pork-tenderloin-with-mustard-sauce
Main Dish, Meat

Pork Tenderloin with Mustard Sauce

 

 Pork Tenderloin with Mustard Sauce is a tasty and elegant meal that you can cook quickly for a nice dinner at home. This recipe is perfect for just two people, but is also a party pleaser. You can make it when you are entertaining a group of friends. Pork tenderloin […]

whole-roasted-branzino
Main Dish

Whole Roasted Branzino

 

 Whole Roasted Branzino is one of my favorite dishes. Branzino, also known as Mediterranean sea bass, is a mild white fish with a slightly sweet taste. It is a great blank canvas for all kinds of flavors. I like to top my branzino with a light tomato and olive relish. […]

zucchini-flatbread
Appetizers, Baked Goods, Main Dish

Zucchini Flatbread

 

 This Zucchini Flatbread is one of my favorites! The crust is crispy, while the mascarpone and mozzarella cheeses add a nice creaminess that don’t over power the delicate flavor of the zucchini. Lastly, I sprinkle a little fresh thyme over the top of the pizza. It adds a nice earthy […]

flourless-[ersimmon-upside-down-cake
Baked Goods, Desserts

Flourless Persimmon Upside-Down Cake

 

 Flourless Persimmon Upside-Down Cake tastes delicious and looks pretty without much effort. I don’t always see persimmons in the store, but when I do, I make sure to buy a few. Persimmons look like a tomato, but have a sweet honey-like flavor, similar to a mango. They’re sweet, versatile fruits […]

anise-biscotti
Baked Goods, Desserts

Italian Anise Biscotti

 

 These Italian Anise Biscotti have a wonderful licorice flavor. They’re not too sweet, easy to make, and slightly spongy on the inside and crispy on the outside. I make lots of cookies every year at Christmas time and give them out as gifts.  Joe’s Mom, Anna Rose, likes to share her cookies […]

pasta-with-sausage-and-cabbage
Main Dish, Pasta

Pasta with Sausage and Cabbage

 

 Pasta with Sausage and Cabbage is a crowd pleaser! We’ve made it so many times I can’t keep count anymore. Even our friends who claim that they “don’t like cabbage”, love it. This dish is hearty, economical and easy to make. It consists of pasta, Italian sausage, savoy cabbage, leeks, […]

Roasted-Butternut-Squash-Agrodolce
Side Dishes

Roasted Butternut Squash Agrodolce

 

 Roasted Butternut Squash Agrodolce is a new and different twist on butternut squash! The squash is roasted in the oven than dressed with a tangy sweet-and-sour vinaigrette, and topped with pomegranate seeds and fresh mint! The roasting imparts a deep, rich flavor to the butternut squash. The pomegranate seeds bring […]

pork-braciole
Main Dish, Meat

Pork Braciole

 

 Pork Braciole is a celebratory dish in our house! This year we are making it for Christmas dinner. It does require some work in advance, but then you just put it in the oven to cook. Serve it with a side of pasta and a salad and dinner is complete. […]

mexican-wedding-cake-cookies
Baked Goods, Desserts

Mexican Wedding Cake Cookies

 

 Mexican Wedding Cake Cookies are one of the most popular cookies that I make every Christmas. They’re little morsels of buttery deliciousness studded with pecans and covered in powdered sugar! What’s your favorite cookie? My Christmas gift giving amounts to decorative tins filled with cookies. The decorative tin boxes are […]

Sicilian Sesame Seed Cookies
Baked Goods, Desserts

Sicilian Sesame Seed Cookies

 

 Sicilian Sesame Seed Cookies go by many names like Biscotti Regina, Giugiuleni or, as Joe’s family calls them, Cimino Cookies. This cookie is shaped like a little loaf of bread covered in sesame seeds. It is isn’t overly sweet, but is perfect for dunking! These cookies are a holiday favorite […]

Vanilla-tutu-cookies
Baked Goods, Desserts

Vanilla Tutu Cookies

 

 I make Vanilla Tutu Cookies every year at Christmas time. They are a moist, yet dense vanilla cookie covered with icing and decorated with sprinkles. They’re the perfect cookie to dunk into a cup of coffee. I learned how to make Vanilla Tutu Cookies from my Sicilian mother-in-law, Anna Rose, […]