If you invite me to your house for dinner, I will eat anything you prepare. Really. If you’re going through the time and effort to prepare a meal, I will wholeheartedly enjoy every bite. Dietary restrictions, food allergies and food aversions are not a part of my life, which probably makes me one of the […]

A few months ago, Monica sent me a bunch of Italian cooking magazines from 15+ years ago that her mom had lying around. They all had such beautiful pictures and I don’t care what anyone says, the photo is what entices me to make something, especially a recipe I’ve never made, nor seen before and most […]

From Laney Would you like to know the first thing I tasted made by Liz Benedettini Larkin…with her dark hair, big smile and very Italian name? Scones! Yup, scones! You see, Liz is known around these parts as “The Scone Lady” because she bakes these amazing scones and sells them under the name of Mrs. Larkin’s […]

Homemade giardiniera is beautiful, colorful, tasty and very easy to prepare. It’s always ready for use and can be stored for several months. I serve it in combination with sliced or boiled meat, or simply use it to dress a rice salad. Giardiniera will always be appreciated by your guests because it is a genuine product made with your […]

It’s not news that I love to cook…and love to eat even more. It’s sort of like a chicken and an egg thing – do I like to cook because I like to eat or do I like to eat because I like to cook? It really doesn’t matter, but one of the things I […]

  I’m not one to eat something just because it has nutritional and health benefits – if it doesn’t taste good, I won’t eat it (unless someone comes up with a food GUARANTEED for instant weight loss or the fountain of youth, in which case all bets are off and I’ll try anything). Ancient grains […]

As much as I love to cook, there’s something about baking that makes my heart sing. Maybe it’s the warming scent of hot dough in the oven that I find so comforting. Perhaps it’s that with baking there’s always plenty for everyone and I enjoy sharing and feeding others. Possibly it’s because I’m a numbers person […]

From Laney – It was sort of Girl’s Night Out but we did it in at Cristina’s house for another one of her fabulous meals. But this time, we were going to help her make homemade ravioli. Monica picked me up at Col delle Rane, then we picked up Marisa and off we went to […]

Congratulations to the winner of our Cookbook Giveaway – Amy Hunsberger! Courtesy of Chronicle Books and Colman Andrews, Amy will receive an autographed copy of The Country Cooking of Italy. Thanks to everyone for your fabulous comments!  I wonder if Colman Andrews, the internationally acclaimed food, wine and travel writer, ever gets tired of the […]

  Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it’s all about food. Wait, okay…I take that back – it’s about giving thanks FOR the food. And family. And health. And anything else that makes your heart swell on this truly American holiday. We eat and drink…that’s it! No gifts, no religion. I love cooking the meal […]