all the veggies, and the job is done. The quantities of the ingredients are only there to give you an idea of how much I used for each. But you can improvise, change it up and make it fun. You can't go wrong with this pasta salad.
And here is the video recipe:
This one-dish pasta dinner with seafood is hot and spicy.
A must-try recipe that is super easy and quick to prepare.
This is one of my favorite one-dish pasta dinner, simple and quick to make in no more than half an hour. Dover sole fillets are easy to find at most supermarkets, at least around here. And even better, are among the cheapest seafood there is.
This recipe combines the delicate flavor of the sole fish, the strong and nutty aroma of the garlic, with the super hot peperoncino, all cooked in white wine.
You can always adjust the recipe based on your taste. For my family, I cut the garlic in big slices so that I can remove the garlic and peperoncino before serving. This will make the pasta a little more kids friendly, but still very flavorful. Or, if you prefer, you can chop the garlic in small pieces, and break up the peperoncino for a deliciously hot and spicy pasta.
Tonight, I'm enjoying my dinner watching an amazing sunset over the Pacific ocean. Buon appetito!
Ingredients, serving 4 people:
6 medium dover sole fillets, about 2/3 of a pound
about 1/3 cup of flour
2 garlic cloves
2 peperoncini (dry hot peppers)
2 tablespoons of fresh Italian parsley, chopped
1/2 cup of white wine
extra virgin olive oil
salt
12 oz of thick spaghetti
Preparation time: 30 minutes Directions:
1:Cut the sole fillets in pieces. Dip in flour and mix to coat all pieces..
2. In a large skillet heat a couple of tablespoons of olive oil. When hot, cook the fish - make sure to shake off any extra flour from the fish before cooking it. Sprinkle with salt.
3. Remove the sole from the skillet and set aside. Clean any left over olive oil from the skillet. I used very little oil that there was not much left.
4. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, and cook the spaghetti when it boils following the directions on the box.
5. Saute' the sliced (or chopped) garlic cloves and the hot pepper in about three tablespoons of olive oil, using the same skillet.
6. If you'd like, remove the garlic and hot peppers from the oil, once the garlic it's slightly golden. Add the cooked sole, the white wine, a couple of tablespoons of water (from the pasta pan) and the parsley. Simmer for about 5 minutes, until the alcohol evaporates and the sauce dense up a little. Don't let it dry. Add a little bit of olive oil or water if necessary.
Drain the pasta when ready, and toss it in the skillet with the fish. Mix well, and serve immediately. Top with more chopped fresh parsley if you'd like!
Homemade ravioli filled with fresh ricotta cheese and organic baby spinach
If you are looking for an easy-to-follow recipe to learn the art of making stuffed pasta, you've come to the right place
Last week I posted my recipe on how to make basic homemade pasta. Today I'm using that recipe to prepare handmade ravioli with spinach and ricotta cheese.
As I said for the tagliatelle, making stuffed pasta is actually easier than you might think. All you need are a rolling pin, or pasta maker, a ravioli cutter, about two hours of your time, and some passion... or as we say in Italian, some "voglia di fare" (willingness to do it!).
Even if making ravioli can be a bit time consuming, it's really rewarding. Freshly made ravioli, filled with organic baby spinach and delicate ricotta cheese are simply amazing.
So when you have some free time, and feel like experimenting something new, here is a great activity for you. Maybe your kids can join in the fun too!
With this recipe you can make around 45 ravioli, 2.5 inches in diameter, serving at least 4 people.
For the sauce, I suggest drizzling the ravioli with sage infused melted butter and sprinkled with lots of fresh grated Parmesan cheese. This way the sauce will not take away any of the ravioli delicate flavor. Buon appetito!
Here are all the steps and secrets to make the perfect fresh, handmade egg pasta
It's easier than you think. All you need is flour, eggs and a rolling pin.
Finally, here it is! My recipe on how to make homemade, fresh pasta!! I couldn't possibly have a blog about Italian food and NOT post this one.
Making fresh pasta is pretty easy and a lot of fun. And check out the list of ingredients. ONLY flour and eggs! Amazing, right?! And all you need in addition to the flour and eggs is a rolling pin or a pasta maker to roll the dough. I don't own a pasta machine, but yes! it is in my Christmas' wish list :-) The rolling pin can do all the work, but the machine is probably a good investment, saving you some time, making the pasta all the same thickness, and cutting it in perfect shapes. Hand cut pasta will not be perfect, but I find that's the beauty of it too... otherwise, how would your guests know you actually made it?!?
With this recipe you can make tagliatelle (1/4 inch wide), pappardelle (1/2 inch wide), lasagna sheets or stuff the pasta and make tortellini or ravioli.
This recipe asks for 100 gr (about 2/3 cup) of all-purpose flour and one egg per large serving, ie. a full plate of pasta! I suggest weighting the flour for a more precise measurement.
Fresh pasta can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for a couple of months. Before you can freeze or refrigerate the pasta, you need to let it dry, for about 30 to 60 minutes, so it will not stick together. After the pasta is dry you store it in a plastic bag or other container and refrigerate or freeze.
Here is the recipe for you.
Deliciously healthy vegetarian pasta salad with eggplants, capers and kalamata olives.
A spicy combination of Mediterranean flavors
I hope you enjoyed the long holiday weekend as much as I did.
Here in Los Angeles we had an amazing weather, sunny and hot. Just perfect for the beach! And, as you probably know by now, I love the beach and warm weather. I could lay on the sand, reading my book, soaking up the sunshine and relaxing all day long. And I probably would never get tired of it. Especially if I go prepared and take along drinks and delicious food.
Yesterday, for our family picnic at the beach, I cooked this great pasta salad. Super healthy, spicy and tasty, made with eggplants, olives and capers. A great combination of Mediterranean flavors.
You can serve this pasta warm or at room temperature. For a casual dinner, or a family picnic. And make sure to cook some extra, so you can pack the leftovers in your kids' lunch. It will will save you a lot of time and energy. And the kids will love it!
