Cuisine: Italian

Chicken Scarpariello

Our friend Melanie made this Chicken Scarpariello, which is a classic Italian-American dish. Scarpariello translates to "shoemaker" in Italian, and the dish is thought to be named so either because the ingredients can be "cobbled together" quickly, like a shoemaker might, or because the dish was traditionally eaten by poor shoemakers who could afford its simple ingredients; the exact origin of the name is unclear. The origins of the recipe don’t matter, it was incredibly delicious. It’s sweet, savory, and tangy.

By Leslie Blythe

Stuffed Eggplant Parmesan

This hearty twist on the classic Stuffed Eggplant Parmesan features a whole eggplant hollowed out and stuffed with a flavorful mixture of eggplant and sausage. It’s a satisfying and substantial meal that’s perfect for a comforting dinner.

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Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Sheet Pan Lasagna

This Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Sheet Pan Lasagna delivers maximum flavor and crispy perfection. Inspired by Giada De Laurentiis' revolutionary sheet pan approach, this dish is a delicious and effortless reimagining of a classic comfort food.

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Pancetta and Leek Risotto

I'm a risotto enthusiast with a collection of recipes, but this Pancetta and Leek Risotto caught my eye due to its perfect portion size for two. Leeks are truly magical; their delicate sweetness caramelizes beautifully and pairs exceptionally well with the salty crunch of pancetta. It's a match made in culinary heaven.

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Caprese Prosciutto Cups

Caprese Prosciutto Cups makes an elegant appetizer or light snack that brings together the classic flavors of Italy. You make crispy prosciutto cups in a mini muffin pan and then fill them with a Caprese salad mixture. You can also just use a store bought bruschetta sauce and mozzarella.

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Spaghetti with Prosciutto, Parmesan and Peas

My husband Eric and I have been making Spaghetti Carbonara for years. It's what we have when the is 'nothing to eat'! I saw this recipe for Spaghetti with Prosciutto, Parmesan and Peas from Milk Street Magazine and knew we had to make it. It supposedly was the signature pasta of Pope Pius XII. It's quite different from our go-to standard Carbonara recipe. I have to say, it's delicious, though more subtle than the saltier bacon-infused version. I think the late Queen Elizabeth would have liked it, due to the fact that garlic isn't even mentioned.

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Baked Gnocchi with Mushrooms and Artichokes

This Baked Gnocchi with Mushrooms and Artichokes is a delicious and easy vegetarian dish that is made all in one pan. I try to always have gnocchi in the pantry for those nights when I am too tired to cook, but I want something comforting. The combination of pillowy gnocchi, earthy mushrooms, and briny artichokes is a fabulous combination. I actually made this in advance and put it in the fridge, then put it in the oven for dinner.

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Penne alla Vodka

This Penne alla Vodka is so easy and delicious. The penne pasta is tossed in a sauce made with vodka, tomatoes, heavy cream, and onions. The alcohol helps intensify and accentuate flavors in the dish. Apparently, after doing a little research, Penne alla Vodka fell out of fashion, though it seems to be back. Here is a bad Google-translated Italian article about the decline and resurgence of this classic dish.

Penne with vodka? Probably, there is no dish more mortified and out of fashion than the creamy pink pennette.

Finished on the shelf of the “good things of bad taste” of the 80s, along with shrimp cocktails, Russian salad and cream tortellini, penne alla vodka lived three decades ago their quarter of an hour of celebrity, and then took the path of an unstoppable decline that relegated them to a B-class dish worthy only of sleepless students or operetta cooks.

Removed for decades from the collective imagination, their infamous name has been deleted from the menus of all the restaurants in the world, condemning them to an inexorable oblivion in the face of a fault that does not seem so clear.

Yes: have we ever asked ourselves why?

Why has pink penne been forgotten, despite the fact that they can be placed, together with pizza, among the dishes 'always good even when bad'?

Anyway, vodka or non-vodka, the time to redeem the soft pink seasoning has come.

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Pasta e Fagioli

Pasta e Fagioli is a classic Italian soup made with pasta, beans, and vegetables. It is a hearty soup that is perfect for a cold winter day. There are many different variations of Pasta e Fagioli, and in fact, I have three other Pasta e Fagioli recipes on this blog! This one has a creamy texture from puréeing a can of white Beans.

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Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken Meatballs with Gnocchi

This Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken Meatballs with Gnocchi recipe combines juicy chicken sun-dried tomato laced meatballs, gnocchi, spinach in a Tuscan-inspired sauce, cooked in a slow cooker, which requires minimal prep and cleanup, leaving you with more time to relax and enjoy.

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