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…
Garlic Bread
I think I might have finally achieved garlic bread perfection. It is pretty much a staple every time I serve Italian food. This garlic bread is so good it’s often requested at my dinner parties even when it’s not an Italian meal. It took me a while to get this recipe to the point where…
Ginger Sesame Vinaigrette
Recently I have been having lunch at a couple local restaurants where I found different versions of this Ginger Sesame Vinaigrette. I, of course, wanted to create my own version of it, so I could always have it on hand for salads at home. This vinaigrette is extremely tasty with its combination of strong flavors of…
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…
Marcona Almond Butter
I had never heard of Marcona almonds before I tasted them a few months ago while tasting wine at the Paraduxx Winery in Napa, CA. They were served with cheese and dried fruit along with the wine selection. I loved the rich, sweet buttery flavor of these unique almonds, so I had to search for…
French Onion Soup
Years ago, when I first began as a young waiter/bartender at a couple of different restaurants in the Milwaukee area, I often served French Onion Soup to customers. I thought the crusty cheese on top always looked very appetizing, but never having tasted it growing up, I wasn’t sure what I might find underneath 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…
Macaroni And Cheese
Mac ‘n Cheese……this is what comes to my mind when I hear the words “comfort food”! I can remember at a very young age my Mom served us Mac ‘n Cheese that usually was the kind that came in the little blue box. It was creamy, it was cheesy and it was delicious. At that…
Sunflower Seed Butter
Sunflower seed butter, also known as sun butter, has a delicious roasted and salty flavor. My first encounter with sun butter was years ago on a United Airlines flight. I was hungry and ordered the Classic snack box which had sun butter, preserves and crackers in it. I loved the taste of sun butter on…
Grilled French Fries
These grilled French fries taste as good as they look. I love French fries and wanted an easier way to make them at home without having to pull out the deep fryer and all the mess that comes with it. By grilling them we do not get them as crisp as deep frying, but the…
