I have come up with a really simple, but flavorful tomato sauce recipe that was inspired by celebrity Chef Scott Conant. I watched an episode of “The Best Thing I Ever Ate” on the Food Network that focused on sauces. Ted Allen said that the best spaghetti and sauce he ever ate was from Scott…
ITALIAN
Pesto Sauce
When I’m looking for something different than tomato sauce for pasta, I really like the rich, fresh flavor of pesto sauce. The freshness comes from basil leaves, and the richness comes from grated parmesan cheese and toasted nuts…..and it’s so simple to make. Traditional pesto comes from the Liguria region of Italy and consists of…
Homemade Ravioli
My aunt Beverly used to make homemade ravioli when I was a kid. The first time she served it to us, I said to her “These are as good as the ones we eat from a can!”, thinking that I was paying her a real compliment. Later, my Mom scolded me and explained that it…
Ricotta Cheese Filling
I first came up with a ricotta cheese filling for stuffing manicotti, but since discovering that making my own pasta is now the ONLY way I want to serve pasta dishes to my guests, I’m finding that it’s delicious in ravioli as well. There’s something I just love about the flavors of ricotta cheese and…
Bolognese Sauce
Since Bolognese Sauce has been around for over 200 years there have been many variations on the recipe and much disagreement over what is the authentic version of this meat sauce. In 1982 a recipe for “authentic ragù alla bolognese” was registered with the Bologna Chamber of Commerce by the Italian Academy of Cuisine. I have…
Spaghetti & Meatballs
Spaghetti and meatballs is a classic comfort food and a favorite of anyone who loves Italian food. Well, probably more accurately, it’s actually American Italian food. I have discovered that you will not find many places in Italy that serve spaghetti and meatballs. But there seems to be some disagreement among food experts whether the…
Basic Pasta Dough
Is making fresh pasta really worth it? Up until a few months ago I would have said “no”. I always thought it looked like a lot of work and wasn’t worth the time and effort. But now I would have to say I’ve changed my mind. Some time ago, I was given a pasta rolling…
Pizza Sauce
This pizza sauce recipe I created years ago for a Chicago-style pizza that we served in my brothers sports bar, but I think it’s great on all types of pizza. The whole tomatoes are the key to this recipe which gives the sauce a more intense tomato flavor. Recently, in a pizza-making class I attended,…
