Italian traditional home cooking - soups, salads, pastas, stews, desserts - here are some of my favorite recipes, easy to make, great to eat, that I’ll be making and sharing with you
Sauces
Rich and hearty with veal, pork, and vegetables in a thick tomato sauce that can be used with lasagna, spaghetti and other pastas
Done from scratch with milled plum tomatoes, home grown herbs, and Italian spices. Can be used as a base for other sauces
Pasta Dishes
Pasta From Scratch
Homemade pasta can't be beat!! The freshness, the flavour!! There's no comparison to store bought!!
Baked Balsamic Chicken Parmesan
Chicken breasts with cherry tomatoes and red onion - covered with a tomato and balsamic sauce, and baked with parmesan and mozzarella cheese on top. Serve with fresh pasta mixed with EVO, salt, pepper, and dusted with freshly grated parmesan.
Baked Cheese Cannelloni in Meat Sauce
A 3 cheese cannelloni made with fresh pasta covered in a hearty meat sauce and topped with melted cheese and baked to a golden brown. Serve by itself as a starter or with a Caesar Salad as a meal
Chicken and Shrimp Carbonara with Smoked Meat
Shrimp and chicken done in a carbonara sauce of cream, bacon, parmesan, smoked meat and spices tossed with fresh pasta and dusted with chives. An excellent, easy to make supper dish.
Lasagna
Who doesn't like Lasagna? Layers of home made pasta alternating with a thick meat sauce and a mixture of cheeses - ricotta, parmesan, mozzarrella - baked to a golden brown perfection.
Serve with a green salad and garlic bread, or on its' own - with a glass of wine, of course!!
Preparation time: two hours (if done from scratch)
Baking time: 45 minutes
Pasta With Ground Lamb and Tomato Sauce
Italian Pasta (Penne or Rigatoni) with a thick tasty sauce made with ground lamb, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and Parmesan Cheese. Quick and easy to make - while the pasta is boiling the sauce can be done in twenty minutes!! Toss the pasta with the sauce, sprinkle a little parmesan on top, and serve with garlic bread or a small salad
Ravioli with 3 Cheeses in Meat Sauce
Ravioli made with fresh pasta stuffed with 3 cheeses and herbs, covered in a hearty meat and tomato sauce and topped with melted mozzarella and parmesan cheese and baked to a golden brown. Serve with garlic bread or a green salad
Shredded smoked chicken with garlic, strips of prosciutto, and browned salt pork tossed with fresh pasta and a creamy parmesan, egg, cheese, and basil sauce. Sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan and serve by itself or with a light green salad. Quick and easy to make.
Orzo with Fresh Basil and Parmesan
Orzo with fresh basil and grated parmesan. An pasta side dish that goes great with any Italian meal - serve it hot or cold, and easy to make
Main Dishes
Chicken breasts with lemon and capers. Chicken breasts flattened, seasoned, lightly breaded in flour and parmesan, served with a lemon and caper sauce
Chicken breasts done in an Italian Mediterranean Sauce - tomatoes, olives, anchovies with garlic and lemon - easy and quick to make.
Chicken Cacciatore With Olives, Tomatoes, Mushrooms, and Garlic
Tender juicy pieces of chicken cooked in a rich tasty stew with olives, mushrooms, tomatoes, and garlic. Topped with capers and freshly ground parmesan. Serve with fresh pasta or mashed potatoes
Spezzatino di Manzo al Chianti (Beef Stew)
An Italian beef stew similar to boeuf bourguignon but made with pancetta instead of bacon, chianti instead of burgundy, yellow onions instead of pearl onions. Big chunks of beef in a hearty stew with onions, celery, carrots and mushrooms. Great to have for a winter meal served with boiled potatoes, noodles, or rice.
Fresh tagliatelle (literally 'cut noodles' in Italian) served with a hearty veal and tomato pasta sauce and sprinkled with grated parmesan cheese. Serve by itself or with garlic bread and / or a fresh green salad
Veal Scaloppini in Green Pepper Sauce
Tender breaded veal scallops covered in tomatoes, mushrooms, and green peppers baked with a topping of Monterey Jack or Swiss Cheese. Ready in 40 minutes - serve with mashed potatoes or noodles
Veal Scaloppini with Saffron Cream and Mushroom Sauce
Tender lightly breaded veal scaloppini done in a creamy sauce of mushrooms, onions, peas and capers gently flavored with saffron. Quick and easy to make - 5 minutes preparation and about 10 minutes cooking. Serve with asparagus with freshly grated parmesan sprinkled on top.