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# La Bella Vita Cucina

delicious | beautiful | Italian | inspiration

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## Posts

- [The Most Delicious, Awesome Lasagna](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/06/lasagna-for-loved-ones-in-heat-of/) - . 2 8 oz. packages of good quality lasagna noodlesFor The Cheese Filling1 lb. ricotta cheese8 oz good quality Mozzarella (sliced or shredded)1 c. grated fresh Parmigiana – Regiano cheese1 c. grated freshly grated Pecorina cheese1 8 oz. carton sour cream1/4 c. fresh Italian parsley (chopped)1/2 tsp. salt2 large eggs (I use jumbo, lightly beaten)For
- [15 Outstanding Italian Grilling Recipes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2026/06/15-outstanding-italian-grilling-recipes/) - 15 delicious Italian grilling recipes, from meats, to fish, to fruits & veggies ... all easy and superb!
- [Classic Pumpkin Roll](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/10/classic-pumpkin-roll/) - Learn how to make a classic pumpkin roll with tender spiced pumpkin cake, creamy cream cheese filling, and step-by-step tips for a perfect fall dessert.
- [Authentic Spaghetti alla Carbonara, a Roman Pasta Tradition](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/10/authentic-roman-carbonara/) - Learn how to make authentic Roman Spaghetti alla Carbonara with traditional Italian ingredients, expert tips, and the classic creamy sauce—no cream needed!
- [7 Ways on HOW to Make the ULTIMATE Charcuterie Board](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/12/7-ways-on-how-to-make-the-ultimate-charcuterie-board/) - Learn how to create a charcuterie board with easy tips for meats, cheeses, fruits, and styling—perfect for entertaining any crowd.
- [Secrets for the BEST Italian Meatballs](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2026/01/secrets-for-the-best-italian-meatballs/) - Discover Mama Agata’s secrets to making the best Italian meatballs on the Amalfi Coast, with authentic techniques, family traditions, and unforgettable flavor.
- [Delicious Dips and Salsas for A Great Party](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2026/02/delicious-dips-and-salsas-for-a-great-partyl/) - A winner line-up of delicious dips and salsas that disappear fast! From cheesy hot dips to fresh guacamole and fruit salsas, perfect for any party. LOVE!
- [Fried Green Tomato Stacks with Jalapeño Pimento Cheese](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2026/06/fried-green-tomato-stacks-jalapeno-pimento-cheese/) - Crispy fried green tomatoes are layered with spicy jalapeño pimento cheese for a bold Southern appetizer, snack, or party-perfect bite.
- [Italian Tuna and Orzo Salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2018/07/italian-tuna-and-orzo-salad/) - This fresh tuna salad is tossed with orzo pasta and more Mediterranean flavors, herbs, and a bright dressing for an easy, flavorful lunch or side dish.
- [Creamy Cucumber Salad Kissed with Garlic in Dill Dressing](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2026/06/creamy-cucumber-salad-kissed-with-garlic/) - This creamy cucumber salad kissed with garlic is cool, crisp, and refreshing with a tangy, savory dressing — the perfect easy summer side dish.
- [Nonna's Spaghetti and Meatball Pie](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2026/06/nonnas-spaghetti-and-meatball-pie/) - Layers of spaghetti, cheese, marinara sauce, and meatballs, and then baked until golden brown, Spaghetti and Meatball Pie is a family and crowd pleaser.
- [Secret to the BEST Classic Italian Cream Cake](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2021/02/secret-to-the-best-classic-italian-cream-cake/) - The ever-popular Italian Cream Cake recipe with excellent secret tips to make the best cake ever . . . everyone will ask for the recipe!
- [Golden Baked Halibut in Herb Cream Sauce](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2026/06/golden-baked-halibut-in-herb-cream-sauce/) - Golden baked halibut with Parmesan crumb topping baked over sweet buttered onions in creamy herb sauce — a simple and delicious Italian fish main entree!
- [Italian Thanksgiving Antipasto Platters](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2013/11/italian-thanksgiving-traditions-and/) - "over the river and through the woods, to grandmother's house we go" (a view of the road on the way to the acreage) . the fireplace mantel all decorated for autumn and Thanksgiving . the dining room centerpiece for autumn and Thanksgiving, minus the place settings . Most Americans would be surprised to
- [Buffalo Beef and Pepper Jack Burgers plus a Tablescape](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2013/06/buffalo-beef-pepper-jack-cheese-burgers-an-outdoor-tablescape/) - Beef is my husband's protein of choice. Hands down, no debate, no discussion, it's simply beef! No matter how much I try to decrease the beef in his nutrition, this guy just plain likes his beef. And I bet that I'm not alone on this when it comes to 'many' men's food preferences (not all
- [10 Top Recipes for the Grill](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2013/05/10-top-recipes-for-the-grill/) - Grilling season is officially open now that it is Memorial Day Weekend! So to help get your 'grill on', as the saying goes, I've put together my 10 top recipes for the grill to ignite your holiday get-togethers! I've got a variety of juicy hamburgers and an incredible steak recipe for those who have to
- [Lemon Citrus Granita on the Amalfi Coast, Italy](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2013/01/citrus-granita-and-amalfi-coast-italy/) - . 2/3 cup freshly-squeezed lemon juice (about 4 lemons)3 cups water1-1/2 to 2 cups sugar (substitute 'Stevia' for a pure 'clean' recipe, just know that it will not taste as good as what you get in Italy with 'real' sugar)1 cup fresh orange juice (about 4 oranges or lemon juice (if you prefer, like I
- [Zuccherini - Italian Lemon Cookies](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/11/zuccherini-italian-lemon-cookies/) - Cookie Dough3 – 4 cups all-purpose flour1 cup sugar1/2 teaspoon baking powder1/4 tsp. salt (sea salt is best)3 large eggs (room temperature)1/4 cup olive oil1 - 2 teaspoons anise seeds (place seeds in a cloth and crush with a mallet)1-½ teaspoon anise extract2 teaspoons grated lemon zestFor the Frosting/Icing1 cup powdered sugar2 – 3
- [The Traditional Food of Emilia-Romagna, Italy! A Taste of Emilia-Romagna!](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/10/the-traditional-food-of-emiliaromagna/) - (photo credit: 'tourism emilia-romagna) We are in Emilia-Romagna in Northern Italy today, affectionately known as the legendary "bread basket" of Italy! With its capital of Bologna, this region is considered by many to be the gastronomical and culinary heart of Italy . . . and that reputation resonates throughout very demanding Italian food circles. This region has
- [The Traditional Foods of Venice, Italy!](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/10/the-traditional-foods-of-venice-italy/) - (photo credit to "Islands") Ciao from Venice! . It has been said that whether or not someone is a romantic at heart or not, Venice promises to take one's breath away. Venice must be experienced with all of one's senses wide open! . With it's breath-taking ancient architecture, winding canals, and endless mysterious passageways, Venice
- [A Beautifully Simple Beet Salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/08/a-beautifully-simple-beet-salad/) - 1 pound beets (red, Chioggia, golden, or white)Freshly cracked sea salt1 tsp. vinegar (red wine, sherry, or white wine)Freshly cracked sea saltFreshly cracked black pepper1 - 2 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil1/2 of a sweet Vidalia onion (chopped into chunks (my family's addition))Good Seasons Italian herbs packet prepared according to directions (my family's addition)a teaspoon or
- [Rustic Italian Tomato Pie](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/07/rustic-italian-tomato-pie/) - butter for greasing pan3 Tbsp. olive oil3 scallions/green onions (finely chopped)12 thin slices good quality Italian whole wheat bread (crusts removed (I left them on))4 – 5 fresh tomatoes (sliced)1 tsp. dried oregano1 tsp. dried basil2 jumbo eggs (I doubled this from 1 egg)1 1/3 cups whole milk (I doubled this from 2/3 cup milk)8
- [Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/12/dark-chocolate-hot-cocoa-mix-secret/) - . 1 cup cocoa powder (half Ghiradelli‘s unsweetened cocoa and half Hershey’s Special Dark or a blend of your preference)1 cup white sugar1 cup powdered milk1/4 teaspoon salt1/2 cup chocolate chips InstructionsMix all of the ingredients except for the whipped cream in a medium bowl.Place mix into a jar or airtight container to store.When making
- [Iowa Breaded Pork Tenderloin Sandwich](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/09/iowa-breaded-pork-tenderloin-sandwich/) - Use even amounts of each of the following (start with one cup each) . . . depending on how many tenderloins that you're breading, just make up more breading if you need to.FlourSuper-fine crushed saltine crackersPanko breadcrumbs or white cornmealFor the wet batter1 cup whole milk (some use buttermilk)2 jumbo eggsminced garlic or garlic powder (to taste,
- [Roasting Red Peppers (and Green, Yellow or Orange)](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/08/roasting-red-peppers-and-green-yellow/) - . Roasted red bell peppers are great to add a layer of extra flavor in sandwiches, panini, pasta recipes, salads, and the traditional Italian antipasto platter. With the intent to continue to grow my own (you can't get any more local than your own backyard or patio/balcony), I've enjoyed roasting my own and freezing
- [Fresh Basil Pesto](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/08/fresh-basil-pesto/) - Over the weekend I harvested baskets and baskets of basil and joyfully made my second batch of pesto. This rich green, earthy, aromatic sauce is such a basic Italian staple to prepare some simple, yet absolutely delicious gnocchi, pasta, and polenta. But hey, do what I do, just lather a huge spoonful on top of
- [Fresh, Sweet Strawberry Ice Cream](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/06/fresh-sweet-strawberry-ice-cream/) - In a small bowl, combine the strawberries with the lemon juice and 1/2 cup of the sugar.Stir gently and allow the strawberries to macerate in the juices for 2 hours. Strain the berries, reserving juices. Mash or purée half the berries. In a medium mixing bowl, use a hand mixer on low speed to combine the milk and
- [Risotto with Porcini Mushrooms and Mascarpone Cheese](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/04/risotto-with-porcini-mushrooms-and/) - 1-1/2 cups boiling water1/2 cup dried porcini mushrooms (about 1/2 ounce)1 14-oz can less-sodium beef brothCooking spray1 cup uncooked Arborio rice or other short-grain rice (such as Carolina Gold Rice)3/4 cup chopped shallots2 garlic cloves (minced (I doubled this))1/2 cup dry white wine1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese1/2 cup mascarpone cheese3 Tbsp. half and half (my
- [Raspberry and Italian Mascarpone Stuffed French Toast](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/03/raspberry-italian-mascarpone-stuffed/) - For The Stuffed French ToastCooking spray12 slices white bread (cut into pieces (best to use a hardier bread such as Italian or Challah, older bread is also good to use))2 8oz packages mascarpone, scooped out into chunks2 cups fresh raspberries (divided)12 eggs (beaten)2 cups half and half1/2 cup maple syrupFor The Raspberry Sauce2 cups
- [Cheesy, Creamy Baked Orzo with Fontina and Peas](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/03/cheesy-creamy-baked-orzo-with-fontina/) - 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth1 pound orzo pasta4 Tbsp. butterCooking spray for the baking pan1 onion (chopped)2 large cloves of garlic (minced (my own addition))8 oz. white mushrooms (wiped, trimmed, sliced (I used Baby Bellas, add another 8 oz. of prefered))1 cup Marsala wine1 cup heavy cream (original recipe calls for 1/2 cup)4 oz. shredded
- [Italian Sausage, Peppers and Mushrooms on Toasted Garlic Buns](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/02/italian-sausage-and-peppers-on-garlic-buns/) - 6 – 8 links of sweet (mild Italian sausages (or if you can find it, Italian turkey sausage))1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil8 – 10 cloves of garlic (sliced into slivers, not minced or pressed)1 lb. crimini or baby portabello mushrooms (cleaned with a cloth, stem ends trimmed, and sliced)2 large yellow onions (cut in
- [Prosciutto, Fresh Fig, and Manchego Cheese Sandwiches](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2010/10/prosciutto-fresh-fig-and-manchego/) - 4 teaspoons Dijon mustard8 thickly sliced Italian bread (toasted)1 cup arugula ((I used red leaf lettuce for brighter color, plus arugula was unavailable in the market))2 ounces very thinly sliced prosciutto (of course, I added more to my sandwich . . . yum!)2 ounces thinly sliced Manchego cheese (again, I added more, and used 1-year
- [Cool Summer Cocktails from the Tropics - Honolulu, Hawaii](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2010/08/ahhhh-cool-summer-cocktails-from/) - 1 oz. coconut syrup2 ozs. pineapple juice2 ozs. light rumSplash vanilla ice milk (or ice cream)1/2 cup ice1/2 a banana, optional1 1/2 ozs. strawberry puree (we like another ounce added for more strawberry-ness!) Blend all ingredients except strawberry puree.Pour into a cocktail glass and gently pour in the strawberry puree (which is to resemble ‘lava
- [Good Eats and Treats at the SC Annual BBQ Festival](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2010/07/sc-bbq-festival-photos-coming-saturday/) - It's that time of year again when serious barbeque competitors work the competitive Bar-B-Que circuit to determine who's got the best rubs, sauces, and smokin' secrets. Every year in the Southeast, one of the more popular BBQ competitions takes place in our nearby little city. So as usual, we followed our noses to the
- [Cheesy Southern Pimento Cheese Burgers](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2010/06/cheesey-southern-pimento-cheese-burgers/) - . Before my family and I moved to the Southern region of the U.S. I had already fallen in love with Southern cooking through the hundreds of mouth-watering recipes that I read from my subscription to Southern Living magazine. In many of those recipes, I would come across an ingredient that was simply impossible
- [Top o' The Mornin' to Ya On St. Patrick's Day](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2010/03/top-o-mornin-to-ya-on-st-patricks-day/) - Happy St. Patrick's Day Friends! I'm so busy with the last half of the spring semester at work, that I have nothing to show for baking or cooking for this little Irish celebration day. Just a quick look at a photo of one of the NUMEROUS Irish pubs that we saw last week in
- [Strawberry (Fragole) Shortcake with Marsala](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2010/05/what-are-you-cooking-up-with-all/) - Fresh strawberries (fragoli) from local farmers market -- 3 inches high! Are you having just the most beautiful spring like we are having down here in the South? With weekly rains we have been basking in one of the most lush and green springs that I have ever seen! And the STRAWBERRIES are just the
- [A Beautiful and Delicious Week on Hilton Head Island, SC](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2010/05/beautiful-and-delicious-week-on-hilton/) - I just spent a glorious week with my husband on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina for some simple and hard-to-find rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation for the mind, body and soul. This was just the restoration that both of us needed after nine months of teaching college students. We love staying at destinations before the Kindergarten
- [The BEST Guacamole!](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2010/02/guacamole-for-super-bowl/) - "ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?" Well, the big American football day is nearly here . . . and even though most folks are focused on the game, I know that I'm going to focus on preparing and presenting all of the food while W.D. sits in his "man-chair" with remote control in hand! (Yes,
- [Povitisa Cinnamon Nut Bread](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2009/12/povitisa-cinnamon-nut-bread/) - Everyone has their own cherished holiday traditions that are lovingly passed down through the generations of their family. And many of these special traditions are edible treats! I'm not sure how many of you are or are not familiar with an incredibly sweet and dense bread filled with a thick cinnamon-nut filling that I am
- [Chicken Broth for Tortellini (Brodo di Pollo)](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2009/11/chicken-broth-for-tortellini-brodo-di/) - This chicken broth is the traditional, classic recipe used in Tortellini en Brodo from Emilia-Romagna in Italy, and my family's recipe archives.
- [Green Bean Casserole with Pancetta, Porcini and Parmesan](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/11/green-bean-casserole-with-pancetta-porcini-and-parmesan/) - Through the years of adding and subtracting various dishes to my family’s Thanksgiving table, the one dish unanimously voted to ELIMINATE, as in ‘STOP making this!’ has been Green Bean Casserole! With the canned cream of mushroom soup, canned mushrooms, the overcooked large green beans, and the canned fried onions, the old recipe was just a bunch
- [Tortellini en Brodo](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2009/01/tortellini-en-brodo/)
- [Favorite Holiday Cherry Pie](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2008/12/favorite-holiday-cherry-pie/) - The most simple, yet delicious cherry made with a "no fail" pie crust -- guaranteed! This is an old, classic family recipe that always delights everyone!
- [Roast Pork with Garlic and Thyme](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2008/10/roast-pork-with-garlic-and-thyme/) - Well, the Carolinas have felt the cold wave that has been blowing through for the last few days. My summer flowers are now shriveled up and ready to sleep for the winter. I'll rake them up this weekend and place them in the compost pile for Mother Nature to 're-use'. I have not posted in
- [Luscious Fresh Peach Ice Cream](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/08/luscious-fresh-peach-ice-cream/) - This peach ice cream by David Lepovitz (The Perfect Scoop) is just outstanding! Easy & delicious! Fresh or frozen peaches give consistently good results!
- [Copycat Coleslaw ~ Kentucky Fried Chicken KFC](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/07/copycat-coleslaw-kentucky-fried-chicken-kfc/) - This delicious copycat recipe for KFC's coleslaw is as close as you can get to the secret recipe. It's always a hit and you'll love it too! I hope you try it!
- [White Chocolate Drizzled Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2023/11/white-chocolate-drizzled-cranberry/) - Biscotti (or contucci which is what my family calls them) have been baked for Christmas in my family since I can't remember when. As one of our favorite treats, it simply would not be the holidays without these wonderful Italian cookies. And our current favorite is my White Chocolate Drizzled Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti.
- [Traditional Italian Almond Contucci (Biscotti)](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2010/12/traditional-italian-almond-contucci/) - .When all of the families in my Midwestern hometown were baking and enjoying sugar cookies for Christmas, my mother would be baking traditional Italian contucci (biscotti) cookies. She also made Amaretto balls and Spritz cookies (which I loved). But as a child, I didn't care for contucci very much because the cookies were not as
- [New Orleans Bread Pudding with Caramel Whiskey Sauce](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/03/bread-pudding-caramel-whiskey-sauce/) - Hello gorgeous Bread Pudding! Why do you visit so seldomly? So simple and humble, so comforting and delightful, yet always leaving my family and guests with united sighs of "m-mmm's and a-hhh's" on top of tears of gratitude and joy for your rare presence on the table. Praise the heavens above for the simplicity and
- [Blood Orange and Salmon Salad with Blood Orange Vinaigrette](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2018/02/blood-orange-salmon-salad-blood-orange-vinaigrette/) - "I normally don't like leafy salads, but this salad is really good!" . . . unexpected words coming from my iceberg-lettuce-loving husband when I prepared this Blood Orange and Salmon Salad with Blood Orange Vinaigrette. I love it when that reaction happens! I realize that we're still in the midst of winter and that I
- [Glühwein German Mulled Wine / Munich & Nuremburg](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/12/gluhwein-german-mulled-wine/) - Make traditional Glühwein German mulled wine at home with red wine, warming spices, and citrus—an iconic drink from German Christmas markets.
- [Belgian Endive Bites with Salmon and Tuna Salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/01/belgian-endive-bites-salmon-and-tuna-salad/) - 1 large can red salmon (drained well)1 large can good quality white tuna (drained well)1 bunch green onions (sliced very thin or chopped)4 - 5 heads of Belgian endive½ cup slivered almonds½ cup pomegranate arils2 Tbsps. fresh Italian parsley (finely minced)Your favorite Italian balsamic vinaigretteFreshly cracked sea salt and black pepper2 - 3 cups baby
- [Blackberry and Blueberry Limoncello Tarts](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2026/06/blackberry-and-blueberry-limoncello-tarts/) - Blackberry and Blueberry Limoncello Tarts are bright, buttery, and bursting with berries, lemony Italian flavor, and an elegant summer dessert charm.
- [Blueberry and Limoncello Cream Parfaits](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/06/blueberry-and-limoncello-cream-parfaits/) - 1 tub mascarpone cheese1 small jar lemon curd1 Tbsp. limoncello1 tsp. freshly-squeezed lemon juice1 cup heavy cream¼ cup sugarlemon pound cake (sliced or cubed)3 cups fresh blueberries2 cups blueberry sauce or pie filling20 shortbread cookies In a medium-sized bowl, blend mascarpone cheese, lemon curd, limoncello, lemon juice, cream, and sugar.In a small-bowl, gently mix 1
- [The Viral Green Goddess Salad Recipe Review](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2026/05/the-viral-green-goddess-salad-recipe-review/) - Andiamo a cucina! (Let's go to the kitchen) Ingredients you'll need for Green Goddess Dressing For the Dressing Mayonnaise, sour cream, or Greek yogurt, or a mix of any of these for the creamy base Whole milk or buttermilk to use if the dressing is too thick and needs a more fluid consistency. Herbs: These
- [Strawberry Cake with Sweet Mascarpone Cream](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2026/05/strawberry-cake-with-sweet-mascarpone-cream/) - Fresh strawberry cake with juicy berries and creamy Italian mascarpone icing—an elegant dessert perfect for spring, summer, birthdays, and celebrations.
- [Cheesy ELOTE Mexican Street Corn Dip](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2022/06/cheesy-elote-mexican-street-corn-dip/) - My family is crazy about corn! Being from Iowa that should not be a big surprise. But we've found some super sweet corn at our favorite road side stand here in the Carolina's. It's in season right now, but if you're reading this recipe out of season, frozen corn will do just fine. This delicious
- [Baja Fish Tacos with Chipotle, Cilantro & Lime Crema](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2026/05/baja-fish-tacos-with-chipotle-cilantro-lime-crema-recipe/) - Make the best fish tacos w/ tender seasoned fish, fresh toppings, & a creamy sauce. Perfect for dinner & entertaining, you'll save this recipe to serve forever.
- [20 Delicious Cinco de Mayo Recipes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2026/04/delicious-cinco-de-mayo-recipes/) - Celebrate with 20 festive Cinco de Mayo recipes, including easy dips, salsas, tacos, sides, drinks, and desserts for a flavorful Mexican-inspired feast.
- [Top Secret Tips on How to Grow The Best Tomatoes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2026/04/5-tips-to-grow-outstanding-tomatoes/) - "How do you get such huge, flavorful tomatoes and how do you get such a bumper-crop of tomatoes?" I'm always asked this question and so now I'm going to give you all of my 'dirty' little secrets to growing the best, most flavorful tomatoes that produce in large quantities! I have been growing tomatoes since
- [The Best Classic Egg Salad, Thick and Not Runny](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2026/04/classic-egg-salad-sandwich/) - Discover the best creamy egg salad — rich, tangy, & perfectly seasoned. Quick, easy, & classic: perfect for sandwiches, brunch, or a simple, satisfying lunch.
- [How To Make Classic Italian Potato Focaccia Barese](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/11/how-to-make-classic-italian-potato-focaccia-barese/) - Potato Focaccia is moist, pillowy soft, fluffy with a distinctive 'chew', and crispy crust. Enjoy as a snack, part of lunch, or with antipasto. It's addictive!
- [How To Make Classic, Authentic Italian Minestrone Soup](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2026/01/classic-italian-minestrone-soup/) - With clearly written and photo instructions, learn how to make classic, authentic Italian minestrone from Roz Corieri Paige from "La Bella Vita Cucina" & "Nonna's Italian Kitchen."
- [Italian Lentil Soup New Year's Tradition](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/12/italian-lentil-soup-new-years-tradition/) - A classic and authentic Italian Lentil Soup, delicious served anytime, but most especially on New Year's Eve (or Day) for good fortune.
- [Blood Orange and Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2020/01/blood-orange-and-raspberry-swilr-cheesecake-2/) - Beautiful color and fresh citrus flavor will make you smile in the dead of winter with this Blood Orange and Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake ! Cheesecake infused with the juice of sweet blood oranges from Sicily, Italy. What is it with the people of the Mediterranean? First they had blood oranges long before anyone over here on
- [30 GORGEOUS Spring and Easter Tablescape Designs and Ideas](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2026/03/spring-easter-tablescapes/) - Easily find your style for Easter and Spring decorating among any of these 30 gorgeous spring and Easter Tablescape!
- [Italian Easter Pie Torta Pasqaulina / Pizza Rustica](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2026/03/italian-easter-pie-torta-pasqualina/) - Discover the traditional Italian Easter Pie—Torta Pasqualina (Pizza Rustica) with savory cheese, eggs. & Italian meats in this classic holiday recipe.
- [Italian Mascarpone and Ricotta Cheesecake with Raspberry Almond Crust](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/05/italian-mascarpone-and-ricotta-cheesecake-with-raspberry-almond-crust/) - Enjoy this recipe for a creamy mascarpone and ricotta cheesecake!
- [Risotto alla Milanese](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2026/02/risotto-alla-milanese/) - Risotto alla Milanese is one of those all-time Northern Italian classics! Personally, I think that rice is just one of those blessings from God in that you can prepare so many, many recipes with rice . . . from salads, to side dishes, to main entree's and even desserts (think rich rice pudding)! With Learn how to make authentic, classic risotto alla Milanese with saffron, butter, and Parmigiano cheese.
- [White Bolognese ~  Ragu Bianco Sauce](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2026/03/white-bolognese-ragu-bianco-sauce/) - Authentic White Bolognese (Ragù Bianco) is a rich Italian meat sauce made without tomatoes. Slow-simmered with herbs and aromatics, it’s perfect for pasta.
- [21 BEST Cranberry Recipes To Enjoy the Holidays](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2021/11/21-best-cranberry-recipes-holidays/) - Discover the best, festive, and delicious cranberry recipes for the holidays that celebrate the bright flavor of fresh cranberries.
- [Must-See Sights in Milan: Best Attractions in Italy’s Most Stylish City](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2026/02/must-see-sights-in-milan-best-attractions-in-italys-most-stylish-city/) - Explore the must-see sights in Milan, from the Duomo to The Last Supper to La Scala and the Fashion District. Your ultimate guide to Italy’s most stylish city.
- [Cinnamon Apple and Cream Cheese Filled Mardi Gras King Cake](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/02/cinnamon-apple-and-cream-cheese-filled/) - The ultimate Cinnamon Apple and Cream Cheese Mardi Gras King Cake! Read the reviews and you'll know how delicious this is!
- [Mopa Mopa Native Handmade Crafts:  What To Buy On Aruba](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/05/mopa-mopa-handmade-crafts-what-to-buy-on-aruba/) - Besides cooking and gardening, I am crazed about travel. During a recent trip to Aruba, I discovered Mopa Mopa hand made crafts that are some of the most extraordinary crafts of all that I know of. I have been wanting to share about something special that I discovered during our trip to Aruba in Learn about this incredible and beautiful hand made indigenous craft from Aruba's Mopa Mopa. These are NOT painted, but instead use a unique layering technique.
- [Italian Fried Stuffed Olives   ~ Olive all’ Ascolana](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/12/italian-fried-stuffed-olives-olive-all-ascolana-sundaysupper/) - Your guests will go crazy over these delicious Italian Fried Stuffed Olives. Very common in Italy, so be the one to introduce these extraordinary olives!
- [Osso Buco - Classic Milan, Italy (Milanese) Cuisine](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2026/02/osso-buco-classic-milan-italy-milanese-cuisine/) - Wherever we travel, we always, ALWAYS order native, traditional, and local specialties! One of the most infamous and delicious recipes from Milan is Osso Buco. During our visit to this beautiful northern Italian city, my husband and I both enjoyed Osso Buco (which means "bone with a hole": osso=bone, buco=hole), the name references the marrow filled-hole
- [The BEST Italian Ricotta Cookies](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/12/italian-ricotta-cookies/) - These are the most delicious Italian Ricotta Cookies ever. Super moist and delicate, and pure enjoyment when baking them! They disappear in a flash!
- [What to Do With 30 Amalfi Lemons From Italy](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2026/01/what-to-do-with-30-amalfi-lemons-from-italy/) - Discover delicious ways to use Amalfi Lemons — from lemon curd and crostate to cakes, lemon sugar, and simple preserves to save every drop.
- [Best Nutella Recipes & A Visit to the First Nutella Cafe' -- in Chicago, USA](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2026/02/best-nutella-recipes-a-visit-to-the-first-nutella-cafe-in-chicago-usa/) - Ah, Nutella®! You wondrous Italian concoction! Is it no wonder that the world has had a love affair with you through the years? I mean, come on. . . what is there NOT to love about this ooey, gooey, nutty, and oh so irresistable hazelnut chocolate spread? To celebrate World Nutella® Day, I'm sharing my
- [Scottish Cranachan Italian Cheesecake ~ Burn's Night](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2026/01/scottish-cranachan-italian-cheesecake-burns-night/) - Here are more amazing cheesecakes that you may enjoy! How To Make The Best Cheesecake Blood Orange & Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake Chocolate Mocha Mousse Espresso Cheesecake New York Cheesecake (CopyCat) Scottish Cranachan Italian Cheesecake This delightful cheesecake combines Scottish Cranachan and Italian Cheesecake. The Scottish ingredients for this unique cheesecake include Scottish steel-cut oats and This Scottish cranachan Italian cheesecake blends creamy mascarpone, honey, raspberries, and oats into a stunning dessert.
- [Italian 7 Layer Dip ~ and more!](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/05/italian-7-layer-dip-and-more/) - This hot Italian 7 Layer Dip is loaded with bold flavors. One bite will keep you coming back for more. Serve to a hungry crowd! It disappears quickly!
- [The Talisman of Happiness - A Timeless Italian Cookbook](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2026/01/the-talisman-of-happiness-a-timeless-italian-cookbook/) - Why The Talisman of Happiness remains a timeless Italian cookbook—celebrated for its practical recipes, tradition, and enduring home-cooking wisdom.
- [Mamma Agata's Cooking School in Ravella, Italy - A Culinary Wish Come True](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2026/01/mamma-agatas-cooking-school-in-ravella-italy-a-culinary-wish-come-true/) - Make Mamma Agata’s famous tomato sauce at home—an iconic Amalfi Coast recipe made with simple ingredients, tradition, and authentic Italian flavor.
- [Veal Saltimbocca -- A Beloved Roman Classic](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/10/veal-saltimbocca-roman-classic/) - Tender veal saltimbocca simmered with prosciutto, sage, and white wine—an elegant yet simple Italian classic perfect for weeknights or guests.
- [How To Make Copycat Panera Asiago Cheese Bread](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/02/how-to-copycat-panera-asiago-cheese-bread/) - Warm, rustic, and full of cheesy goodness. Make Panera’s Asiago Cheese bread at home with this easy copycat recipe—perfec with soups, sandwiches, and sharing.
- [Pork Lettuce Wraps -- How To Use Ground Pork {KETO}](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2026/01/pork-lettuce-wraps-how-to-use-ground-pork-keto/) - Quick pork lettuce wraps with juicy ground pork, garlic-ginger flavor, and crisp lettuce cups. Better than takeout and perfect for busy nights.
- [Panna Cotta with Strawberry Coulis (Fragole) from Bologna, Italy](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2020/05/panna-cotta-with-strawberry-coulis-fragole-from-bologna-italy/) - This panna cotta with strawberry coulis is smooth, creamy, and beautifully simple—an easy Italian dessert perfect for any occasion.
- [Cheesy Italian Meatball Sandwich](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/01/cheesy-italian-meatball-sandwich-grinder-sundaysupper/) - These aren't your ordinary Italian meatballs in this sandwich! Their flavor is enhanced by the addition of prosciutto, pancetta, and mild Italian sausage which take these Italian Meatball Sandwiches over the TOP! A layer of cheese and sauce underneath the meatballs as well as over the meatballs makes this extra cheesier! For the Meatballs3 Tbsp.
- [Italian Cabbage Soup ~ Zuppa alla Valpellinese](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2026/01/italian-cabbage-soup-zuppa-alla-valpellinese/) - Cozy Italian cabbage soup from Valle d’Aosta—layers of tender cabbage, crusty bread, Fontina, and broth baked until bubbly and golden. Pure comfort.
- [Valle d’Aosta Cuisine: Italy’s Alpine Comfort Food](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/12/valle-daosta-cuisine-italys-alpine-comfort-food/) - Discover the cozy Alpine cuisine of Italy’s Valle d’Aosta — hearty polenta, melty Fontina cheese, and rustic comfort foods that warm the soul.
- [Copycat Carrabba's Tagliarini Picchi Pacchiu, Linguine Toscana](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/02/copycat-carrabbas-tagliarini-picchi-pacchiu-linguine-toscana/) - This is as close as any recipe can get to the famous and delicious Carrabba's Tagliarini Picci Pacchiu! It's so easy and everyone loves it!
- [The Ultimate Spinach Salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/04/the-ultimate-spinach-salad/) - This is the ultimate spinach salad, perfect anytime of year! Full of chopped bacon, eggs, and crunchy water chestnuts. The tangy dressing is amazing! Love it!
- [Befanini - La Befana Italian Cookies for Epiphany](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2026/01/befanini-la-befana-italian-cookies-for-epiphany/) - Befanini are sweet, decorated Italian sugar cookies to celebrate La Befana (night before Epiphany) in Italy. Enjoy any time of year. Use icing instead of glaze
- [Incredible Pot Roast](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2009/02/incredible-pot-roast-recipe/) - Well, here we are in the second week of February and it's time to prepare something for my sweetie for his birthday. He placed a special request for my pot roast POT ROAST! This is really, hearty, rib-stickin' meat 'n potatoes fare, perfect for cold February days. This recipe IS DIVINE! And it DOES NOT
- [Rosmarino e' Aglio Bistecca con Risotto Quattro Formaggi (Rosemary and Garlic Steak with Four Cheese Risotto)](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2009/05/rosmarino-e-aglio-bistecca-con-risotto/) - 4 1 " thick rib eye steaks7 whole garlic cloves (peeled, and minced)1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil1 Tbsp. fresh rosemary (chopped)SaltBlack pepper (freshly ground)Risotta Quattro Formaggi (Rice with Four Cheeses)3 Tbsp. olive oil1 onion (yellow or white, finely chopped)4 large garlic cloves (finely minced)3 cups Chicken Stock/Broth (homemade is best, but canned is OK
- [Chicken in Lemon Cream Sauce . . . Pollo in Salsa di Limone e' Crema](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2009/07/chicken-in-lemon-cream-sauce-pollo-in/) - 1-1/2 pounds skinless (boneless chicken breasts)1 cup flour1 Tbsp. cornstarchMrs. Dash Garlic and Herb BlendFreshly ground Italian sea saltFreshly ground black pepper2 Tbsp. butter2 Tbsp. canola oil4 large cloves garlic (minced)1/4 cup minced onion1 lemon to 1-1/2 lemons1-1/2 cups chicken broth (brodo, which I prepare ahead and freeze)1 cup heavy cream1/3 cup capers (drained)1/4 cup
- [Amazing Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahi Mahi with Papaya Salsa](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2009/07/amazing-macadamia-nut-crusted-mahi-mahi/) - 4 six-ounce mahi mahi fresh fish fillets2 eggs (well beaten)1/4 c. Japanese panko bread crumbs1/4 c. crushed macadamia nuts1/2 tsp. grated fresh orange zest (or lemon)1/2 tsp. grated fresh lime zest1 tsp. garlic powder1 tsp. chopped fresh chives1 tsp. chopped fresh basilSea salt and freshly ground pepper (dash of each)For Papaya Salsa1/2 to 1 ripe
- [Terrific Tabouli: Wheat and Herb Salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2010/01/terrific-tabouli-wheat-and-herb-salad/) - 1-1/2 cups chopped fresh Italian parsley (stems discarded)1 Tbsp. freshly diced mint1/2 medium onion (finely chopped)3 medium tomatoes (diced)1/2 cucumber (diced)2 minced cloves of garlic1/8 tsp. salt1/8 tsp. black pepper1/4 cup bulgar (medium grade (you can also use quinoa or couscous))3 Tbsp. or more to your preference freshly squeezed lemon juice3 Tbsp. extra virgin olive
- [Creamy Risotto with Lemon, Asiago and Rosemary](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2010/02/creamy-risotto-with-lemon-asiago-and/) - 2 green onions/shallots1 stalk celery1/4 cup unsalted butter1 Tbsp olive oil1-1/3 cups risotto rice (preferably Arborio)1 quart vegetable stock1/2 lemon (zested and juiced)Needles from 2 small sprigs of fresh rosemary (finely chopped)1 tsp. minced garlic (or garlic powder -- my addition)1 egg yolk4 Tbsp grated fresh Parmesan (I used 1/2 Parm and 1/2 Asiago cheeses)4
- [Fried Green Tomatoes with Marinara Sauce and Mozzarella](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2010/06/fried-green-tomatoes-with-marinara/) - 3 to 4 medium-sized unripe green tomatoes (2-1/2 to 3-1/2 inches wide)2 Jumbo Eggs1/2 cup whole Buttermilk1 cup Italian herb-seasoned bread crumbs3 Tbsp. freshly grated Parmesan cheese2 Tbsp freshly minced garlic2 - 3 cups light Olive Oil (whatever it takes to have 2" of oil in the pan)Freshly ground Sea SaltFreshly ground Black PepperMarinara Sauce
- [Cherry Tomato Basil Pesto Sauce on Farfalle Pasta](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2010/07/sweet-cherry-tomato-basil-sauce-on/) - On a baking sheet, pour olive oil to coat it, then put your tomatoes on top and give them a swirl to dress them nicely with the olive oil. Aren't they beautiful? Chop up the basil (in a mini food processor here), add olive oil, Parmesan cheese, and garlic. Pour the basil
- [Garden Fresh Marinara Sauce](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2010/07/garden-fresh-marinara-sauce/) - 2 - 3 pounds fresh ripe (red tomatoes (Roma's and any other variety you like))2 Tbsp. olive oil4 - 5 cloves garlic (minced)1/2 onion (diced)1 stalk celery with leaves (diced)1/2 a carrot (diced)1/2 bunch Italian parsley (diced)1 tsp. Sea Salt30 basil leaves (minced) Fill a large, deep pot full of water and bring to a
- [Encrusted Ahi Tuna Pupus ~ ~ Aloha from the islands / Honolulu, Hawaii](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2010/07/aloha-from-islands-encrusted-aha-tuna/) - Tempura Batter3/4 cup all-purpose flour¼ cup cornstarch1 egg (beaten)½ cup waterSalt and pepper (to taste)Fort the Ahi Tuna Katsu2 blocks fresh ‘ahi (about 1½-2 lbs., cut into an inch tube about 6 to 8 inches long)4 sheets nori (Japanese seaweed)1 cup Tempura Batter (recipe above)1 cup panko breadcrumbsVegetable oil (enough to fill a frying pan
- [Fresh Peach Ice Cream](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2010/09/fresh-peach-ice-cream/) - 1-1/3 lbs about 4 large peaches fresh or frozen peaches (we freeze peaches every summer)3/4 cup sugar1/2 cup sour cream1 cup heavy cream1 teaspoon vanilla extract (original recipe calls for 1/4 tsp. but we like more vanilla flavor)a few drops freshly squeezed lemon juice Place a large bowl or container in the freezer to chill
- [Pasta with Three Cheeses, Prosciutto and Peas](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2010/08/pasta-with-three-cheeses-prosciutto-and/) - 4 Tbsp. High Quality Butter (I use European butter)1-1/2 cups Heavy Cream1 Tbsp. Sea Salt1/2 pound Farfalle or Fettuccine pasta2 egg yolks (I use jumbo size)1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano Regiano cheese1/4 cup freshly grated Asiago cheese1/4 cup freshly grated Fontina cheese1/8 lb. Prosciutto (diced)1 cup Green Peas (frozen or fresh, but not canned)1/2
- [Minestra di Pasta e Fagioli (Pasta and Bean Soup)](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2010/11/minestra-di-pasta-e-fagioli-pasta-and/) - Olive oil (to saute the vegetables *)5 stalks of celery (including leaves, cleaned with thick white end cut off, and then chopped *)1/2 cup chopped carrots (optional *)1 onion (chopped *)1 big bunch of Italian parsley (cleaned, stems cut off, and chopped *)4 cloves garlic minced *Optional - 4 oz. pancetta (diced (but this takes
- [Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Turkey Burgers With Basil Aioli](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/01/sun-dried-tomato-pesto-turkey-burgers-with-basil-aioli/) - 1-1/4 lb. ground turkey breast1/4 tsp. salt1/8 tsp. freshly ground black pepper1/4 cup 2 oz. crumbled goat or feta cheese (I substituted Parmesan, cuz hubby hates feta cheese)1/4 cup chopped and drained oil-packed sun-dried tomato halves (I substituded sun-dried tomato pesto instead)1 Tbsp. freshly minced garlic (this was my own addition)Cooking sprayGreen leaf lettuceWhite-wheat hamburger
- [Incredibly Good, Low Cal Pork Chops with Mustard Cream Sauce and Roasted Potatoes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/01/incredibly-good-lo-cal-pork-chops-with/) - 4 4-oz boneless center-cut loin pork chops (1″ thick)generous sprinkling of Mrs. Dash original blend (I omitted the salt and added Mrs. Dash instead)Cooking spray (preferably olive oil-based)1/2 cup fat-free (less-sodium chicken broth)1 cup fat-free half-and-half1/2 to 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard (we liked it more on the lighter mustard-y side)2 tsp. freshly squeezed lemon
- [Thai Chicken Laab Salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/01/time-for-thai-chicken-salad/) - For the dressingDouble the following ingredients2 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lime juice1/2 tsp. freshly minced ginger1 tsp. honey (preferably locally-produced)1/4 tsp. Thai chili garlic sauce (increase to taste preference)1/8 tsp. salt (preferably sea salt)1-1/2 tsp. extra-virgin olive oilFor the salad1/3 pound extra-lean freshly ground chicken breastsCooking spray2 cups chopped romaine lettuce1/2 cup shredded carrot1/4 cup red
- [Blood Orange Vinaigrette on Salmon Salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/01/blood-orange-vinaigrette-on-salmon-salad/) - For the Salad2 6-ounce salmon filetsLemon pepper seasoning (my addition)Mrs. Dash Garlic and Herb seasoning (my addition)Nature's Seasons (my addition)1 large red onion (cut into 1/2" slices and chopped)Cooking spray8 cups mixed baby salad greens (or baby spinach, or combination of both)1 red grapefruit (halved, sectioned, and removed from skin, drained.)Manchego Cheese slivers (my
- [Roast Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/01/roasting-in-cold-roast-pork-tenderloin/) - Prepare the Roasted Garlic2 full heads of garlic (cut in half)2 Tbsp. olive oilSea saltFor the Roasted Pork Tenderloin1 4-1/2 pound boneless pork tenderloinMrs. Dash Garlic & Herb salt-free seasoning (I use this all the time in place of salt that is listed in recipes)For the VinaigretteRoasted garlic (from above)1/2 cup fresh Italian parsley (chopped
- [Favorite Spicy Hot Chili For The Super Bowl](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/02/favorite-spicy-hot-chili-for-super-bowl/) - 4 Tbsp. olive oil8 large garlic cloves (minced through a garlic press)2 – 3 cups finely chopped celery (including the leaves)2 onions (finely chopped)2 large green peppers (chopped)2 lbs. ground pork4 – 5 lbs. ground lean ground round1/2 can chopped jalapeno peppers . . . or better yet (1/2 of one chopped fresh jalapeno
- [A Perfect Pork Tenderloin Roast from a Classic Cookbook](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/01/perfect-pork-tenderloin-roast-from/) - 1 4- lb pork tenderloinMarinade (double or triple the following, I do this every time so that there is an Au Jus to drizzle on top of each guest's entree If you use the amounts below, there is hardly any juice left in the pan to pass around)3 Tbsp. extra virgin olive2 Tbsp. freshly squeezed
- [Halibut in Prosciutto and Herb Cream Sauce](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/03/halibut-in-prosciutto-herb-cream-sauce/) - 1 Tbsp. olive oil1/4 cup sliced green onions/shallots4 large cloves (garlic, minced)4 8- oz. halibut fillets4 slices prosciutto (cut into strips)2 Tbsp. lemon zest4 Tbsp. chopped fresh Italian Parsley2 Tbsp. chopped fresh chives1/2 tsp. freshly grated black pepper1/4 tsp. salt1 cup white wine1 stick butter1/2 cup heavy creamjuice of 1/2 a lemon2 Tbsp. capers (rinsed)
- [Pork Medallions and Spicy Pomegranate Blueberry Reduction Sauce](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/05/pork-medallions-with-spicy-pomegranate/) - 1 1-pound pork tenderloin, cut crosswise into 3/4-inch round slices (I used two 1" thickly cut, boneless Iowa 'corn-fed' pork chops from the tenderloin).1/4 teaspoon garlic powder1/4 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon black pepperButter-flavored cooking spray1/4 cup water1/3 cup frozen pomegranate-blueberry juice concentrate (such as Old Orchard, undiluted)1 1/2 teaspoons minced chipotle chiles (canned in adobo sauce)fresh
- [Frittata with Mushrooms, Thyme, and Parmigiano Cheese](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/04/mushroom-thyme-parmigiano-fritatta/) - 3 Tbsp. butter or cooking spray16 oz. fresh mushrooms (of your choice, wiped clean, stems trimmed, sliced)6 green onions (sliced)3/4 cups egg replacement3 jumbo eggs1/4 cup half and half (or you can use whole milk)1/2 cup Parmigiano cheese (fresh and finely grated)1 1/2 Tbsp. chopped (fresh thyme leaves)optional: chopped, fresh chives and/or Italian parsleysalt to
- [Spring Salad with Strawberries and Balsamic Vinaigrette](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/05/spring-spinach-salad-with-strawberries/) - 1/8 cup sugar (you can also substitute a few Tbsp. of honey if you prefer)3/4 cup olive oil1/4 cup balsamic vinegarpinch of paprika1 tsp. fresh garlic (finely minced)1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper1/4 tsp. sea salt1/4 tsp. Worcestershire sauce1/8 tsp. dry mustard3 Tbsp. minced red onion10 oz. fresh mixed ‘mesclun’ or spring lettuce or baby
- [The Big Mama, Big Bang, Big Kahuna Burger!](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/07/big-mama-big-bang-big-kahuna-burger/) - Your mouth will stretch twice it's normal size in order to bite into this bad boy! The burger lives up to it's name: The Big Mama (because it was for me, while Bill had his own concoction), The Big Bang (for the fireworks of the 4th of July), and The Big Kahuna (in attempts to
- [Ooey, Gooey Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/06/strawberry-rhubarb-crisp/) - 5 cups fresh strawberries (sliced)4 cups rhubarb (diced)1 cup sugar5 Tbsp. flour1 - 1/2 cups old fashioned oatmeal1 cup flour1 cup brown sugar1/2 teaspoon cinnamon1 cup cold butterVanilla ice cream Add diced rhubarb to the sliced strawberries.Add sugar and flour and gently blend well.Spread this mixture into a 9 X 13" baking pan.In a
- [Chocolate Amaretti Peaches](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/07/chocolate-amaretti-peaches-dining-al/) - 1/2 cup crushed amaretti cookies (about 8 cookies)2 tablespoons brown sugar2 large ripe peaches (halved and pitted)Cooking spray4 teaspoons butter (I increased this to 4 Tbsp. – one for each peach half)dark chocolate (melted or shaved (I chose to melt the chocolate to drizzle it)) Heat up oven broiler.Combine cookie crumbs and sugar in
- [Pineapple Grill's Signature Pineapple Upside Down Cake in Caramel Rum Sauce](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/07/pineapple-grills-signature-pineapple-upside-down-cake-in-caramel-rum-sauce-is-outrageous-no-longer-available-to-diners-unless-in-private-party/) - For the Cake1 tbsp. unsalted butter1 cup granulated sugar1 egg1 tsp vanilla extract1 cup all purpose flour1 pinch salt1/2 tsp. baking soda1/2 cup sour cream1/2 cup of diced pineapple (cooked with adash of cinnamon (brown sugar and butter))2 tbsp. coconut flakes (toasted)For the Dark Rum Sauce1 tbsp. unsalted butter1 tbsp. granulated sugar1 tsp. brown sugarDash
- [Heirloom Tomato Frittata with Fresh Basil and Parmesan](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/07/heirloom-tomato-frittata-with-fresh/) - 2 – 4 Tbsp. olive oil3 jumbo eggs (beaten)1/2 small onion (chopped fine)1 medium tomato (heirloom or hybrid (regular), cut into small chunks)8 fresh basil leaves (finely chopped)3 – 4 Tbsp. freshly grated Parmigiano cheesesalt and pepper to taste Turn the oven on ‘broil’.In a small frying pan, pour 2 Tbsp. of the olive
- [Gnocchi con Zucchero e' Cannella ~ A Veronese Specialty](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/07/gnocchi-con-zucchero-e-cannella/) - Potato gnocchi - 16 oz. or about 50 dumplings8 oz. melted butter5 tsp. sugar1 ground cinnamon In salted, boiling water, cook the gnocchi for about 10 minutes or until they rise to the top of the water.Strain the cooked gnocchi and discard the water.Place the gnocchi in a medium-size pasta bowl.Pour in the melted
- [Tomato Basil Risotto](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/09/tomato-basil-risotto/) - 5 cups vegetable stock2 Tbsp. olive oil1 yellow onion (finely chopped)2 cloves of garlic (minced (my addition))1-2/3 cups Arborio rice3 cups peeled (diced, ripe tomatoes)10 large basil leaves (torn into pieces (I doubled the basil from 5 leaves))6 Tbsp. butter (I doubled the butter from 3 Tbsp.)5 oz. buffalo mozzarella (the soft cheese, not the
- [Sangria](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/01/sangria-lightened-up/) - . Sangria1 1.5-liter bottle dry red wine, divided2 Tbsp. brandy2 Tbsp. Triple Sec (orange-flavored liqueur)1/3 cup sugar2/3 cup fresh orange juice (fresh squeezed would be awesome!)2 Tbsp. fresh squeezed lime juice2 Tbsp. fresh squeezed lemon juice5 whole cloves3 whole allspice1 3-inch cinnamon stick2 cups sparkling water (chilled)8 orange wedges5 lemon slices5 lime slices Combine 1/2
- [Lemon Raspberry Cheesecake](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/09/lemon-raspberry-cheesecake/) - . For the crust3 cups graham cracker crumbs3 tablespoons sugar1-1/2 sticks salted butter (melted)For the filling2-1/2 pounds cream cheese (at room temperature)1-1/2 cups sugar5 jumbo eggs (room temperature)2 jumbo egg yolks only (room temperature)2 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice2 teaspoons pure vanilla extractFor the raspberry topping1 cup red seedless raspberry or strawberry jelly3 half-pints fresh
- [Avocado with Cilantro Jalepeno Turkey Sammie and Green Smoothie](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/01/avocado-with-cilantro-jalepeno-turkey/) - . 2 slices whole wheat bread2 Tbsp. Jalapeno Cilantro Hummus (available at Whole Foods)4 – 6 oz. sliced smoked turkey breastlettuce or spinach leaves (your choice)1/2 an avocado (sliced)2 – 3 tomato slicesa few shakes of Mrs. Dash Spicy Southwestern Spices no-salt blendSalt and Pepper to taste Toast breadSpread the hummus on both slices of
- [Snickerdoodle Simplicity ~ A Classic Treat!](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/03/snickerdoodles-simplicity-classic-treat/) - SUPER EASY! SUPER DELICIOUS! Soon to be part of your family's cookie favorites! 1 cup softened butter1-1/2 cups sugar2 jumbo eggs2-3/4 cup flour2 tsp. cream of tartar1 tsp. baking soda1/2 tsp. salt2 Tbsp. ground cinnamon2 Tbsp. sugar Cream butter, sugar and eggs together.Stir in dried ingredients.Mix well.Chill dough.Roll into small balls.Combine the 2 Tbsp.
- [Our Super Bowl Spicy Chili](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/02/re-you-ready-for-some-football-for/) - . 4 Tbsp. olive oil8 large garlic cloves (minced through a garlic press)2 - 3 cups finely chopped celery (including the leaves)2 onions (finely chopped)2 large green peppers (chopped)2 lbs. ground pork4 lbs. lean ground round (you can also use ground turkey in this recipe)1/2 can chopped jalapeno peppers . . . or better yet
- [Steaks with Mushroom Sauce and Garlic-Chive Potatoes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/02/steaks-with-mushroom-sauce-chivegarlic/) - . 4 4-ounce boneless rib-eye steaks, trimmed (about 1 inch thick)Season with Nature's Seasons (Mrs. Dash, and any other that you prefer)3/8 teaspoon black pepper (divided)1/4 teaspoon salt (divided)1 tablespoon olive oil1 8-ounce package sliced cremini mushrooms1/4 to 1/2 cup dry red wine1/4 cup water1 - 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour2 Idaho russet potatoes1/3 cup chopped
- [Baked Spaghetti Pie ~~ Perfect Way to Use Cooked Spaghetti!](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/03/baked-spaghetti-pie-perfect-way-to-use/) - 4 cups minimum left over spaghetti in Bolognese or Marinara sauce2 jumbo eggs1 Tbsp. egg whites1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese1 large ball of fresh mozzarella (or ricotta if you prefer)1 pound ground beef or pork (or 1/2 and 1/2 of each)Seasonings of choice (I liberally sprinkle Accent, Mrs. Dash Tomato Basil Flavor, and Nature’s
- [Tres Leches Cake](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/05/oh-so-sweet-and-special-tres-leches/) - . For the Cake3 cups all cake flour (most recipes call for 2 cups of 'all-purpose' flour)3 tsp baking powder1-1/2 sticks (¾ cup butter, softened)2 cups sugar6 jumbo eggs1 cup milk1 tsp. vanilla extractpinch of saltFor the Three Milk Sauce2-½ cups heavy cream1 12-14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk1 12-14 oz. can evaporated milk1/2
- [Panko and Italian Herb~Crusted Perch Filets](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/03/panko-and-herbcrusted-perch-filets/) - 4 lake or ocean perch (or any mild-flavored white fish)1-1/2 cups panko bread crumbs1/2 cup flour1 tsp. lemon pepper seasoning1/2 tsp. garlic powder1/2 tsp. onion powder1/2 tsp. dried basil1/2 tsp. dried oregano2 Tbsp. freshly grated Parmesan cheese1/2 tsp. salt1 tsp. paprika1/4 tsp. lemon zest2 jumbo eggs1/2 stick of butter (or more if desired)1 cup
- [Wild Mushroom Agnolotti in Basil Pesto Butter](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/07/wild-mushroom-agnolotti-in-basil-pesto/) - . 1 9 oz. package of Buitoni pre-made (frozen wild mushroom agnolotti)1 stick of butter1 - 2 Tbsp. basil pesto sauce Cook the mushroom agnolotti according to package directions.Thaw out frozen basil pesto sauce.Melt butter.In a medium bowl, mix the hot butter and the basil pesto sauce.Gently place the agnolotti in the warm pesto butter.Toss
- [Roasted Cherry Tomatoes with Cheesy Breadcrumbs, Garlic and Basil](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/07/roasted-cherry-tomatoes-with-cheesy/) - . 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil30-36 cherry tomatoes (depending on size)1 Tbsp. dried Italian seasonings (any brand)3 garlic cloves (minced)1/4 cup plain dry bread crumbs1/4 cup finely grated parmesan and romano cheeseFresh cracked Sea saltFresh cracked black pepper6 - 10 Tbsp. chopped (fresh basil leaves (whatever your preference level is).)sugar if necessary (for tomatoes
- [A Fresh Thai Salad and Two Thai Dressings](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/08/a-fresh-thai-salad-and-two-thai/) - 2 cucumbers (peeled, sliced, seeds removed)2 medium garden-fresh tomatoes (sliced and halved)1 green pepper (cored, insides removed, sliced thin)1/2 red onion (chopped)1 medium carrot (sliced thin)1 tsp. minced hot red chili (Thai pepper if you have one and can handle the heat)1 head Romaine lettuce2 cups fresh bean sprouts (rinsed and clean)1 cup cilantro or
- [Fig and Arugula Salad with Gorgonzola and Balsamico Vinaigrette](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/09/fig-and-arugula-salad/) - For the Salad6 - 8 fresh black mission figs (sliced and/or halved)2 - 4 cups fresh baby arugula1/2 cup chopped walnuts1/3 cup gorgonzola cheese (crumbled)For the Balsamico Vinaigrette1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil4 - 5 Tbsp. balsamico vinegar1/4 tsp. Dijon mustard1 tsp. honey1/8 tsp. freshly cracked sea salt1/8 tsp. freshly cracked black pepper InstructionsPrepare the
- [Burgers with Smoky Bacon, Basil and Gorgonzola Cheese](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/09/burgers-with-bacon-basil-and-gorgonzola/) - 1 – 2 lbs. of the highest quality of ground bison beef/sirloin.Garlic powderDried oregano½ pound Italian Gorgonzola cheeseLarge hamburger bunsLettuce1 – 2 lbs. thick-cut smoked bacon (cooked until a crispy brown color develops)6 tomatoes12 – 15 large fresh basil leavescondiments of your choice: pickle slices (mustard, ketchup, onions, mayonnaise, etc.) Form huge ½ pound patties
- [Risotto with Porcini Mushrooms from Harry's Bar in Venice, Italy](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/10/risotto-with-porcini-mushrooms-from/) - 3 cups fresh porcini mushrooms (thinly sliced)3 Tbsp. olive oil1 garlic clove (minced)1/4 cup finely chopped Italian parsley1/2 cup dry white whinefreshly ground black pepper and sea salt to taste1 recipe Risotto Parmigiana (** see below) Clean the porcini mushrooms by gently brushing or wiping away any dirt.Wipe the mushrooms with a slightly damp paper
- [Polenta, Creamy or Fried](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/12/polenta-creamy-or-fried/) - 6 cups water2 cups ground polenta or yellow cornmeal2 tsp. salt Bring water to a boil with salt in a 4-quart heavy pot.Slowly add polenta, whisking while pouring.Cook over medium heat while whisking for 2 minutes.Reduce heat to low.Cover and simmer polenta, stir for 1 minute after every 10 minutes of cooking.Cook for a total
- [Pot Roast with Vegetables, Garlic and Porcini Mushrooms](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2013/01/pot-roast-with-vegetables-garlic/) - 3 - 4 pounds boneless chuck roast2 Tbsp canola oil (olive oil burns too easily, so I definitely do not recommend olive oil)Mrs. Dash Garlic and Herb blendNature's Seasons1 large onion (chopped)8 large cloves of garlic (peeled, smashed, and chopped)1/2 cup red wine (I use a Meritage blend)1 cup water with 3 - 4 tsps.
- [Pork Chops alla Marsala with Risotto alla Milanese](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2013/02/pork-chops-ala-marsala-with-risotto/) - 2 - 4 pork chops2 tablespoons olive oil2 tablespoons unsalted butter2 minced garlic cloves1 yellow or red onion cut into rings1 box of crimini mushrooms left whole (stems removed)¾ cup sweet Marsala wine¾ cup chicken broth3 tablespoons mascarpone cheesefresh thyme and parsley Sprinkle chops with salt and pepper, add to a heated skillet with 1
- [pork saltimbocca with creamy polenta](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2013/04/pork-saltimbocca-with-creamy-polenta/) - For the Pork6 4-ounce boneless center-cut loin pork chops, trimmed of any fat6 very thin slices prosciutto (I doubled this)6 large fresh sage leaves12 thin slices of fontina cheese1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper1/8 teaspoon salt2 tablespoons all-purpose flour1 tablespoon olive oil1/2 cup dry white wine1 cup fat-free (less-sodium chicken broth)1 tablespoon thinly sliced fresh
- [Tortellini alla Panna with Prosciutto and Peas](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2013/04/tortellini-alla-panna-with-prosciutto-and-peas/) - 100 - 200 tortellini (homemade, if at all possible . . . (my recipe and step-by-step instructions are available by a search on the blog's sidebar))1 Tbsp. olive oil2 Tbsp. freshly grated sea salt1-1/2 sticks of good quality butter1 cup green peas (frozen is fine, just have them thawed out)1/2 cup prosciutto (chopped (or a
- [Creamy, Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2013/04/awesome-guacamole-a-cinco-de-mayo-giveway/) - The merry month of May brings so many wonderful events to celebrate life in a delicious and beautiful way! Where does one begin? On Mother's Day we pay tribute to all of our wonderful mothers. We applaud at Graduations for those who have worked so hard for years to achieve their educational goals (my personal
- [Superb Spicy Fried Buttermilk-Garlic Chicken](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2013/06/superb-spicy-fried-chicken/) - 1 one 3 to 4 lb. chicken, cut into pieces (breasts, wings, thighs, drumstick legs)To Marinate Chicken:6 - 8 medium cloves of garlic (finely minced)2 cups buttermilk1 tsp. ground cumin1/2 tsp. freshly cracked black pepper1/4 tsp. cayenne pepperBreading for the Chicken:1-1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour1-3/4 tsp. freshly cracked sea salt1-1/2 tsp. freshly cracked black pepper1/2
- [Italian Tuna Pasta Salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2013/07/italian-tuna-pasta-salad/) - 1/2 package of Farfalle (butterfly pasta (100% semolina flour),)1 can Italian tuna packed in olive oil (drained)2 large garlic cloves (minced)1/4 cup sliced dried sun-dried tomatoes1 - 2 jumbo green olives (diced)4 artichoke hearts (from a can and not marinated)3 slices of prosciutto (diced/sliced into slivers)1/2 red onion (diced)3 tsp. capers1 tsp. fresh thyme (simply
- [Peach Bundt Cake with Amaretto Cream Glaze](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2013/07/peach-bundt-cake-amaretto-cream-glaze/) - For the Cake3 sticks butter (softened to room temperature)2-1/4 cups sugar6 jumbo eggs3 cups flour3/4 tsp. baking soda1/2 tsp. salt1 cup sour cream1 tsp. almond extract1 Tbsp. vanilla extract2 tsp. Amaretto Liquor2-1/2 cups fresh peaches (diced and well drained, set any juice aside to use in the glaze.)For the Amaretto Cream Glaze2 cups powdered sugar4
- [Cheesy Artichoke and Garlic Bread](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2014/02/cheesy-artichoke-garlic-bread-super-bowl/) - 3 Tbsp. olive oil1 - 2 14-oz cans artichoke hearts, drained and chopped (use what you like, but at least use a minimum of one can)3 - 4 large cloves of fresh garlic (minced)4 green onions (sliced)1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese½ cup Mozzarella cheese (or ½ cup Italian blend cheese, shredded)½ cup Fontina cheese
- [Fudgy Dark Chocolate Brownies with Raspberry Sauce](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2014/02/fudgy-dark-chocolate-brownies-raspberry-sauce-sunday-supper/) - 1 - 4.9 oz 140 g. dark chocolate1 stick plus 1 Tbsp. butter (room temperature)1 cup plus 2 Tbsp. sugar3 jumbo eggs (room temperature)1 tsp. vanilla1 cup flourRaspberry Sauce1 package fresh raspberries (or 1 bag frozen raspberries)Sugar to taste.Garnish:Powdered SugarFresh Raspberries Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.Melt chocolate (I use the microwave and it usually
- [Raspberry and Lemon Curd Mascarpone Stuffed French Toast](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2014/04/raspberry-mascarpone-cheese-stuffed-french-toast/) - . I just love a leisurely brunch on the weekend, don't you? . And one of my favorite recipes that has already been published Raspberry and Mascarpone Stuffed French Toast (click here for the recipe), is a beloved recipe that I wanted to tweak to try something new to serve our guests that we are hosting
- [Limoncello and Raspberry Prosecco Cocktails](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2014/05/limoncello-raspberry-prosecco-cocktails/) - Prosecco or other sparkling wine (chilled)Limoncello liqueur (chilled)fresh raspberries Chill both the Prosecco and Limoncello in the freezer for a minimum of 6 hours (it's alcohol so it will be just fine).Chill your glasses in either the refrigerator or freezer as well for about 30 minutes.Lay the raspberries on a baking sheet and freeze.At time
- [Farfalle with Asparagus, Peas and Pancetta in Cream Sauce](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2014/05/farfalle-asparagus-peas-pancetta-cream-sauce/) - 1-½ cups pancetta (diced into ¼” cubes (you could also use thick cut bacon if you can’t find pancetta in your area))1 cup of the top tips of asparagus cut off into 1 to 2 inch lengths2 large garlic cloves (minced)1 cup of fresh or frozen spring peas¼ cup fresh Italian parsley (finely chopped)½ box
- [Nutella and Pistachio Gelato](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2014/07/13091/)
- [Fresh Peach Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2014/07/fresh-peach-summer-salad-raspberry-vinaigrette/) - For the SaladMixed spring lettuceRadicchio3 - 4 fresh peaches (pit removed, and sliced)1 - 2 cups red raspberries5 - 6 red radishes (sliced)Freshly-cracked black pepper to tasteCrumbled goat cheese (optional)Slivered almonds (optional)For the Raspberry Vinaigrette1 cup red raspberries2 Tbsp. champagne vinegar¼ cup olive oil4 - 5 tsp. honey (added to your taste preference)2 Tbsp. water¼
- [AUTHENTIC Pure, Simple and Fresh Italian Marinara Sauce](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2014/07/authentic-pure-simple-fresh-italiantomato-sauce/) - No commercial jarred tomato sauce can ever beat the fresh taste of home canned/jarred tomatoes from your gardens or farmers' markets. Although time-consuming, this labor of love is totally worth it each and every time to make your recipes simply more DELICIOUS than ever!!! 10 lbs. garden-fresh tomatoes (imported canned Italian San Marzano tomatoes can
- [Tuscan Bistecca Fiorentina](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2014/09/tuscan-bistecca-fiorentina/) - T-bone or Porterhouse steaks (cut 3 – 4 (man-sized) fingers thick, if possible dry-aged)Extra Virgin Olive OilFreshly cracked Sea SaltFreshly ground black pepperLemon Wedges (optional) Take steak out of refrigerator for one to two hours before grilling and bring down to room temperature.Generously sprinkle with Sea Salt and fresh pepper to form a crust when
- [Superb, Authentic Pimento Cheese Recipe ~ Okra Grill, South Carolina](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2014/11/superb-authentic-pimento-cheese-recipe/) - This is a recipe for restaurant quantity; divide it down to be more of a manageable size for your serving needs. 10 lb. sharp Cheddar Cheese (shredded)4 cups fresh red pimentos (pickled, and the juice)5 lb. pepper jack cheese (shredded)2 cups pickled jalapeños (diced)1 gallon Duke's mayonnaise3 lb. cream cheese (softened)¼ cup kosher or sea
- [Italian Turkey Meatballs](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2014/11/italian-turkey-meatballs/) - 1 lb. ground turkey1 lb. ground Italian sausage1 cup Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs1 cup fresh Italian parsley (chopped)1-½ cups Parmesan cheese (finely grated)1-½ cup Pecorino-Romano cheese (finely grated)2 jumbo eggs1 large onion (finely chopped)1 cup finely chopped celery4 large cloves garlic (minced)½ cup fresh basil (finely chopped)¼ cup fresh oregano (finely chopped)2 tsp. fresh-ground sea salt1
- [7 Tips For A Great Salad -- Grilled Salmon and Mixed Greens Salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/01/7-tips-great-salad-grilled-salmon-mixed-greens-salad/) - 1 salmon filet (grilled)2 cups mixed greens lettuce¼ red grapefruit (sectioned and cut in half)½ avocado (cubed)¼ dried cranberries¼ cup praline pecans2 Tbsp. shaved Manchego cheeseViniagrette of choice Grill salmon.While salmon is grilling, place a nice bed of lettuce on salad plates.Place grapefruit and salmon on top of lettuce.Sprinkle dried cranberries, praline pecans, and shaved
- [Classic Italian Risotto in Bianco](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/01/classic-italian-risotto-in-bianco/) - To over HALF of the world's population, the amazing grain of rice is LIFE! So important to many cultures, rice is often offered in feasts and ceremonies, even considered 'the food of the gods'. Most Americans think that all of our rice is imported from somewhere else . . . Asia, India, or Italy. And
- [Pretty in Pink Grapefruit and Pear Smoothie](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/01/pretty-pink-grapefruit-pear-smoothie/) - 1/2 large red grapefruit (skin and pithy white lining removed)1 pear (skinned, halfed, and seeds removed)1 cup strawberry Greek yogurt1 tsp. flax seeds1 packet Stevia4 – 5 ice cubes Combine all ingredients.Pulse to blend until creamy. " thumbnail="" type="recipe"] .
- [How to Make Hand-Made Italian Ravioli](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/02/how-to-make-hand-made-italian-ravioli/) - 2 jumbo eggs1 tsp. salt2 Tbsp. water2-½ - 3 cups "00" flour from Italy1 Tbsp. whole milk (this helps the pasta seal together when twisting the tortellini) You can mix this the old-fashioned way by making a “bowl” of flour on a wooden block, placing the wet ingredients in the center of the ‘flour bowl’
- [Frittata with Swiss Chard and Italian Cheese](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/02/frittata-swiss-chard-italian-cheese/) - This recipe was first prepared by my maternal nonna, Katherine Lazzaretti Santi and shared with me by my mother Retha Santi Corieri. It is great hot or cold, and as commonly done in Italy, can be taken to work for lunch or on a picnic or outing. 5 jumbo eggsLeft-over ravioli swiss chard filling½ cup
- [Where To Eat in St. Thomas - Mafolie and Potfish and VooDoo Punch Recipe](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/03/where-to-eat-in-st-thomas-mafolie-recipe-potfish/) - THE VOO DOO PUNCH at MAFOLIE blends SIX types of Caribbean RUMS in their version that is NOT included in this recipe found on the web. Therefore use the SIX (6) rums of your choice when preparing this concoction! This makes enough for a party of a LOT of people! This classic Caribbean rum
- [Risi e Bisi - A Classic from Venice](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/03/risi-e-bisi-a-classic-from-venice/) - This is a classic springtime recipe using fresh from the garden peas. It is not a true risotto, since it is eaten more as a soup, but if you like, you can add the broth/stock more slowly and stir until absorbed in the traditional manner for risotto . . . and have a thicker version.
- [Grilled Portobello and Cheese Melts with Smoky Red Pepper Mayonnaise](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/05/grilled-portobello-cheese-melts-with/) - 4 large Portobello Mushroom capsOlive oil cooking spray4 slices Provolone cheese (I added this and used low-sodium)Finely shredded Mozzarella cheese6 - 8 Tbsp. freshly grated Parmigiano-Regiano cheese (I increased this from 2 Tbsp.)Smoky Red Pepper Mayo4 whole-grain Wheat Sandwich Thins (I used wheat instead of white as used in the recipe)Smoky Red Pepper Mayo1/2 cup
- [Strawberry Layer Cake with Italian Meringue Buttercream](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/05/strawberry-layer-cake-with-italian-meringue-buttercream/) - This cake may well become your next favorite for those special celebrations in life. Tucked in between the layers of fluffy white cake are huge chunks of strawberries and more Italian Meringue Buttercream. Heavenly! For the Cake3 cups cake flour½ tsp.salt2 tsp baking powder1/2 tsp baking soda3 cups sugar1 cup 2 sticks butter, softened to
- [Grilled Italian Swordfish with Creamy Lemon Caper Sauce](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/05/grilled-italian-swordfish-with-creamy-lemon-caper-sauce/) - Swordfish is at the top of our list of favorite seafish! But close behind are red snapper, maui maui, opa, and redfish. Salmon is our favorite fresh-water fish. So when swordfish goes on sale in the market . . . I make a bee line straight to the fish counter to grab some of this delicious
- [Caribbean Fried Red Snapper (Potfish)](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/05/caribbean-fried-red-snapper-potfish/) - 2 - 3 lbs Fresh Red Snapper (scales removed)1/2 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon black pepper½ cup green onions (minced)1/2 teaspoon of your favorite hot pepper sauce (I used "Frank's)1/4 teaspoon curry powder1 teaspoon Caribbean Green SeasoningCaribbean Green Seasoning4 cloves garlic (minced)1 cup flourvegetable or canola oil for frying the fish Blend all ingredients except the flour
- [Blackberry and Blueberry Bread Pudding with Limoncello Glaze](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/06/blackberry-and-blueberry-bread-pudding-with-limoncello-glaze/) - 1 large (round lemon cake with glaze (either your own cake or one purchased from local bakery))1 cup heavy cream1 cup whole milk½ cup sugar1 teaspoon vanilla3 jumbo eggsdash of salt1 tub of fresh blueberries1 tub of fresh blackberries1/3 cup sugarFor The Glaze½ cup whole milkzest and juice of ½ lemon½ tsp. Limoncello1-½ cups powdered
- [Grilled Buffalo Chicken Drummies](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/10/grilled-belleicious-chicken-is-truly/) - 8 chicken drummies / drumsticks (skin removed)1 stick of butter1/4 cup soy sauce5 Tbsp. tomato paste2 Tbsp. brown sugar (decreased from 5 Tbsp. in original recipe)2 Tbsp. Worchetshire sauce (increased from 1 Tbsp. in original recipe)2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar1 Tbsp. spicy brown mustard1 - 2 Tbsp. Texas Pete hot sauce (increased from 1
- [Six Cheese Pasta with Truffles and Prosciutto](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/09/six-cheese-pasta-with-truffles-and-prosciutto/) - 1 pound pasta (penne, orichette, cavatoppi, etc.)5 Tbsp. butter2 cups heavy cream (added to your preference of consistency in liquid)1 – 2 Tbsp. White or Black Truffle Oil or 3 ounces white truffle butter (add to your level of taste preference)½ cup Italian Fontina cheese (grated)½ cup Gruyere cheese. grated1 cup sharp (aged [b]Yellow[/b] Cheddar
- [Turkey, Pesto and Sun-Dried Tomato Wrap](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/11/turkey-pesto-sun-dried-tomato-wrap-sundaysupper/) - Tortillas (I use 'multi-grain' or wheat)Cream cheese (softened, about 5 Tbsp per wrap)Basil pesto (homemade or store-bought, about 2 Tbsp. per wrap)Lettuce leaves (any variety)sliced smoked turkey - 10 slices per wrapsun-dried tomatoes from a bag and not from a jar (about 2 Tbsp.)salt and peppergarnish: chopped tomatoes InstructionsSpread cream cheese on tortillas.Spread basil pesto
- [Rigatoni with Pesto and Parmigiano Reggiano Guest Post Chiara from La Voglia Matta](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/01/rigatoni-with-pesto-and-parmigiano-reggiano-guest-post-chiara-from-la-voglia-matta/) - Through the years of blogging, I have met some wonderful food bloggers! It's always such a pleasure to have them write a guest post for me so that I can introduce them to more readers. Today, a very special lady and fabulous cook from Italy joins me: Chiara from "La Voglia Matta". I hope
- [Sweet Clementine Orange Smoothie and 20 Citrus Recipes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/01/sweet-clementine-orange-smoothie-20-citrus-recipes/) - A super easy and yummy smoothie packed with fresh orange juice and loaded with 'good-for-you' healthy ingredients, especially Vitamin C! 6 - 8 fresh clementines (chilled ..... any amount less will have a very weak orange flavor)½ cup ice½ cup almond milk (I prefer vanilla, but plain works too)½ tsp. vanilla1 Tbsp. local honeyFor extra
- [Crunchy Chopped Thai Salad with Peanut Dressing](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/01/21014/) - DRESSINGjuice of 1 lime4 garlic cloves (minced)2 Tbsp. soy sauce2 Tbsp. honey1 Tbsp. sugar1 tsp. ginger (peeled and minced (or ½ tsp. ground ginger))2 Tbsp. cilantro (minced)pinch of crushed red pepper flakes¼ tsp. ground sea salt1/3 cup creamy peanut butter4 - 5 Tbsp. rice vinegar2 Tbsp. sesame oilIf too thick: Add either 1 Tbsp. water
- [Baked Ravioli in Basil Marinara Sauce](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/01/baked-ravioli-basil-marinara-sauce/) - 2 large garlic cloves (minced)3 Tbsp. olive oil20 - 30 homemade ravioli OR a 20-oz. bag of frozen ravioli (homemade is much better)2 quarts of homemade marinara sauce OR 2 large jars of store-bought marinara sauce1 heaping teaspoon of dry Italian seasonings (oregano, sage, rosemary, basil blend)8 oz. container of ricotta cheese1 jumbo egg4 Tbsp.
- [Italian Seasoned Salmon Burgers with Garlic Aioli](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/03/italian-seasoned-salmon-burgers-garlic-aioli/) - 1-1/2 pounds center-cut (skinless, boneless salmon fillet)1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard1 Tbsp. mayonnaise2 tsp. lemon juicezest of 1 lemon½ tsp. freshly cracked sea salt½ tsp. freshly cracked black pepper3 Tbsp. finely chopped green and red pepper2 green onions (finely chopped)1 Tbsp. capers (drained)3 garlic cloves (minced)½ cup Italian parsley (finely chopped)½ cup Pecorino Romano (grated)1 egg
- [Mini Frittata with Asparagus and Six Italian Cheeses](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/03/mini-italian-frittata-asparagus-italian-cheese-sunday-supper/) - These miniature frittatas are perfect for an Easter or springtime brunch. Adults and kids alike love these cheesy egg treats filled with asparagus and prosciutto! 1 dozen (12 jumbo eggs)Olive oil or olive oil cooking spray½ cup whole milk or heavy cream2-½ oz. prosciutto (diced into very small bits)2 cups thin asparagus (woody stems cut
- [Greek Wedding Cookies - Kourabiethes / Kourabiedes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/03/greek-wedding-cookies-kourabiethes-sundaysupper/) - 1 lb. butter (softened at room temperature (imperative))1 cup powdered sugar1 cup almonds (chopped)2 egg yolks2 tsp vanilla extract2 tsp. almond extract1 Tbsp. Amaretto¼ tsp. salt1 tsp. lemon (or orange zest)5 cups flour (sifted)1-½ tsp. baking powder5 - 8 cups powdered sugar for coating the cookies Preheat the oven at 375 F degrees.Place the chopped
- [Italian Budino with Berries, Mascarpone, and Marsala](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/04/italian-budini-with-berries-mascarpone-and-marsala/) - 8 oz. container Italian Mascarpone cheese1 cup heavy whipping cream¼ cup powdered sugar¼ cup sweet Italian Marsala wine2 cups crushed Italian Amaretti cookiesAssortment of fresh strawberries (blueberries, raspberries, and/or blackberries) With a hand-held mixer, whip mascarpone on high speed for five minutes until soft peaks form.Blend in the whipping cream.Add powdered sugar and Marsala wine
- [Gnocchi Primavera with Spring Asparagus and Peas](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/04/gnocchi-primavera-with-spring-asparagus-peas/) - 1 lb. potato gnocchi (homemade or packaged)2 - 3 Tbsp. olive oil4 Tbsp. butter½ medium size onion (diced)3 large cloves garlic (minced)Your Choice of Vegetables, What I Used1 cup broccoli (cut into small florets)1 cup green peas1 cup snap peas2 cups asparagus spears (cut into 2" long slices, dry ends discarded)1 - ½ cup sliced
- [Strawberry Bellini](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/05/strawberry-bellini/) - 3 c. strawberries1/4 c. powdered sugar2 Tbsp strawberry Moscato2 c. rose champagne or proseccoAdditional Strawberries for Garnish Puree strawberries in a blender or food processor.Strain through a sieve.Save pulp for using in smoothies or for a sauce to serve over ice cream.In a blender blend together strained strawberry juice, powdered sugar and strawberry moscato until
- [Italian Breaded Pork Scallopini](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/05/italian-breaded-pork-scallopini/) - 2 - 4 boneless pork chops1 - 2 cups Italian-seasoned panko and/or breadcrumbs (I use a combination of both)½ cup freshly grated Parmesan (Parmiggiano cheese)2 large garlic cloves (minced)2 Tbsp. dried parsley (Italian parsley if possible)2 - 3 large eggs1 cup buttermilk or whole milkolive oillemon slices¼ cup capers (drained) For the Wet Dipping BatterWith
- [Tuna and Artichoke Pasta Salad -- Pasta Fredda, Dining Al Fresco](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/05/tuna-artichoke-pasta-salad-pasta-fredda-dining-al-fresco/) - 4 cups mini-farfalle pasta (cooked very al dente, and chilled)6 oz. imported Italian tuna packed in olive oil (save about 1Tbsp. olive oil)1 can baby artichokes (cut into quarters)6 oz. Chèvre cheese with sun-dried tomatoes and garlic¼ cup sun-dried tomato vinaigrette (or your favorite vinaigrette)⅓ cup diced pimentos and juices½ cup pitted (sliced Castelvetrano olives)½
- [Espresso Brownie Parfaits with Amaretto Ice Cream & Salted Caramel Sauce](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/07/espresso-brownie-parfaits-with-amaretto-ice-cream-salted-caramel-sauce/) - Nonstick vegetable oil cooking spray1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons water1/3 cup vegetable oil2 jumbo eggs2 tablespoons espresso powder1 19.8-ounce box of your favorite brownie mix (even I cheat once in awhile!)3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chipsslivered or sliced almonds for garnish InstructionsPreheat oven to 350 degrees F.Spray a 9 by 13-inch baking pan with nonstick spray.Whisk
- [Dining on Local Traditional Hawaiian Food](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/07/eating-local-cultural-and-delicious-eats-in-hawaii/) - Bun Dough1 package dry yeast3 Tbsp. lukewarm water2 cups warm water1-1/2 Tbsp. cooking oil or shortening1/4 cup sugar3/4 tsp. salt6 cups sifted flour1/2 Tbsp. sesame oilPork Filling1 cup water2 Tbsp. cornstarch2 Tbsp. sugar1/2 tsp. salt2 - 3 cloves of garlic (minced)1 tsp. fresh ginger (minced)1 pound char siu (diced)Few drops red food coloring (optional) To
- [Pineapple Cake with Macadamia Nut Ice Cream and Caramel Pineapple Sauce](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/07/pineapple-cake-with-macadamia-nut-ice/) - 12 Tbsp. butter1 cup dark brown sugar1 tsp. cinnamon2 Tbsp. cream or whole milk2 slices of fresh pineapple (core removed, cut into cubes)1 fresh banana (sliced)Pineapple pound cake - purchased or homemadeMacadamia Nut ice cream - purchase or homemadechopped macadamia nuts In a very warm saucepan, melt the butter, but do not burn.Add the brown
- [Red, White and Blue Fruit Kabobs](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/07/red-white-blue-fruit-kabobs-sundaysupper/) - 1 - 2 cups fresh strawberries (hulled)1 - 2 cups fresh raspberries3 bananas (peel removed and sliced into ¼" slices)1 - 2 cups blueberrieswooden skewers (# depending on how many people you will serve)*NOTE: These quantities are not perfect (because it simply depends on how many you will be serving.) On a wooden skewer, place
- [Anti-Inflammatory Pineapple Mango Ginger Smoothie](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/07/anti-inflammatory-pineapple-mango-and-ginger-smoothie/) - I just cannot get enough of fresh pineapple! I know that it isn't grown locally since we don't live in Hawaii or any other tropical location, but I cannot live without FRESH cut pineapple. Here's why: Peeps, some of us may suffer from, let's just say . . . being plugged up. My issue since
- [Banana Macadamia Nut Pancakes with Coconut Syrup](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/07/banana-macadamia-nut-pancakes-coconut-syrup/) - For the Pancakes1/2 cup macadamia nuts (chopped)1 teaspoon vanilla extract2 eggs3 tablespoons butter (melted)1 1/2 cups buttermilk1/4 teaspoon salt1/2 teaspoon baking soda1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder4 tablespoons sugar1 1/2 cups all-purpose flourGarnishFreshly-sliced bananasMacadamia nuts (chopped)For the Coconut Syrup14 ounces Coconut Milk1/2 cup sugar1 tablespoon cornstarch2 teaspoons baking soda½ teaspoon salt For the PancakesIn a
- [Peaches and Cream Ice Cream with Fresh Raspberry Coulis](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/07/peaches-and-cream-ice-cream-with-fresh/) - 6 large fresh peaches (or frozen, we freeze peaches ever summer)1 cup sugar1/2 cup sour cream1 cup heavy cream1 tsp. vanilla extracta few drops of freshly squeezed lemon juiceFresh Raspberry Coulis2 baskets of fresh raspberries1 cup sugar4 Tbsp. raspberry jam/preservesPrepare the Peach Ice CreamPlace a large bowl or metal container in the freezer to chill
- [Pasta Quattro Formaggi](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/07/pasta-quattro-formaggi-sundaysupper/) - 1 lb. penne mezze (short penne)½ cup heavy whipping cream1 cup gorgonzola cheese (broken into small pieces/chunks)½ cup parmigiano cheese (grated)1 cup Fontina cheese (grated)½ cup Asiago cheese (grated)2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil1 - 2 large garlic cloves (minced)1 - 2 dashes of ground nutmeg4 Tbsp. Italian parsley (minced)freshly cracked sea salt and black
- [Bruschetta Pappardelle](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/08/bruschetta-pappardelle/) - 1 cup high balsamic vinegar (use the highest quality you can OR substitute ½ cup regular quality balsamic vinegar with ½ cup balsamic vinegar ‘glaze)sugar to taste to reduce the acidic flavor (optional that I added)2 large garlic cloves (minced)1 medium red onion (diced)8 large vine-ripe tomatoes (about 3 pounds, cored and cut into bite-size
- [Stuffed Tomatoes with Spinach, Basil and Six Italian Cheeses](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/08/stuffed-tomatoes-with-spinach-six/) - 1 package (10 oz. frozen chopped spinach)2 tsp. "Better Than Bouillon" chicken base or 2 chicken bouillon cubessalt5 large tomatoes (cut in half)1 cup soft bread crumbs1 cup shredded 6-blend Italian cheese1/2 cup diced onion15 large fresh basil leaves (chopped)1 jumbo egg2 large garlic cloves (minced)1/4 tsp. freshly grated pepper1/4 tsp. sea saltFreshly grated parmesan
- [Espresso and Chocolate Tres Leches Cake](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/08/espresso-and-chocolate-tres-leches-cake-chocolateparty/) - 1 18.25 oz milk chocolate cake mix1-1/4 cups chocolate milk1/2 cup canola oil3 eggs (I use jumbo)1 tsp. instant espresso powder or 2 tsp. instant coffee powder1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk3/4 cup evaporated milk3 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder3/4 cups half and half1 cup powdered sugar1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder3 cups heavy whipping cream2
- [Risotto Stuffed Zucchini with Bolognese Sauce](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/08/risotto-stuffed-zucchini-bolognese-sauce/) - A hearty meal in itself, this stuffed zucchini is amazing topped with the best bolognese. Guests will beg for more while you can use up your garden's bounty!
- [Stuffed Fried Zucchini Blossoms with Fresh Tomato Sauce and Basil Pesto](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/08/cheese-stuffed-fried-zucchini-blossoms/) - For the stuffing:1 Tbsp. canola oil for sautéing2 cloves garlic (minced)1 small to medium sweet (Vidalia onion, minced)1/2 to 2/3 cup prosciutto (chopped)1 tsp. garden-fresh oregano (minced)1 tsp. garden-fresh thyme (minced)2 tsp. garden-fresh basil (freshly minced, or 1 tsp. dried basil)2 Tbsp. garden-fresh Italian parsley (minced)1/2 pound ricotta cheese1/2 cup freshly-grated Italian Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (or
- [Grilled Basil Buttered Chicken and California Culinary Memories](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/09/grilled-basil-buttered-chicken/) - Grilled Chicken4 chicken breasts (boneless and skinless)1/2 cup melted butter2 - 3 Tbsp. garden-fresh basil (chopped)Sprinkle of my favorite go-to 'trinity' seasonings: Mrs. Dash (for chicken, Nature's Seasons, and Accent)Basil-Butter Sauce3/4 cup melted butter2 Tbsp. garden-fresh basil (chopped)2 - 3 Tbsp. Parmigiano-Regiano (finely grated)1/2 tsp garlic powder1/2 tsp. freshly ground sea salt1/8 tsp. freshly ground
- [Grilled Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/08/grilled-stuffed-portobello-mushrooms/) - 2/3 cup chopped plum tomato1/4 cup 1 ounce shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese1 teaspoon olive oil (divided)1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary (I doubled this to 1 tsp.)1/8 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper1 garlic clove (crushed (I doubled this to 2 large garlic cloves as usual))4 5-inch portobello mushroom caps2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice2 teaspoons low-sodium
- [Super MOIST Cinnamon Zucchini Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/08/moist-cinnamon-zucchini-cake-cream-cheese-frosting/) - For the Cake2 cups sugar2 cups all-purpose flour (not cake flour)3 jumbo eggs1 cup oil (I use canola)1 tsp. vanilla2 cups grated zucchini (use a hand-grater, somewhat dried out)2 tsp. cinnamon3/4 tsp. baking soda2 tsp. baking powder1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional, which we leave out)For the frosting: (I double this to frost one
- [Grilled Thai Chicken](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/09/grilled-thai-chicken/) - 1 cup coconut milk1/2 cup nam pla (Asian fish sauce)1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice4 small cloves garlic (peeled and minced)2 shallots (peeled and minced)1 teaspoon hot sauce (such as Tabasco)1 teaspoon red pepper flakes1 1/2 tablespoons sugar1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantroSea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste2 - 4 large boneless
- [Blue Ribbon Grilled Turkey Breasts](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/09/blue-ribbon-grilled-turkey-breasts/) - For the Marinade2 Tablespoons freshly squeezed Lemon Juice1/4 cup Soy Sauce1/4 cup Canola Oil1/4 cup Dry Sherry or Red Wine2 Tablespoons minced onion1/4 teaspoon ground ginger1/8 teaspoon black pepper (freshly ground if possible)1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (this is double the amount of the original recipe, but I'm garlic-crazy)1 pound turkey tenderloins (sliced to your desired
- [Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto, Basil Pesto, and Turkey Bagels](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/09/sundried-tomato-pesto-basil-pesto-turkey-bagels/) - Bagels (your preference in flavor, garlic would be nice; and preferably authentic NY bagels)Sun-dried tomato pestoBasil pestoLettuce (use the variety of your choice)Red onionSliced smoked turkey (Boar's Head is the best)Soft herb cheese (such as Boursin) Slice the bagels in half and toast them.Spread the sun-dried tomato pesto on the inside of one half.Spread the
- [Apple Caramel Cheesecake Bars](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/09/apple-caramel-cheesecake-bars/) - For The Crust:1 cup butter (softened)1 cup brown sugar (firmly packed)2 cups flourFor the Cheesecake Filling:4 lady apples (large Pink, peeled, cored, sliced, and diced)1 1/2 cups granulated sugar (divided)2 teaspoons ground cinnamon2 mascarpone cheese (tubs Italian, or 8-oz. packages cream cheese or 1 of each cheese. Note: Mascarpone cheese offers a sweeter tasting filling)2
- [Classic Chicken Cacciatore (Pollo alla Cacciatore)](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/11/classic-chicken-cacciatore-pollo-alla-cacciatore/) - 1 large (plump chicken (4 - 5 pounds), cut up, completely rinsed and patted dry with paper towels)2 cups flourfreshly cracked salt and pepper2 large garlic cloves (chopped)1 Tbsp. minced rosemary leaves6 - 10 fresh sage leaves (minced)⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil1 medium yellow onion3 carrots (sliced on the diagonal)1 stalk celery (chopped)2 red
- [Roasted Tomato Bisque with Parmesan Crisps](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2017/01/roasted-tomato-bisque-parmesan-crisps/) - Don't ever eat canned tomato soup again! I'm telling ya, there's nothing like home-made tomato soup. And there's even nothing better than roasted tomato soup! Your taste buds and tummy will thank you! Every summer I make tomato soup from our garden's fresh bounty. With the help of my husband, we can and put up jars
- [Apple Strudel -- A Classic German and Austrian Recipe](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/12/apple-strudel-a-classic-german-and-austrian-recipe/) - 1 package frozen puff pastry (thawed overnight in the refrigerated, per package directions)3 apples (Jonathans are a good baking apple)1 cup golden raisins¾ cup sugar1 Tablespoon Clearjel*¼ cup boiled cider**1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice3 tsp. cinnamon2 Tablespoons butter (melted)5 - 6 Tablespoons sour cream1 egg (beaten with a splash of water)Coarse sugarGarnishPowdered sugarWhipped cream Roll
- [Citrus DeTox Spa Water](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2017/01/citrus-detox-spa-water/) - fresh (clean and very COLD water)orange sliceslemon sliceslime slicesred grapefruit slicescucumber slices (with peel remaining on)Italian parsley leavesmint leaves Pour the fresh, COLD water into a nice clear pitcher.Add all of the slices of citrus fruit.Add the cucumber slices.Add the Italian parsley and mint leaves.Set for about an hour in the refrigerator to allow all
- [Mini Meyer Lemon Parfaits](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2017/02/mini-meyer-lemon-parfaits/) - Lemon Curd2/3 cup granulated sugar2 eggs1 tablespoon lemon zest1/2 cup fresh Meyer Lemon juice1/4 teaspoon vanilla bean extract2 teaspoons cold butter (cut into small pieces)Cookie Crumb LayersItalian ladyfingersor any cookie of choice: shortbread (amaretto cookies, or graham crackers)Whipped CreamFresh heavy creamSugarVanilla extract Lemon CurdCombine the sugar, lemon zest and eggs in a saucepan over medium
- [Coconut Lime Pineapple Coolers](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2017/06/coconut-lime-pineapple-coolers/) - 1 cup fresh pineapple chunks½ cup coconut milk¼ tsp. freshly-squeezed lime juice1 cup of ice2 Tbsp. white rumsugar to tasteGarnishlime slicesfresh mint leaves Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until thick and smooth.Sweeten if necessary.Garnish with slices of lime and sprigs of fresh mint! . .
- [Bucatini with Roasted Sweet Red Pepper Sauce](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2017/08/bucatini-with-roasted-sweet-red-pepper/) - &anbsp; 2 Tbsp. olive oil3 - 4 large cloves garlic (finely minced)1 small onion (finely chopped (about 1/2 - 3/4 cup))1 large garden-fresh red pepper (roasted and cut into chunks)2 cups canned crushed San Marzano tomatoes (Cento is a good brand)1/2 tsp. sea salt1/8 tsp. red pepper flakes (pepperoncino)1/2 lb. dry bucatini pasta noodlesbucatini1/4 cup
- [Spaghetti with Toasted Garlic Breadcrumbs](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2017/08/spaghettiwithtoastedgarlicbreadcrumbs/) - xxxXXXXXX Spaghetti with Toasted Garlic Breadcrumbs 1 lb. thin spaghettini1 tsp. salt for the pasta3/4 cup extra virgin olive oila small onion (finely chopped)4 garlic cloves (minced)1/2 tsp. salt1 pinch oregano1/4 tsp. freshly cracked black pepper1-1/2 cups seasoned and dried breadcrumbs1 Tbsp. butter1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese1/4 tsp. dried red chili pepper flakes (pepperoncini)small
- [Peach Caprese Salad with Balsamic Syrup](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2017/08/peach-caprese-salad-with-balsamic-syrup-sundaysupper/) - 1 - 2 freshest peaches possible (leave skin on, sliced)1 - 2 freshest tomatoes possible (sliced thick)1 - 2 balls of fresh (soft bufalo di mozzarella (imported from Italy if possible))about 12 large (fresh basil leaves)Balsamic Syrup½ cup Balsamic Vinegar1 - 2 Tbsp. honey Slice the tomatoes, peaches, and cheese nice and thick.Layer on a
- [Instant Pot Pasta e Fagiole Italian Soup ~~ Pasta and Bean Soup](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2018/01/instant-pot-pasta-e-fagiole-italian-soup-pasta-bean-soup/) - . The perfect comfort soup recipe of humble pasta and beans with all of the secrets of authentic Italian family recipes! No recipe ‘out there’ can stack up next to this recipe in terms of deliciousness! Trust me on this! ~ ~ this is the REAL DEAL from Modena, Italy! Warm up with this vegetarian
- [Salmon, Peas and Asparagus with Pasta in Lemon Cream Sauce](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2018/02/salmon-peas-and-asparagus-with-pasta-lemon-cream-sauce/) - Creamy Lemon Caper Sauce8 Tablespoons Olive Oil½ stick of high quality butter½ cup of heavy creamJuice of 1 medium-sized lemonsZest of 1 small lemon1-½ cups minced fresh-cut Italian parsley4 cloves of fresh garlic (finely chopped)4 Tablespoons fresh-cut oregano (finely chopped)1/2 small jar of capers (if salted, rinse thoroughly) Preheat oven to 350 F.Sprinkle garlic powder
- [Italian Pork Ribs with Garlic Rosemary Sauce](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2018/02/italian-pork-ribs-with-garlic-rosemary-sauce/) - If you're looking for a pork recipe that is incredibly easy and amazingly delicious, here it is! My mother's Italian Pork Ribs with Garlic Rosemary Sauce. This recipe is literally from my family's private recipe collection and was never on the menus of our restaurants. These ribs are very special, very comforting, and I
- [Gazpacho Ala Mama](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2018/07/gazpacho-ala-mama/) - 6 cups chopped (vine-ripe, fresh tomatoes)2 large cucumbers (1 peeled, 1 with peel left on, all seeds removed, sliced and cut into 1/4″ chunks)2 cups chopped celery (sliced and cut into 1/4″ chunks)1 cup Vidalia onion (sliced and cut into 1/4″ chunks)2 red peppers (stem and seeds removed, sliced and cut into 1/4″ chunks)1 yellow
- [Pasta with Roasted Tomatoes, Garlic and Basil](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2018/07/cheesy-pasta-roasted-tomatoes-garlic-basil/) - Roasted Cherry Tomatoes4 cups cherry tomatoes (preferably freshly-picked from the garden)5 -7 large garlic cloves; 2 slices minced (and 4 -5 cloves SLICED, and set aside to be used later in the sauce)2 -3 Tbsp. olive oilfreshly-cracked sea saltThin Spaghetti/Spaghettiini (half of a box for two servings)Tall pot of boiling waterFreshly-cracked sea saltSAVE some of
- [Panzanella Tuscan Tomato and Bread Salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2018/08/panzanella/) - 4 cups fresh (ripe tomatoes, cut into cubes)1 cup red onion (chopped into 1/2" pieces)20 fresh basil leaves (sliced into slivers or shredded)6 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil2 - 3 Tbsp. red wine vinegarFreshly-cracked sea salt and black pepper to taste8 cups of several days-old cabbala or hard-crusty Italian bread (cut into 1" cubes)Sprigs of
- [Peaches with Prosciutto and Balsamic Glaze](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2018/07/peaches-prosciutto-balsamic-glaze/) - " rel="noopener noreferrer">Balsamic Glaze. Satisfying on so many levels: fresh, fruit, no chemicals, healthy, easy, fast, convenient, and simply delicious. Who can argue with that combination? The combination of sweet and savory really plays on your taste buds . . . especially with the balsamic glaze. Any fruit will work with this recipe too,
- [Italian Peach Crumb Cake with Streusel Topping](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2018/09/italian-peach-crumb-cake-with-streusel-topping/) - 3 cups flour 1 cup sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon baking soda¼ teaspoon salt1 cup unsalted butter (softened)3 jumbo eggs1 cup plain-flavored Greek yogurt1 ½ teaspoons Fiori di Sicilia Extract (or Vanilla Extract if you don't have Fiori Sicilia)3 cups fresh peaches (peeled, seeds removed, sliced, and cut in half)⅔ cup flour⅔ cup
- [Mascarpone Stuffed Peach French Toast](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2018/09/mascarpone-stuffed-peach-french-toast/) - This French Toast recipe is an incredibly rich and decadent breakfast treat! Using peach infused Italian Dove bread, the flavor is overflowing with the taste of fresh peaches. The lightly sweet and creamy filling balances the caramel sauce perfectly. Prepare this to impress your guests! 8 - 10 fresh peaches (peeled and pits removed, sliced
- [Grilled Prosciutto, Fig and Marinated Mozzarella Pizza](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2018/09/grilled-prosciutto-fig-and-marianated-mozzarella-pizza/) - Grilled pizza is one of the easiest and delicious ways to enjoy pizza. Great fun for the family and friends to add toppings on their own personalized pizzas! Wonderful tips for successfully grilling pizza are provided at the end of the blog post. Mangia! 2 - 3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil3 cloves garlic (minced)1-1/2 cups
- [Octoberfest:  German Jaeger Schnitzel Jägerschnitzel](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2018/10/octoberfest-german-jaeger-schnitzel-jagerschnitzel/) - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter1/2 cup chopped onion1 lb. mushrooms (sliced (your choice of variety))2 cups beef broth/stock1/2 cup white wine1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons cream (divided)1 teaspoon whole grain mustard1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce2 tablespoons all-purpose flour¼ teaspoon freshly minced garlic (my addition)1/4 teaspoon saltFreshly ground pepper3 tablespoons fresh parsley (chopped)1 teaspoon freshly chopped thymedash of
- [Italian Cranberry and Orange Bundt Cake](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2018/10/italian-cranberry-and-orange-bundt-cake/) - A super moist cake laced with fresh cranberries and enhanced with a hint of orange is truly delightful with the batter sweetened with mascarpone cheese. Even those who don't care for cranberries will love this wonderful cake. The drizzled icing adds another layer of delicious perfection. Garnished with cranberries, this cake brings beauty to the
- [Mushroom Tart with Fontina and Asiago Cheese](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2018/10/mushroom-fontina-asiago-tart/) - For the mushrooms1 Tbsp. olive oil2 - 3 Tbsp. butter1 lb. mixed fresh mushrooms (wiped clean, trimmed and sliced 1/4" thick)4 cloves garlic (minced (I doubled this from 2 cloves))Freshly ground sea salt and black pepper4 Tbsp. chopped (fresh Italian parsley (I doubled this from 2 Tbsp.))Chopped fresh herbs: chives (oregano, thyme (or your favorite
- [Italian Cherry Panettone French Toast](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/01/italian-cherry-panettone-french-toast/) - Well, thanks to the French or whoever created the beloved "French Toast" there are endless ways of preparing toasted and baked bread for delightful and leisurely breakfasts or brunches. That includes, you got it, Italian ways of preparing this delicious classic recipe for beginning a new day! How did French Toast really become "French" anyway? Let me know if you do!
- [Panettone Bread Pudding Recipe](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/01/panettone-bread-pudding-recipe/) - Do you still have left-over panettone? Even after preparing the Cherry Panettone French Toast recipe a few days ago? This Panettone Bread Pudding is like getting a 2-for-1 special on recipes to use up large left-over quantities of panettone! My mother never let anything go to waste in her kitchen. She'd be smiling down on
- [Cheesy Italian Chicken and Vegetable Foil Packets](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/01/cheesy-italian-chicken-and-vegetable-foil-packets/) - Looking for easy and delicious? And less clean up? That's a big plus in our lives, isn't it? Well, it definitely is for my husband who is our chief dishwasher. I make the mess in the kitchen that I clean up, he gets to chow down, and then he does the dishes . . .
- [Valentine's Strawberry, Banana and Pineapple Smoothie](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/02/valentines-strawberry-banana-pineapple/) - 1 banana1 cup chopped fresh pineapple (this is your de-tox magic ingredient!)10 medium to large strawberries2 Tbsp. coconut water1 tsp. local honey1 tsp. chia seeds (swells to 8 times larger in your tummy to help you feel fuller)2 ice cubes (to chill it) InstructionsBlend the banana, add the pineapple, blend again, add strawberries, blend again.Add
- [How To Make the Best  Bearnaise Sauce from Julia Child](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/02/how-to-make-the-best-bearnaise-sauce-from-julia-child/) - Only one thing is better than a perfect steak! A steak topped with a delectable bearnaise sauce! The two are the perfect match-made-in-heaven food combination! With a French bearnaise sauce, an ordinary steak transforms into an elegant, flavorful dish to "wow" your guests! We just returned from a trip to the Midwest and bought some
- [Down and Dirty Martini](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/03/down-and-dirty-martini/) - Lots of ice3 shots Grey Goose vodka1/2 shot of brine (juice from cocktail olives)1 dash Italian Martini & Rossi extra dry vermouth3 jumbo pimento/garlic/blue cheese stuffed green olives (provide a variety for your guest) Fill a metal martini shaker with ice.Add the vodka, vermouth and olive brine.Close the shaker tightly and shake it for a
- [Italian Pork Loin Braised in Milk (Arrosto Di Maiale al Latte)](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/04/pork-loin-cooked-in-garlic-milk-sauce/) - I served it with steamed broccoli (no brainer), and I wanted to eat it over rice. My husband wanted egg noodles. My son said "We need the large shell pasta so it can hold all the creamy gravy goodness...like an upside-down boat!" ? Anyway, I can't wait to make it again so I can devour
- [Mediterranean Egg Salad with Green Olives, Pancetta and a Touch of Gorgonzola Cheese](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/04/mediterranean-egg-salad-with-green-olives/) - 8 thin slices of pancetta9 jumbo eggs1 cup celery (chopped, including any leaves)1 medium onion (chopped)4 garlic cloves (minced)9 large (colossal, pimento-stuffed green olives)3 Tbsp. fresh chives (chopped)2 Tbsp. fresh Italian parsley (minced)1 tsp. fresh dill (minced)3 Tbsp. Gorgonzola cheese (crumbled)1 cup olive-oil based mayonnaisefreshly cracked sea salt and black pepper to tasteLettuceCiabatta breadGarnish: green
- [Perfect Garlic Butter Blackened Redfish](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/03/perfect-garlic-butter-blackened-redfish/) - If you've never had the extreme pleasure to taste redfish, you are missing out big time my friends. And I mean big time! On one of our recent trips to the beach in South Carolina, we had dinner at a seaside fish house that featured on its menu an unfamiliar fish as the fresh catch
- [Italian Budino of Berries, Mascarpone and Marsala](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/05/italian-budino-berries-mascarpone-marsala/) - Rising to the top of foodie mecca city restaurant dessert menus is the creamy Italian budino. But if you don't live in L.A., New York or Chicago, you may not have heard of an Italian budino. A budino is a luscious version of pudding. Most traditional Italian meals end with a light course, such as
- [The Best Grilled Turkey Breasts Marinated in Garlic, Soy, and Ginger](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/06/the-best-grilled-turkey-breasts-marinated-in-garlic-soy-and-ginger/) - It's grilling season, and almost time for state fairs to get underway. And you know what that means? There are lots of good eats at fairs, though not always the most healthy food. And then there is the food offered from home cooks who compete for blue ribbons for the best recipes of the year!
- [Peach Panettone Parfaits with Mascarpone Cream](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/06/peach-panettone-parfaits-mascarpone-cream/) - Fresh peaches from the orchards of South Carolina are filling the roadside stands, farmers' markets, and food stores. There's nothing like biting into a ripe peach with its sweet juices just dripping out! Extra napkins always required! Now that's an image of summer that's classic! If appearance is important when eating peaches, then this recipe,
- [Perfect Peach Salsa that's Fast and Easy](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/08/perfect-peach-salsa-thats-fast-and-easy/) - Mother Nature never fails to disappoint us during the summer months when peaches are so incredibly sweet. Let me tell you if you've never had a fresh-off-the-tree peach grown in South Carolina, you simply have not lived a full life yet. I just can't describe their soft texture, syrupy juice, and THAT. CRAZY. SWEET. FLAVOR.
- [Cheesy Corn Casserole with Pepper Jack, Buttered Crumb Topping and Garlic](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/11/cheesy-corn-casserole-pepper-jack-cheese-buttered-crumb-topping-garlic/) - This is the most incredible creamy, cheesy, packs-a-punch-of-pepper-heat corn casserole. Perfect to serve next to an expensive steak or a simple hot dog. Your guests will beg for seconds or thirds! 8 ears white corn (in husks)¼ pound salted butter½ cup all-purpose flour (substitute rice flour for gluten-free)2 cups 1 pint half and half1-½ cups
- [Classic Italian Wedding Soup in an Instant Pot](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/10/classic-italian-wedding-soup-in-an-instant-pot/) - Although autumn arrives later in the South, it slowly appears with falling leaves, blood orange sunsets, and cool evening breezes. Ahhhh! Just bliss! And like any other region of the country, cooler fall days beckon our food preferences for delicious homemade soups. There's just nothing quite so comforting than warming up to an aromatic bowl
- [Perfect Autumn Chopped Salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/11/autumn-chopped-salad/) - This salad 'sings' autumn with the fresh apples, praline coated almonds, drizzled with a delicious cranberry balasamic dressing. Your guests will just love it!
- [Porcini Mushroom Risotto with Truffles](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/11/porcini-mushroom-risotto-with-truffles/) - Porcini mushroom risotto is simply wonderful, especially in autumn when porcini mushrooms are fresh. AND Risotto is so simple to make and ever-so gratifying! This porcini mushroom risotto is bursting with the nutty, earthy flavor of cherished Italian porcini mushrooms and Parmigiano (Parmesan) cheese. A little bit of sage and rosemary sing through the velvety cream.
- [BEST Cranberry, Clementine, and Prosecco Cocktails](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/11/cranberry-clementine-and-prosecco/) - Add sparkle to the holidays with Cranberry, Clementine, and Prosecco Cocktails—simple, refreshing drinks made for festive gatherings.
- [Simply The BEST Chicken Salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/12/chicken-salad-dried-cranberries/) - Are you looking for the best chicken salad you can ever imagine? You're only minutes away from that one outstanding recipe that you'll cherish for years! Maybe you can relate to the following situation that I found myself in. A situation that confirms why I enjoy this Chicken Salad with Dried Cranberries and
- [How To Make a Perfect Frittata](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2020/01/how-to-make-perfect-frittata/) - Learn how to make a perfect frittata with these simple and easy to follow step by step instructions. You'll love to prepare a frittata over and over again now!
- [Lentil Stew with Sausage](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2020/01/lentil-stew-with-sausage/) - This Lentil Stew with Sausage is the perfect soup recipe: It's super easy, thick, hearty and filling, and best of all, it's brimming with delicious, earthy Italian flavors! This stew doesn't require high-level cooking skills to make and can be prepared quickly in less than an hour. So it's a wonderful stew to serve when
- [Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2020/01/homemade-creamy-chicken-noodle-soup/) - 1 gallon homemade chicken broth (see note below)4 cups of cooked chicken (diced or shredded)3 cups fresh mushrooms (chopped into ½" pieces, do not mince)½ stick of butter2 cups of sliced carrots2 cups of sliced celery (included leaves)1 cup of Italian parsley (minced)2 cups of frozen green peas½ to 1 bag of thick egg noodles
- [Italian Style Chicken Ramen Noodle Bowl ~ Chinese New Year](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2020/01/italian-style-chicken-ramen-noodle-bowl-chinese-new-year/) - Have you ever wondered which came first: pasta or noodles? And which country created them? Did the Chinese invent pasta? Or did Italians invent noodles? It's a question that's been debated for centuries. Whoever it was, we can all be grateful for pasta or noodles. And enjoy some fusion cuisine where Italy meets China in a
- [Loaded Cowboy Caviar Salsa Recipe](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2020/02/loaded-cowboy-caviar-salsa-recipe/) - Cowboy Caviar? Texas Caviar? Carolina Caviar? No matter what it's called, Cowboy Caviar is a fabulous, fresh, and healthy party food! Unlike heavier appetizers, this dip will help avoid those guilt feelings while nibbling on some party food. This recipe for Cowboy Caviar is loaded with black beans, pinto beans, black-eyed peas, colorful red, yellow,
- [The ULTIMATE Nutella Panini with Bananas, Strawberries, and Macadamia Nuts](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2020/02/nutella-panini-banana-strawberry-macadamia-nut/) - 1-1/2 sticks of butter (softened)1/4 cup sugar mixed together with 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon3 ripe bananas (sliced 1/4" thick)1 basket of strawberries (sliced (about 16 oz.))4 - 8 slices small round Ciabatta or Italian flatbread (depending on how many panini you want)1 small jar of Nutella chocolate-hazelnut spread1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts (or hazelnuts)3 tablespoons
- [Ooey, Gooey, Fudgy Mississippi Mud Cake](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2020/02/ooey-gooey-fudgey-mississippi-mud-cake/) - This Mississippi Mud Cake is a chocolate lovers dream! A delicious chocolate cake with a layer of fudgy brownies, melted marshmallows, and warm chocolate frosting. This cake is irresistible and your family and guests will beg for seconds! Have ice cold milk and/or water for your guests to drink because this is super sweet. Steaming hot
- [How to Make Delicious Homemade Chicken Stock with No Preservatives](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2020/03/how-to-make-delicious-homemade-chicken-stock-no-preservatives/) - Nothing is more comforting than a delicious bowl of chicken soup. So many of us have wonderful memories of the aroma and flavor of chicken soup. No commercially canned soups invoke that nostalgia. More importantly, none of those can compare to the rich flavor of homemade chicken stock with no preservatives! So many recipes include
- [Creamy Chicken Noodle Casserole with NO Canned Soup](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2020/03/creamy-chicken-noodle-casserole/) - Nothing beats a delicious, hot, baked casserole! If you're looking for one of the most comforting of foods that's also more healthy, than look no further than this absolutely delicious creamy Chicken Noodle Casserole with NO canned soup used at all! This tasty and hearty Chicken Noodle Casserole will become a family favorite that everyone will love!
- [Cacio e Pepe, A Classic, Traditional Roman Pasta Dish](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2020/04/cacio-e-pepe-a-classic-traditional-roman-pasta-dish/) - When in Rome, there's one pasta dish that you MUST try. It's a bucket list food! It's heaven on a plate. It's creamy, unforgettable bliss! It's Cacio e Pepe! Cacio e Pepe is seriously so good that it has been prepared for centuries in Rome, Italy, where it was originally created. Cacio e Pepe is
- [Frittata with Asparagus and Fontina](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2020/04/frittata-with-asparagus-and-fontina-eggs/) - A frittata is simply one of the best foods ever created. It's such a great way to use leftovers or food in the fridge needing to be used. It's easy and fast. I made this Frittata with Asparagus and Fontina after Easter when we had left-over asparagus. Don't just limit frittatas just for breakfast! They
- [Chicken in Creamy, Lemon, Garlic & Parmesan Sauce](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2020/04/chicken-in-creamy-lemon-garlic-parmesan-sauce/) - You're busy! And you're hungry! And you want something delicious and fast! This Chicken in a Creamy, Lemon, Garlic & Parmesan Sauce is exactly what you'll love! And in less than 30 minutes from prep to serving! With just a few key ingredients, this recipe is for crispy golden chicken breasts coated with a cream
- [Strawberry Rhubarb Mojitos](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2020/04/strawberry-rhubarb-mojitos/) - Strawberries and rhubarb are ripe and ready to pick now. Our rhubarb plants are just exploding with large stalks in the gardens. With so much rhubarb, I decided to bake my mother's favorite strawberry rhubarb cake which I'll share in another post. But I couldn't resist whipping up a batch of fresh Strawberry Rhubarb Mojitos!
- [How To Make the Best Guacamole](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2020/05/how-to-make-best-guacamole/) - 3 large ripe Haas avocados (peeled and cubed)Lime juice - just enough to coat the avocados to prevent them from browning2 – 3 Roma tomatoes (chopped)8 green onions (sliced, or 1/2 small onion, chopped)1 jalapeno pepper (seeded and chopped)1/2 cup minced fresh cilantro1 Tbsp. freshly minced garlic (or 1/2 tsp. garlic powder)2 tsp. lime
- [How To Make The Best Homemade Taco Seasoning](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2020/05/how-to-make-the-best-homemade-taco-seasoning/) - Tacos are simply one of life's simplest food pleasures -- spicy meat wrapped in a fresh tortilla and topped with cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, salsa . . . and whatever you want really! But the taco meat has to be seasoned just right. So skip the store-bought packets and put your own spin on the
- [Strawberry Crostini with Sweet Mascarpone Cream](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2020/05/balsamic-strawberry-crostini-and-guest/) - Sweet, creamy mascarpone topped with fresh strawberries in a delicious syrup make the perfect match for a springtime crostini. Fantastic for a brunch or a dessert, this recipe is so easy to whip up and assemble in just minutes! You'll soon find this to be your go-to strawberry recipe every spring when strawberries are ripe!the
- [Stuffed Pork Chops with Pancetta and Fontina](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2020/05/stuffed-pork-chops-with-pancetta-and-fontina/) - If you're wanting a recipe for pork chops extraordinaire, then this recipe for Stuffed Pork Chops with Pancetta and Fontina cheese is just what you've been looking for! These stuffed chops are show stoppers, to say the least. They give the foodie "WOW factor" a totally new meaning! This recipe is not hard at all.
- [Blueberry Muffins with Streusel Topping](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2020/06/blueberry-muffins-with-streusel-topping/) - It's June and that means that fresh, beautiful, blue blueberries are ripe in our gardens and farmers' markets! Ya gotta love these little plump, blue balls of deliciousness, don't you? Now is the best time of year to bake blueberry muffins! And these Blueberry Muffins with Streusel Topping are just BURSTING with juicy fresh blueberries.
- [Creamy Artichoke, Pea and Pesto Pasta Salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2020/07/creamy-artichoke-pea-and-pesto-pasta-salad/) - What could be more quintessential for warm-weather recipes than a delicious chilled pasta salad? Never served hot, and always served cold, pasta salads help keep our internal thermometers cooled off a bit when the mercury soars! This Creamy Artichoke, Pea, and Pesto Pasta Salad tastes great even after a quick half-hour chill. But it tastes
- [Classic Fresh Bellini from Venice, Italy](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2020/08/classic-fresh-bellini-from-venice-italy/) - When peaches are in season, it's the perfect time to enjoy a Bellini. Especially a classic fresh Bellini from Venice, Italy! A Bellini is a delightful and super easy Italian cocktail in which a fresh peach purée and prosecco celebrate a sweet and delicious marriage! When in Venice, most hotels will give you a refreshing
- [Fresh Green Haricots Verts with Roasted Vegetables](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2020/08/fresh-green-hericot-verts-with-herbs/) - 1 pound thin green beans (Haricot Vert, trimmed)4 Tbsp butter or olive oil8 green onions (sliced thin)4 cloves garlic (minced)10 cherry/grape tomatoes1 red pepper (diced)1 yellow pepper (diced)3 Tbsp fresh Italian parsley (chopped fine)2 Tbsp fresh basil (chopped fine)2 Tbsp fresh chives (chopped fine)1 tsp. freshly grated lemon zestolive oil¼ cup pine nutsFreshly grated sea
- [Amazing Rich, Fudgy Nutella Brownies](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2020/10/amazing-rich-fudgy-nutella-brownies/) - If you love Nutella as much as my family loves Nutella, you are going to go absolutely crazy over these amazing rich, fudgy Nutella brownies! The added creamy hazelnut spread turns a good brownie into a magnificent brownie. You're going to need one tall, cold glass of milk or ice-cold water to enjoy these rich
- [Nutella and Pumpkin Mini Cheesecake Bites & Review of Nutella Cafe Chicago](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2020/10/nutella-and-pumpkin-mini-cheesecake-bites/) - . 8 whole Oreos (finely ground in food processor)1-1/2 Tbsp. butter (melted)8 oz. cream cheese (softened)1/2 cup sugar1 egg1 tsp. vanilla extract1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp. pumpkin puree2 Tbsp. Nutella1/4 cup milk chocolate (melted in 2 Tbsp. heavy cream)2 Tbsp. chopped hazelnuts Preheat oven to 350 degrees.Combine ground Oreos and melted butter
- [Ruth's Chris Steakhouse Chopped Salad -- Copycat Recipe is SO DELICIOUS!!](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2020/11/ruths-chris-steakhouse-chopped-salad-copycat-recipe-delicious/) - Ruth's Chris Chopped Salad is one of the all-time best salads served in American restaurants. This copycat recipe is as close to the real-deal found ANYWHERE!
- [Roasted Cauliflower with Italian Cheese and Herbs](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2020/11/roasted-cauliflower-with-italian-cheese-and-herbs/) - We're just loving cauliflower now . . . and for good reason! When prepared in recipes such as Roasted Cauliflower with Italian Cheese and Herbs, it's not only healthy . . . it's damn delicious! This recipe is so simple and yet really tasty as either a healthy snack or a great side dish. We've
- [Amazing Italian Cheese Log PACKED with Flavor](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2020/12/amazing-italian-cheese-log-packed-with-flavor/) - Are you just getting so busy with your holiday prepping that all you can think of is preparing recipes that are EASY, but DELICIOUS? Well, have I got the best recipe to help out! Amazing Italian Cheese Log Packed with Flavor is just what the name says: Amazing and a Flavor Sensation! I'm so busy
- [Loaded Breakfast Casserole with Sausage, Eggs, and Cheese](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2021/01/breakfast-casserole-with-sausage-eggs/) - This breakfast casserole is loaded with eggs and cheese. Perfect for mornings when guests stay with you -- just make it the day before and pop in the heat`
- [How To Build a Bloody Mary Bar](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2020/12/how-to-build-a-bloody-mary-bar/) - One of the most welcome beverages for brunch (or any time of the day or evening) is a Bloody Mary! And if you're in luck, there will be a " build your own Bloody Mary bar "! Everyone's tastes are so different. Some like them hot, others like them plain and simple, and then there
- [Jalapeño Cilantro Lime Turkey Sliders with Habanero Cheddar](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2021/02/jalapeno-cilantro-lime-turkey-sliders-with-habanero-cheddar/) - Oh my goodness! I put my recipe creative thinking cap on over the weekend and came up with these outrageously delicious Jalapeño Cilantro Lime Turkey Sliders with Habanero Cheddar cheese. Turkey is a staple in our home and not reserved for Thanksgiving only. There are endless recipes for this low-calorie meat that can be
- [Copycat : How To Make Caleco's Caesar Salad Dressing](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2021/02/copycat-how-to-make-calecos-caesar-salad-dressing/) - Wouldn't it be great if we could get our hands on the best restaurant recipes to make at home? If you've eaten in St. Louis, then you would know that Caleco's is a very popular Italian family restaurant. And the house Caesar Salad is really delicious! In this post, I'll show you how to make
- [How To Make a Roasted Balsamic Beet Salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2021/03/how-to-make-a-roasted-balsamic-beet-salad/) - 8 medium to large beets2 -3 bunches of green onions (shallots)2 - 3 Tbsp. olive oil8 - 12 green leafy lettuce (romaine, bib, arugula, red leaf, assorted varieties)4 - 8 ounces soft Italian Gorgonzola cheese (you can substitute goat cheese, but not Feta which is too tart)½ cup roasted and chopped walnuts (pecans, or
- [The BEST Tuscan Salmon in Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2021/03/the-best-tuscan-salmon-in-creamy-sun-dried-tomato-sauce/) - Everyone loves to prepare recipes that are impressive and yet super easy! This Tuscan Salmon in Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce just bursts with flavor, is a one-pot wonder, and is on the table in no time (less than 30 minutes). Your family and guests will feel as if they are indulging at an elegant
- [#4 Ranked U.S. Restaurant: Hall's Chophouse, Charleston PLUS RECIPE](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2021/04/4-ranked-restaurant-u-s-halls-chophouse-charleston-s-c/) - 8 ears white corn (in husks)¼ pound salted butter½ cup all-purpose flour (substitute rice flour for gluten-free)2 cups 1 quart half and half1.5 cups 2% milk½ small onion (cut into small dice (approximately 1 cup))½ red bell pepper (cut into small dice (approximately 1 cup))2 cloves garlic (minced)1 cup grated pepper jack cheese1 cup sharp
- [Classic, Creamy, Loaded Broccoli Salad - Easy and Delicious!](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2021/05/classic-broccoli-salad/) - This classic, creamy and loaded broccoli salad is a true crowd-pleaser at potluck dinners or at home for a delicious side dish! It certainly will please a lot of your guests this coming long holiday weekend! And for good reasons: First of all, broccoli salad is a super simple dish and easy . . . easy
- [Superb and Easy Mango Pineapple Salsa --  FRESH and Delicious!](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2021/06/superb-and-easymango-pineapple-salsa/) - There are mango salsa recipes . . . and then there is this Superb and Easy Mango Pineapple Salsa recipe that not only includes the elusive mango, which often intimidates people who aren't familiar with tropical fruit, but also includes wonderful, fresh, and sweet pineapple! 1 mango (seed removed, chopped into small chunks)2 cups fresh pineapple
- [Easy Fresh Pasta Salad with Cheese and Herbs](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2021/06/easy-fresh-pasta-salad-with-cheese-and-herbs/) - "Easy" is such a welcome way to do anything on weekends, isn't it? Did you know that relaxing and chilling out on the weekends is one of the strongest characteristics of the most successful peeps in the world? Yup, TRUE! So I work my butt off during the week and then simply breathe on
- [Copycat New York Cheesecake Recipe {Cheesecake Factory}](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2021/07/copycat-new-york-cheesecake-recipe-cheesecake-factory/) - So how's your summer going? Are you filling your tummies full of gorgeous fresh fruit such as what I used in this Copycat New York Cheesecake Recipe {Cheesecake Factory}. Oh my, nothing like fresh fruit -- no sugar needed! They are perfectly sweet the way God made them! This cheesecake is perfect for any patriotic
- [How To Make Limoncello Rambutan Martini Cocktails](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2021/08/how-to-make-limoncello-rambutan-martini-cocktails/) - If you've never tasted the exotic Asian fruit, rambutan, than you are totally missing out! This funny looking, fuzzy, hairy exterior ball-like thing contains an ever so sweet and delicious fruit inside that has the consistency of a grape and is SO. SWEET. and Juicy. Most people just plop them in their mouthes to
- [Delicate and Delicious Thai Salmon -- So Easy](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2021/09/delicate-and-delicious-thai-salmon-so-easy/) - Salmon is one of our all-time favorite fish. My family simply loves the flavor of salmon that welcomes so many ways of preparing it. The texture is luscious and smooth when cooked to perfection (which is not very long on the heat). Served cold it's is great on bagels with cream cheese or on a
- [Classic Northern Italian Apple Strudel ~ Strudel di Mele](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2021/10/classic-northern-italian-apple-strudel-strudel-di-mele/) - I know what you're thinking! That apple strudel only comes from Germany and Austria. Well that's partially true. But most people are unfamiliar with the northernmost region of Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige where the apple is the queen of the land and where one of the most PRIZED apples in all of Europe is grown! Because
- [Polenta Crostini with Caramelized Mushroom Cicchetti - Venetian Tapas](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2021/10/polenta-crostini-bites-caramelized-mushroom-cicchetti-venetian-tapas-sundaysupper/) - For the polenta1 cup heavy cream1 cup chicken stock1 tsp. finely ground sea salt1 cup polenta1 - 2 cups freshly grated Italian Fontina cheese (plus more to pass around to guests)1 - 2 cups freshly grated Parmesan (plus more for garnish and to pass around to guests)For the mushrooms3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil1/2 pound porcini
- [Cranberry Nut Crostini with Maple Balsamic Glaze](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2021/12/cranberry-nut-crostini-with-maple-balsamic-glaze/) - If you're looking for a delicious, seasonal appetizer OR dessert, then this is it! Cranberry Nut Crostini with Maple Balsamic Glaze! For Thanksgiving we took a brief getaway for a quiet and totally relaxing time on the coast. We stayed in a cottage that had a well-stocked kitchen of the basic cooking equipment so I
- [Ruby Red Pomegranate Pomatini's](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2022/02/ruby-red-pomegranate-pomatini-for-valentines-day/) - Valentine's Day is almost here! So to help celebrate, here's a super cocktail recipe that's even got some healthy stuff in it . . . pomegranate juice AND pomegranate liquor! I made this pretty PomaTini for myself and made one on the rocks for hubby. It's a nice sipper to enjoy while relaxing in front of
- [KETO Italian Grilled Swordfish Skewers](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2022/01/keto-italian-grilled-swordfish-skewers/) - Olive Salsa Cruda1/4 cup Italian parsley (chopped)4 Tbsp. Sun-Dried Tomato & Olive Bruschetta Topping8 jumbo-sized pitted green olives with pimento (chopped)8 - 12 Castelvetrano olives (pits (manually) removed, chopped)1/4 cup chopped pimentos4 Tbsp. sun-dried tomatoes (chopped)1 large clove of garlic (minced)2 Tbsp. Extra Virgin olive oil1/2 tsp. grated lemon zest2 Tbsp. lemon juice1/4 tsp. crushed
- [Ultimate, Decadent Chocolate Cake with Ganache](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2022/02/ultimate-decadent-chocolate-cake-with-ganache/) - For The Cake¾ cups all-purpose flour¾ cups granulated sugar½ cup Dutch-process cocoa powder (sifted)1 teaspoon baking powder¼ teaspoon baking soda¼ teaspoon fine sea salt⅓ cup full fat sour cream¼ cup vegetable oil1 jumbo egg (room temperature)2 teaspoons vanilla extract½ cup hot waterFor Frosting:⅓ cup heavy cream¼ cup unsalted butter (cut into chunks)2 oz good quality
- [Easy Italian Muffuletta Skewers](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2022/03/easy-italian-muffuletta-skewers/) - Muffulettas! Antipasti! Cicchetti (Venetian Tapas) or Italian Love on a Stick! So many ways to call these delicious appetizers (or for some, it could be lunch or 'pranzo' in Italian). Whatever you choose to call them, these Easy Italian Muffuletta Skewers are sure to please! You'll be so happy not only for serving them and
- [Traditional and Easy Pineapple Cheese Casserole](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2022/04/traditional-and-easy-pineapple-cheese-casserole/) - When this ever-popular Pineapple Casserole first met my tastebuds it was at a neighborhood potluck. I was very reluctant at first to try this crazy-sounding stuff. Pineapple as a warm side dish was so foreign to me. One bite and I couldn't stop gobbling it down! This insanely simple recipe is common at potlucks and
- [Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad ~ Easy and Delicious](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2022/04/mexican-street-corn-pasta-salad-easy-and-delicious/) - This is an entirely new recipe that I prepared for Cinco de Mayo. It's my idea of combining Italian pasta with traditional Mexican/Southwestern ingredients and spices. It does sound strange though, in my humble opinion. I mean pasta and Mexican? No matter how odd the name is, I absolutely LOVE this Mexican Street Corn Pasta
- [BEST Thai Cucumber Salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2022/06/thai-cucumber-salad-that-tops-them-all/) - This recipe for Thai Cucumber Salad is as authentic as one can get. Inspired by all of the glorious Thai dishes and excellent Thai cooks who shared recipes wth me, this is simply the BEST Thai Cucumber Salad! Enjoy, enjoy, ENJOY! For the Salad:2 large English cucumbers (cut lengthwise in half and then slice
- [How to Make Watermelon Granita Italian Ice or From Any Fruit](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2022/07/watermelon-granita-italian-ice/) - .. If nothing else, the brilliant rose-pink-red color of fresh watermelon is so PRETTY! How to Make Granita from Any Fruit At Home: Italian granita can be made in so many flavors! Traditionally, that would be lemon. But during the hot, dog days of summer, you want to choose the freshest fruit in season: Watermelon,
- [Easy Strawberry Salsa](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2022/06/easy-strawberry-salsa/) - Fresh strawberries! Gotta love 'em! And when they are in season, I'm whipping them up in delicious recipes such as Strawberry Bellini , or Strawberry Crostini , or Strawberry Panna Cotta . And when the heat is on outside, this no-bake Easy Strawberry Salsa is so refreshing and a major winner for finger-food simplicity! This
- [Simply Amazing Italian Bruschetta Chicken](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2022/07/italian-bruschetta-chicken/) - Nothing can be more summery than fresh-from-the-garden, vine-ripened tomatoes! This recipe for Italian Bruschetta Chicken is guaranteed to be one of your repeat dishes every summer. Juicy, grilled chicken topped with freshly-made bruschetta is not only delicious, but it's also easy, healthy, and light (and NO carbs)! This is an entree that is loaded with
- [Tropical Pineapple, Coconut, Banana Smoothie with Rambutan](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2022/07/tropical-pineapple-coconut-banana-smoothie-with-rambutan/) - Once a year, for maybe 2 months at best, rambutans are in season. But when they are (June and July), you've got to grab them quickly while you can to enjoy these sweet white orbs of deliciousness. One way to beat the heat is to make a Tropical Banana, Pineapple, and Coconut Smoothie with Rambutan.
- [Creamy Baked Parmesan Zucchini and Rice Gratin](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2022/08/creamy-parmesan-zucchini-rice-graten/) - 3 pounds zucchini (shredded with skin left on)3 tsp. salt4 Tbsp. olive oil1-½ cups onions (diced)4 large garlic cloves (minced)2 cups already cooked arborio or jasmine white rice (measure after rice is cooked)3 Tbsp. flour2 cups whole milk (or 1 cup whole milk and 1 cup heavy cream)1 cup freshly grated Parmesan Cheese2 cups
- [BLT, Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato Italian Pasta Salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2022/08/blt-bacon-lettuce-and-tomato-italian-pasta-salad/) - Summer's end always calls for lots of tomatoes! Huge amounts of tomatoes from our gardens and farmers' markets! It's just one of the best times of the year, in my opinion! Without a shadow of a doubt, the classic Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato sandwich reigns supreme as the hands-down favorite this time of year .
- [Cranberry Nut Bread](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2022/11/cranberry-nut-bread-2/) - Cranberries, beautiful little crimson red cranberries! They're fresh in the market right now and I'm stocking up on them to use in some great recipes that have been featured in many cooking magazines this season. I have an old perennial cherished family recipe that must be baked for the holidays: my mother's Cranberry Nut Bread.
- [Easy Cranberry Balsamic Vinaigrette with Garlic](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2022/10/easy-cranberry-balsamic-vinaigrette-with-garlic/) - Homemade dressings are SO much better than store-bought bottled dressings. WHY? Well, first of all, you know right off the bat that there are no preservatives in your homemade dressings . . . when you make anything yourself, you know what's in it, right? And those preservatives really make dressings (and any food) go wonky
- [The BEST Creamy, Loaded Eggnog](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2022/12/the-best-creamy-loaded-eggnog/) - Ho Ho Ho! It's time to break out the eggnog for some JOLLY GOOD old-fashioned holiday cheer! And this is the BEST eggnog you will ever taste. It's creamy to the max! You'll be the life of the party after a few cups of this super loaded nog! Guaranteed to make you happy, happy, HAPPY
- [Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies with White Chocolate](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2022/12/cranberry-orange-shortbread-cookies-white-chocolate/) - One of the most delicious foods to look forward to during the festive holiday season is Scottish shortbread. I must admit that my family nibbles on shortbread anytime of the year. But it's at Christmas when it's traditional to bake and give shortbread. If you've never had shortbread before, just one bite into these delicious
- [Festive Cranberry and Pomegranate Bellini](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2022/12/festive-cranberry-and-pomegranate-bellini/) - It's time to get into a holly, jolly, festive mood, my friends. The gloom around the world will continue to arrest our attention, continually depressing our emotional well-being. Let's put a little positivity and joyfulness in our holidays, even if it's difficult to do. This recipe for Delectable and Festive Cranberry, Pomegranate Bellini will get
- [Lemon Ricotta Cookies with Limoncello Glaze](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2023/01/lemon-ricotta-cookies-with-limoncello-glaze/) - It's citrus season! Mother Nature knew what she was doing placing the peak season for citrus fruit in the middle of winter! All of that vitamin C from fresh lemons, limes, and grapefruit helps our immune systems during flu and cold season! Oh and the FLAVOR! So light, tangy, and sweet-sour. And when adding sugar
- [How to Make Lo Mein - Chinese Pasta](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2023/02/how-to-make-lo-mein-chinese-pasta/) - Pasta noodles aren't just for Italian cuisine recipes! Noodles are beloved in Asian food too. And not just in Chinese cuisine, but also in Japanese, Thai and Korean cuisine! One of my absolute favorite Asian noodle dishes is Chinese Lo Mein (I call it Chinese pasta)! I rarely prepare Chinese recipes at home. That's because
- [15 Minute Easy, Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon Filets](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2023/01/15-minute-easy-lemon-garlic-butter-salmon-filets/) - Most of us want to be able to prepare recipes for our families and friends that make them feel special, right? It's always so satisfying when they're caught off guard, not knowing that something crazy-good and memorable is about to pass through their lips . . . and this just makes your family and guess
- [Savory Herb Pork Chops In Garlic Butter Sauce - Keto Friendly](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2023/02/savory-herb-pork-chops-in-garlic-butter-sauce-keto-friendly/) - Deliciousness In Less Than 15 Minutes!! Don't you love it when you can have a delicious dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes? These Pork Chops in Herb Garlic Butter Sauce are just that . . . simply incredible and ready in a snap! My family just can't get enough of juicy pork. Is
- [Pasta with Truffle Cream Sauce](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2023/03/pasta-with-truffle-cream-sauce/) - Pasta with Truffle Cream Sauce is a dish that few, if any of us, could possibly resist! The pasta is coated with a luscious coating of cream and Parmigiano cheese. Slivers of fragrant black truffles blissfully float in the silky, delicate sauce. One of the greatest food treasures in life has to be Italian truffles. Worth
- [Easy Creamy, Cheesy Cauliflower au Gratin {KETO}](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2023/02/easy-creamy-cheesy-cauliflower-au-gratin/) - Cauliflower au Gratin is an essential dish that I highly recommend adding to your culinary expertise and repertoire! If your family or guests enjoy recipes that are packed full of flavor and cheesiness then this recipe will certainly be a hit! Goodness, it's just crazy to admit that this recipe is even 'healthy' according to
- [Curry Chicken Salad with Grapes, Apples, and Cashews -- So Easy!](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2023/04/curry-chicken-salad-with-grapes-apples-and-cashews-so-easy/) - Chicken salad is one of the all-time favorites for many people. Yet sometimes we need a little variety to spice up the same-old, same-old recipes that we love so much. Luckily, someone from Great Britain added curry to chicken salad, and another cherished recipe was created: Curry Chicken Salad. It's been wildly popular for many
- [Pollo Asado ~ Mexican Grilled Chicken ~ Easy!](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2023/04/polla-asado-mexican-grilled-chicken-easy/) - Once upon a time, I lived in Scottsdale, Arizona where I first bit into an amazing grilled chicken with Mexican spices, known as "Pollo Asado". It has an absolutely unforgettable smoky, citrusy flavor that's included on the menu during my family's Cinco de Mayo festivities. I created a recipe that includes all the traditional ingredients
- [Lemony Limoncello Tiramisu ~ So Easy](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2023/05/lemony-limoncello-tiramisu-so-easy/) - The tiramisu from Northern Italy meets the tangy lemons and limoncello from the Southern region and Amalfi Coast. An exquisite flavor combination to enjoy!
- [Farfalle Carbonara with Pancetta and Peas](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2023/05/farfalle-carbonara-with-spring-peas-for/) - 1 lb. farfalle pasta (bow ties)1 jumbo egg4 oz. heavy cream (changed from 3.5 oz - I mean what's an extra ounce?)sea salt and freshly ground black pepper12 rashers of pancetta (roughly sliced (I used 1/2 lb. chopped into chunks))3 handfuls of fresh or frozen peas2 sprigs of fresh mint leaves (I eliminated this since
- [Classic Italian Tomato and Cucumber Salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2023/09/classic-italian-tomato-and-cucumber-salad/) - this is just one of those easy summer recipes that is packed full of fresh-summer-flavor. You'll love it!
- [Fresh and Easy Corn Salsa](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2023/07/fresh-and-easy-corn-salsa/) - Looking for a recipe that's fresh and overflowing with vivid, bright colors and tastes absolutely fantastic? Oh yes, and easy to make? This Fresh Corn Salsa is your new go-to and keep-on-repeat recipe for a yummy appetizer that everyone will go crazy for! Fresh Corn Salsa is one of the most delicious recipes of summertime!
- [The BEST Instant Pot Chili](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2023/10/the-best-instant-pot-chili/) - This hearty, comforting, and totally loaded with deliciousness chili will soon be your absolute favorite and BEST chili to cross your lips! With an Instant Pot, you can easily prepare this chili in the blink of an eye! Enjoy this recipe for our 'bowl of red'! I've become a huge fan of the Instant Pot! This week I made the BEST and This hearty, comforting, and totally loaded with deliciousness chili will soon be your absolute favorite and BEST chili to cross your lips! With an Instant Pot, you can easily prepare this chili in the blink of an eye! Enjoy this recipe for our 'bowl of red'! I've become a huge fan of the Instant Pot! This week I made the BEST and
- [Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup ~ FAST and Delicious](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2023/10/creamy-chicken-noodle-soup-fast-and-delicious/) - The cold is in the air, and leaves are drifting everywhere as crisp winds blow across the acreage. It's that delightful time of year when Mother Nature gets ready for her winter nap. It's that time when we cozy up inside to cuddle up with a good book or watch a favorite old movie with
- [Italian Turkey Stuffing](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2023/11/italian-turkey-stuffing/) - Savory Italian turkey stuffing with mozzarella, toasted bread, sautéed onions, celery, herbs, and a hint of pepperoni for irresistible flavor. (154 characters)
- [Perfect Prime Rib with Au Jus](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2023/12/prime-rib-with-au-jus/) - This recipe is from my parents' very successful Italian and Steakhouse restaurant. It is superb and super easy. Your guests will beg for more! 1 large (prime rib roast. Let your butcher know how many people you'll serve and he will advise you on the weight that you should purchase.)For the Au Jus (this serves
- [Easy Cherry Pie Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2023/12/easy-cherry-pie-shortbread-thumbprint-cookies/) - I received a recipe request from the editor of "Acreage Life" magazine in which I write a monthly recipe column. He specifically asked for something "colorful" for the December issue. Immediately I knew what recipe I would prepare and submit to the magazine! Cherry Pie Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies. They. Are. THE BOMB! Not only are
- [Pineapple, Spinach, and Ginger Super De-Tox Smoothie](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/01/pineapple-spinach-and-ginger-super-de-tox-smoothie/) - Here's a super easy, and super delicious way to kick-start your new year (or whenever)! It's a detox cleanse with my extremely popular Pineapple, Spinach, and Ginger Super Detox Smoothie! One tried and true way to jump-start our health efforts is to include and enjoy healthy smoothies in our food choices. This incredible smoothie does
- [Iowa Maid-Rite Loose Meat Sandwiches {Sliders}](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/01/iowa-maid-rite-loose-meat-sandwich-sliders/) - The recipe for Maid-Rites is a well-kept secret. But this home version is as good as you can get to the secret Iowa Maid-Rite sandwich recipe! Growing up in Iowa, I've had some pretty amazing food unique to the state. I'm sure you have similar memories from your own home state or from other states
- [How To Make Chicken Pot Pie with Double Crust](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/01/how-to-make-chicken-pot-pie-with-double-crust/) - Do you need a fabulous comfort food recipe, especially when the temperatures outside are freezing cold? You've come to the perfect spot to discover how to make a Chicken Pot Pie with Double Crust that is guaranteed to hit the spot and have your family and friends asking for seconds! To warm you up, it
- [Cheesy Italian Frittata with Peppers ~ Easy](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/01/cheesy-italian-frittata-with-peppers-easy/) - If there ever was one perfect food, to me, it has to be eggs! I just love eggs and could eat them every day! One of my favorite ways to enjoy eggs is in an Italian frittata. Simplicity and ease capture the essence of a frittata. This recipe for Cheesy Frittata with Peppers (and tomatoes)
- [Scottish Cullen Skink - Easy Creamy Fish Chowder](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/01/scottish-cullen-skink-easy-creamy-fish-chowder/) - This traditional Scottish comfort food will keep you all warm inside. Cullen Skink is an easy creamy, fish chowder with an amazing flavor! Made with smoked fish, potatoes, leeks, onions, and cream, it's perfect for when the cold outside just seeps down into your bones. The name sure sounds strange to those of us living
- [How To Make The Best Cheesy Italian Rigatoni Torta](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/02/cheesy-italian-rigatoni-torta/) - Are you in the mood for some 'pasta heaven' on a plate? If you are, then here's a superb recipe, (once the Bolognese sauce is made), that is super simple to make, yet looks as if you've worked for hours preparing!!!! I'm NOT KIDDING! This Cheesy Italian Rigatoni Torta is also FUN to make . . .
- [Ultimate Italian Nutella Brownies -- And Oh So Easy!](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/02/ultimate-italian-nutella-brownies-and-oh-so-easy/) - If you're a huge fan of Nutella, then you're going to love my latest recipe for the Ultimate Italian Nutella Brownies! These are not the same as my other recipe for Nutella Brownies, which are similar their chewy, fudgy texture. This batch, however, has a thick layer of Nutella sandwiched between two incredibly fudgy layers
- [Asian Chopped Salad - Easy and Healthy](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/02/asian-chopped-salad-easy-and-healthy/) - Who doesn't love a good chopped salad? One of the best is a crunchy, delicious, light and healthy Asian Chopped Salad. So easy to make with simple ingredients from your pantry, fridge, or local food market. You'll be hooked after noshing down on just one delightful bowl of goodness that's vibrant with vivid colors and amazing
- [New Orleans Roast Beef Debris Po Boy](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/02/new-orleans-roast-beef-debris-po-boy/) - Do take a minute and enjoy watching this video about the New Orleans Po' Boy! So what's YOUR favorite way to prepare a New Orleans Roast Beef Debris Po' Boy? New Orleans Roast Beef Debris Po Boy For the Roast Beef3 - 4 lb. chuck roast with lots of fat12 cloves of garlic (peeled, cut
- [Italian Cheesy Artichoke and Asparagus Phyllo Pie ~ Perfect for Springtime](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/03/italian-cheesy-artichoke-asparagus-phyllo-pie/) - A perfect vegetable tart filled with roasted fresh asparagus, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and Italian green olives. The added 3 type of Italian cheese maximize the flavor. Perfect for a brunch too! 1 bunch very thin asparagus (woody ends cut off, then cut in half on the vertical)1 cup artichoke hearts (cut in half)1
- [Spring Pea and Asparagus Salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/03/spring-pea-and-asparagus-salad/) - For the saladYour choice of 'loose leaf' lettuce for the 'bed' of the salad (I used mini-arugula as well as a blend of spring greens)1 - 2 cups of fresh asparagus (blanched or pre-blanched, cut about 4 inches long, preferably the thinnest you can find)2 cups frozen or fresh small green peas4 - 6 radishes
- [Asparagus Mimosa with Hard Boiled Eggs and Vinaigrette](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/03/asparagus-mimosa-with-hard-boiled-eggs-and-vinaigrette/) - Asparagus and eggs are a beautiful combination. Especially classic in Italian cooking is a well-known dish, Asparagus Mimosa. It's a really simple dish in which the asparagus is served with diced hard-boiled eggs on top. The name "Mimosa" was given because the chopped hard-boiled eggs look like the fragrant blossoms of the mimosa tree. Asparagus
- [Roasted Parmesan Garlic Carrots](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/03/roasted-parmesan-garlic-carrots/) - If you're looking for a delicious way to eat more veggies, you've just found the perfect recipe! Roasted Parmesan Garlic Carrots! Fresh, caramelized, crunchy outside yet tender inside . . . this is the perfect side dish! And popping with vivid color to please the eyes first, these carrots are foodie eye candy! Roasting vegetables
- [Lemon Risotto with Roasted Asparagus and Three Cheeses](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/03/lemon-risotto-with-roasted-asparagus-and-three-cheeses/) - Most of us aren't aware that the harvest season for Italian lemons produces infamously sweet lemons to nosh on. Yes, that's right! Although we were footsteps away from a lemon grove, at any time of year, anyone will be happy to help you get around and learn about growing high-quality lemons. July through December is
- [Italian Lemon Dove Cake with Limoncello Cream](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/03/italian-lemon-dove-cake-with-limoncello-cream/) - A classic Italian cake for Easter filled with luscious, yet light lemon flavor! Sponge1/2 cup warm milk (105 -115 degrees F)1 envelope (2-1/4 teaspoons dry yeast, divided)3/4 cup flourDough2 eggs1 egg yolk1/3 cup granulated sugar8 tablespoons butter (room temperature)1/2 teaspoon salt1/2 teaspoon fiori di sicilia or 1 teaspoon vanilla extractGrated zest of 1 orange or
- [Strawberry Spinach Salad with Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/03/strawberry-spinach-salad-strawberry-balsamic-vinaigrette/) - Strawberry Spinach Salad Fresh, juicy strawberries are ready to harvest now! Whether from your own garden or from your local farmers' market, strawberries are ripe and ready for picking! So during this season of strawberry abundance, it's the perfect time to use them in your recipes. I just had to start off with this amazing
- [Strawberry Layer Cake and Sweet Mascarpone Cheese Frosting](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/04/strawberry-layer-cake-cream-cheese-icing/) - 2 cups white sugar1 3 oz package strawberry flavored gelatin1 cup 2 sticks butter, softened4 jumbo eggs (room temperature)2 3/4 cups sifted cake flour2 1/2 tsp. baking powder1 cup whole milk1 Tbsp. vanilla extract3/4 cup strawberry puree made from fresh or frozen strawberries (make an additional 2 cups of puree to drizzle over the cake
- [Easy Strawberry Ricotta Scones - A Scottish Treat](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/05/easy-strawberry-ricotta-scones-a-scottish-treat/) - During a recent trip to Scotland, I couldn't get enough of its classic national treat: Scones! Tender and delicious, scones are a traditional sweet pastry that originated in Scotland as far back as 1513. Through the centuries, scones morphed from 'termsgonn' (the Scottish and Gaelic word for 'cake'). Because scones don't have any yeast, they
- [Easy Oven Roasted Root Vegetables - the Yummiest!](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/06/easy-oven-roasted-root-vegetables-the-yummiest/) - The magazine that publishes my monthly food column, "Acreage Life", asked me to submit a recipe for root vegetables. That was an easily answered question, knowing right away that I wanted to roast something delicious: Easy Oven Roasted Root Vegetables! Since root vegetables are readily available year-round in our food markets, this is an easy
- [Fresh Peach and Burrata Salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/07/fresh-peach-and-burrata-salad/) - Peach season is far too short and short, isn't it? So when they are at their peak of freshness, it's time to enjoy this sweet, juicy fruit in a Peach and Burrata Salad. . . an Italian-flaired salad that will bring you sweet memories of summer's bounty! This peach salad is truly summertime served on
- [Macaroni Salad ~ Outstanding and Loaded](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/06/macaroni-salad-outstanding-and-loaded/) - Pasta salads are so popular here in the States . . . and for good reasons: they're delicious, easy, and can be prepared in endless ways to suit our individual preferences. A classic Macaroni Salad is a perennial favorite side dish. I cannot get enough of it and given a choice I actually prefer it
- [Easy Overnight Peaches and Cream Bread Pudding](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/08/easy-overnight-peaches-and-cream-bread-pudding/) - Do you have a weakness for desserts? Or even, more focused, do you tend to prefer more fruit-based deserts or not? Do you prefer more chilled recipes or made ahead warm from the oven? Well, today, my friends, a good old-fashioned southern Peaches and Cream Bread Pudding is on today's menu. My husband
- [How To Make the BEST Panzanella](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/08/panzanella-salad-with-bacon-tomato-and/) - 2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar3 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil1/2 teaspoon freshly-cracked sea salt1/4 teaspoon freshly-cracked black pepper2 - 3 garlic cloves (minced)4 cups coarsely chopped vine-ripe (red tomatoes)1/2 cup sliced red onion⅓ cup chopped fresh basil6 pancetta slices (cut about 1/8th" thick, cooked and diced)1 8-ounce loaf day-old French bread, cut into 1-inch
- [How To Roast and Freeze Red Peppers](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/08/how-to-roast-red-peppers/) - It's time for a bumper crop of peppers in your gardens, farmers' markets, and food stores! So if you want to preserve those garden-fresh peppers to enjoy all winter long, then I'm here to help you learn how to roast and freeze red peppers to use and enjoy later! (or any color of pepper
- [Healthy Peach Green Ice Tea](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/08/healthy-peach-green-ice-tea/) - select your favorite 'green tea' brand variety There are tons, and I mean tons of recipes for Peach Ice Tea. Restaurant chains are even famous for offering this delightful beverage in summertime. But nowhere will you find the healthiest version for peach-flavored ice tea! Who doesn't know the benefits of drinking 'green' tea? Green tea is
- [Cheesy Fiesta Corn Dip](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/09/cheesy-fiesta-corn-dip/) - You know those recipes that you enjoy from others and you like them so much that you just have to ask for the recipes? Well here's a recipe that I did just that! I guarantee that your family and guests, plus YOU will devour this crazy Cheesy Fiesta Corn Dip! I credit my wonderful neighbors who
- [Rustic Apple Crostata with Caramel Streusel Topping](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/09/rustic-apple-crostata-caramel-streusel-topping/) - If you like apple pies and tortas, then you are going to LOVE this Rustic Apple Crostata with Caramel Streusel Topping . . . an Italian take on pie (with a twist of German flair that I added for my German-Scottish husband)! Last month I made a peach crostata with the last harvest of peaches
- [Butternut Squash Ravioli in Brown Butter and Pancetta](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/09/butternut-squash-ravioli-in-brown-butter-and-pancetta/) - Learning how to make ravioli is not a very common activity for children in the USA. But making ravioli, tortellini, and any pasta was ingrained in me by watching my mother and my nonna in the kitchen. Now that I work full time, along with this blog and an Etsy shop, I only make ravioli
- [Pastina Soup -- Italian Childhood Memories](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/10/pastina-chicken-soup-italian-childhood/) - After the destruction by Hurricane Helene, I was reminded how comforting this classic Italian soup can be! Italian Pastina Soup is lovingly known as "Italian Penicillin Soup" is a delicious and delicate soup that's near and dear to my heart and other Italians. Pastina is the ultimate Italian comfort food that evokes childhood memories of
- [Brownies with Chocolate Ganache Frosting](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/10/brownies-with-chocolate-ganache-frosting/) - Brownies with Chocolate Ganache are incredibly chewy, fudgy texture and are irresistable to eat only one. Thick layer of decadent ganache perfects these treats
- [Outstanding Pork Knuckle "Schweinshaxe" for Bavarian German Octoberfest](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/10/outstanding-pork-knuckle-schweinshaxe-for-bavarian-german-octoberfest/) - Seriously one of the most outstanding German recipes EVER! Succulent pork (huge amount) hugging a bone, exceptionally seasoned, perfect for Octoberfest!
- [The BEST Creamy Vegetable and Chip Dip](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/12/creamy-vegetable-and-chip-dip/) - This tried and true winning vegetable and chip dip recipe will forever be on your entertaining menu once your guests are 'Wow'd'! You'll love this!
- [A Delicious Espresso Martini ~ And Oh So Easy!](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/12/a-delicious-espresso-martini-and-oh-so-easy/) - Sip sophistication with this chic Espresso Martini, a perfect blend of rich, bold coffee, vodka, rum & more. A delicious cocktail that energizes and delights!
- [How To Make Perfect Gnocchi ~ Italian Dumplings ~ GIVEAWAY!](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/01/how-to-make-perfect-gnocchi-italian-dumplings/) - The perfect guide to learning how to make Italian gnocchi, the famous delicate and delicious dumplings that everyone loves. Video and step-by-step instructions!
- [Salmon in Creamy Lemon Parmesan Sauce](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/01/salmon-in-creamy-lemon-parmesan-sauce/) - “Fine Restaurant Quality” is how your guests will describe this rich and flavorful salmon dish! Ready in less than 30 minutes. Sure to impress anyone!
- [Perfect and Easy Pot Roast](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/03/perfect-and-easy-pot-roast/) - 3 - 4 lb. chuck roast (use a cut with lots of white marbling fat throughout)½ stick of butter (more if necessary during searing of the beef)1 Tbsp. Nature's Seasons (seasoning)1 Tbsp. Mrs. Dash (the original flavor, salt-free seasoning)1 tsp. onion powder (optional)¼ cup chopped garlic (either fresh or from the jar)8 medium-sized russet potatoes
- [The BEST Classic Tuna Salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/04/the-best-classic-tuna-salad/) - My husband and I completely disagree on how to prepare a classic sandwich recipe that both of us enjoy: A Tuna Salad Sandwich! His version is the most minimalized recipe possible: tuna mixed with mayo . . . period. For me, that's just so B-O-R-I-N-G! So to keep the peace, when we want a tuna
- [Classic Deviled Eggs](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/04/laurens-deviled-eggs/) - 12 jumbo eggs1/2 cup mayonnaise or Miracle Whip (our choice for the tang it offers)3 tsp. mustard1-1/2 tsp. apple cider vinegar4 Tbsp. melted butter (this is truly the secret ingredient)1 tsp. salt1/4 tsp. pepperpaprika for garnishherbs to garnish Bring a pot of water to a boil (I place the eggs in the water while it
- [Creamy Lemon Parmesan Pea Salad - Easy Italian](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/04/creamy-lemon-parmesan-pea-salad-easy-italian/) - Creamy Lemon Parmesan Pea Salad takes a typical pea salad to another high level of total deliciousness! The dressing is the stand-out element everyone loves!
- [Pasta al Limone ~ Lemon Pasta](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/04/pasta-al-limone-lemon-pasta/) - This creamy Pasta al Limone will transport you to the Amalfi Coast (or at least thoughts of it) as you twirl your fork and enjoy this light & fragrant dish!
- [Sugar Cookie Crusted Red, White & Blue Fruit Pizza](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/06/sugar-crusted-red-white-blue-pizza/) - The 4th of July, Independence Day always inspires foodies to prepare something delicious with the colors of our flag -- red, white and blue! It also seems to me that what was once old will sooner or later become new again. Anything retro is always fun! A Sugar Cookie Crusted Red, White and Blue Fruit
- [The BEST Fried Green Tomatoes with Garlic, Bacon and Buttermilk Sauce](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/06/fried-green-tomatoes-garlic-bacon-buttermilk-sauce/) - 8 green tomatoes (sliced ½" to ¾" thick.)4 tsp. freshly-cracked sea saltGarlic-Buttermilk Coating2 cups whole buttermilk1 large egg4 tsp. chili sauce1/2 tsp. garlic powderBreading3 cups all-purpose flour2 cups yellow cornmeal1 cup Italian breadcrumbs1 tsp. freshly-cracked black pepperGarlic, Bacon Buttermilk Sauce4 slices thick-cut bacon1/2 cup mayonnaise1/4 cup whole buttermilk2 Tbsp. fresh Italian parsley (minced)2 Tbsp. fresh
- [Still The Best Ever Red, White & Blue Flag Cake from Ina Garten](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/06/still-the-best-red-white-and-blue-flag-cake-from-ina-garten/) - For Independence Day (the 4th of July), Flag Day, Memorial Day, or Labor Day, this is our family's favorite go-to cake, which is literally, hands-down, still the best Red, White, and Blue Flag Cake. This cake was inspired by Ina Garten's flag cake with several changes that suit our taste preferences. It's always recommended This flag cake from Ina Garten will have your guests (and you) begging for more!
- [Italian Tortellini Pasta Salad ~ How to Make](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/06/italian-tortellini-pasta-salad-how-to-make/) - Enjoy this delicious Italian Tortellini Pasta Salad for rounds of applause and requests for the recipe from La Bella Vita Cucina Italian food blog! Grazie!
- [Tomato Sandwiches! Pure Simplicity!](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/07/tomato-sandwich-pure-simplicity/) - This is as pure & simple as it gets for a delicious garden-fresh tomato sandwich. Nothing but mayo, garden lettuce . . . and that's it on toasted white bread.
- [Easy Southern Peach Sangria in Minutes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/08/easy-southern-peach-sangria-in-minutes/) - 4 fresh peaches (preferably "freestone", pitted, skin left on, cut into 1" slices)2 - 3 Granny Smith apples (skin left on, cut into 1" slices, seeds removed)1 bottle chilled white wine of choice (Pinot Noir is what I use, Pinot Grigio, Chenin Blanc, or and Chardonnay are good too)¼ bottle chilled red wine of
- [How  To Make Peach Semifreddo with Raspberries and Honey Drizzle](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/08/how-to-make-peach-semifreddo-with-raspberries-and-honey-drizzle/) - Semifreddo is a classic Italian frozen dessert that’s a cross between ice cream and mousse. It is a sublime creation that is an unbelievably light dessert. The word literally means “half cold” or “half frozen”, to help describe its texture: soft, creamy, and velvety. When you first bite in, a semifreddo will feel soft and
- [How To Make a Rustic Italian Peach Crostata](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/08/how-to-make-a-rustic-italian-peach-crostata/) - Peaches are still in season here in South Carolina. And they are HUGE! So I bought a bushel from my favorite roadside stand. Peaches sold at roadside stands and farmers' markets here are picked at the last minute just before perfect ripeness. So you have to use them immediately before they spoil -- in 2
- [The Most Incredible Watermelon Salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/08/the-most-incredible-watermelon-salad/) - This salad is the perfect cool recipe to enjoy in the heat of summer! Full of tang and sweetness combined, it's always a hit!
- [Heirloom Tomato and Italian Cheese Tart](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/08/heirloom-tomato-and-italian-cheese-phyllo-tart/) - Here's an AMAZINGLY delicious (and I seriously mean that) way to celebrate the freshness and flavor of the summer's bounty: An Heirloom Tomato and Italian Cheese Tart! Layers of phyllo dough sprinkled with goat cheese crumbles and olive oil throughout the layers give a subtle tang to the pastry. The result is a flaky,
- [Superb Moist Lemon Zucchini Bread](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/08/superb-moist-lemon-zucchini-bread/) - It's time for bushels and bushels of fresh zucchini harvested from the garden. For a light and lemony treat, this Lemon Zucchini Bread is where to start using that prolific veggie! My family just LOVES this recipe! It's one of our favorite recipes that we make over and over again. Not too sweet, it's incredibly
- [Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto with Sage](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/09/roasted-butternut-squash-risotto-sage/) - This Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto is not only a delight to the eye with its vivid colors of orange and green, but oh what an incredibly smooth and sage-y autumnal flavor it possesses as well! A truly visually magnificent and heavenly flavored risotto! Mangia mia amici! 2 Tbsp. olive oil2 Tbsp. butter1 onion (chopped)4 large cloves of garlic (minced)2 Tbsp. olive oil3 cups Italian arborio rice6 cups chicken
- [Zucchini, Yellow Squash & Italian Cheese Torta](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/09/zucchini-yellow-squash-italian-cheese-torta/) - 3 Tbsp. olive oil1 medium onion (diced)3 cloves garlic (minced)2 small zucchini ('salted and drained', sliced)1 small yellow squash ('salted and drained', sliced)2 ready-made pie crusts OR your own favorite home-made pie crust6 jumbo eggs (beaten)1/2 cup ricotta cheese8 oz. shredded Italian 6-cheese blend4 oz. shredded sharp Cheddar cheese1/4 cup Parmigiano (Parmesan cheese, freshly grated)4
- [Carrot Cake with Praline Filling and Cream Cheese Frosting](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/10/carrot-cake-with-praline-filling-cream/) - The perfect compliment to pumpkin and apple desserts for the holidays is this spectacular Carrot Cake filled with caramel PLUS icing. This show-stopping 3-layer cake is decadent and rich. Truth is . . . it's better than pumpkin pie any day!" Here's the story on how I created this incredible cake: What do we have
- [Bucatini all'Amatriciana](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/10/bucatini-allamatriciana/) - This classic pasta recipe has been posted and shared several times: when I first posted it in 2013, then again after the tragedy of the earthquake that took place in Amatrice, Italy. At that posting time, I joined restaurants and food bloggers around the world who also prepared this classic recipe for Bucatini all'Amatriciana in
- [Pizza Margherita:  A Neopolitan Classic](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/10/pizza-margherita/) - Ciao a tutti . . . you're reading a blog post that I originally wrote back in 2012. Nothing has changed about the infamous, classic pizza recipe from Napoli (Naples), Italy: Pizza Margherita! The only difference is that: My husband and I are here on our third visit to this complex city, which has numerous reputations
- [Amazing Cheesy Italian Turkey Tetrazzini with Garlic Buttercrumb Topping](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/11/amazing-cheesy-italian-turkey-tetrazzini-with-garlic-buttercrumb-topping/) - Comfort food is just the best, isn't it? And what could possibly be more comforting than turkey (or chicken) with pasta in a heavenly, creamy sauce filled with delicious mushrooms and veggies? It’s rich, creamy, and delicious- the ultimate comfort food! For a delicious, hearty, and filling casserole, you're going to go crazy over this
- [Red Winter Fruit Salad with Lemon Cream - Light and Healthy](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/12/red-fruit-salad-with-lemon-cream-light-and-healthy/) - A gorgeous red winter fruit salad made with strawberries, raspberries, cherries, apples, grapes, and pomegranate—fresh, healthy, and perfect for holiday tables.
- [Stracotto di Manzo (Italian Pot Roast)](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/12/stracotto-di-manzo-italian-pot-roast/) - This Stracotto di Manzo recipe is a classic Italian pot roast, slow-braised in wine until fork-tender and rich with comforting flavor.
- [Cheesy Pecorino Corn with Italian Herbs](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2020/08/cheesy-pecorino-corn-italian/) - Cheesy Pecorino corn with Italian herbs is a creamy, savory side dish that’s easy to make and full of Italian-inspired flavor.
- [Steak Diane](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/12/happy-100th-birthday-julia-steak-diane/) - Learn how to make Steak Diane with tender beef and a rich, creamy mushroom sauce—an elegant classic steak recipe made at home.
- [Nonna's Italian Stew](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/12/nonnas-italian-stew/) - Nonna's Italian stew served over creamy Fontina polenta, a rustic Alpine comfort food inspired by Valle d'Aosta. Budget-friendly & perfect for winter nights
- [Tortellini in Brodo (Tortellini in Broth) A Northern Italian Classic](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/11/tortellini-in-brodo-tortellini-in-broth-a-northern-italian-classic/) - Learn how to make classic tortellini in brodo with homemade broth—an iconic Italian soup from Emilia-Romagna. Perfect for special occasions and holidays!
- [Creamy, Cheesy Dauphinois Potatoes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2020/04/daupinois-potatoes/) - Creamy dauphinois potatoes layered with garlic and cream—an elegant scalloped potato dish perfect for holidays and special dinners.
- [The Best Soft and Chewy Snickerdoodles](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/12/the-best-soft-and-chewy-snickerdoodles/) - These standout snickerdoodles are softer, chewier, and more flavorful than any other recipe—perfectly rolled in cinnamon sugar.
- [Caprese Salad with Grape Tomatoes, Mozzarella & Basil](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2009/06/caprese-salad-with-grape-tomatoes/) - This is an exceptionally delicious and easy summer salad to prepare whether for yourself, family, and/or guests. They will rave about this and thank you for sharing it with them! 4 - 5 cups grape or cherry tomatoes (sliced in halves)1 lb. fresh imported Italian mozzarella (cut into 1/4 - 1/2" cubes)1/4 cup extra virgin
- [Summer Salad with Cherries, Prosciutto, Goat Cheese and Balsamico!](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/07/summer-salad-with-cherries-prosciutto/) - 6 cups arugula and baby spinach blend1/3 cup red onion (thinly sliced)1 cup cherries (pitted and sliced in half (do this just before serving to prevent browning))1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese1/4 cup slivered almonds3 - 4 oz. prosciutto (sliced in thin ribbons)Serve with Balsamico VinaigretteBalsamico Vinaigrette1/4 cup balsamico vinegar1/4 cup canola oil1/4 cup olive oil1
- [Chocolate Spiderweb Cookies](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2018/10/chocolate-spiderweb-cookies/) - 1 cup all-purpose flour1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa1/2 teaspoon baking soda1/8 teaspoon salt1/3 cup vegetable shortening2/3 cup granulated sugar1 teaspoon vanilla extract1 large egg whiteCooking spray2 cups powdered sugar (sifted)2 tablespoons low-fat milk Preheat oven to 350º.Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt, stirring well with a whisk.Place shortening in a large mixing bowl; beat with
- [Strawberry Chambord Sauce](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2009/06/strawberry-chambord-sauce/) - 2 pints fresh strawberries1 tsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice1 cup sugar2 - 4 Tbsps. Chambord (raspberry liquor or Framboise or raspberry brandy) Wash, hull, and slice the strawberries.Process with a food processor or inversion blender.Add the sugar, lemon juice, and Chambord liquor.Blend until smooth.Drizzle over ice cream or cake.
- [Caramel Glazed Apple Cake](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2010/09/caramel-glazed-apple-cake-oh-my/) - For the Apple Cake3 cups flour2 cups sugar1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (my addition to the recipe)1 teaspoon baking soda1 teaspoon salt3 jumbo eggs1-1/2 cups canola oil3 teaspoons vanilla (I increased this from 2 tsps. in original recipe)3 cups finely chopped apples (I used Granny Smiths)For the Caramel Glaze1 cup firmly packed brown sugar1/4 cup
- [Tomato and Zucchini Gratin with Asiago and Pimento Cheese](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2014/08/italian-tomato-zucchini-squash-gratin-asiago-pimento-cheese-giveaway/) - For this recipe and all recipes that I include Asiago cheese, I only use the most authentic and excellent Asiago PDO. You can find it in the markets listed (click on the link). . .
- [Grill-Roasted Corn, Black Bean and Avocado Salad with Cilantro Viniagrette](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/07/grillroasted-corn-salad-with-black-bean/) - 6 ears of grill-roasted corn kernels off the cob1 can of black beans (rinsed and drained)1 large tomato (diced, or 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved)1/2 red onion (finely chopped)2 avocados (peeled and cut into 1/2" cubes)1/2 cup roasted red peppers (drained and chopped (I freeze a batch of these every summer))¼ cup fresh cilantro (chopped)¼
- [Fried Zucchini Blossoms / Fiori di Zucchini Fritti in Pastella](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2009/07/delicate-and-rare-fried-zucchini-blossoms/) - Freshly picked zucchini blossoms1 cup water2/3 cup flourVegetable or canola oil (not olive oil)Salt If necessary, clean the zucchini blossoms with a rapid rinse under cold running water.Dry them GENTLY on paper towels.Cut the stems to about 1? long.Cut the base of the blossom on one side only and then OPEN UP the blossom to
- [The Best Classic Bruschetta](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/08/best-classic-bruschetta/) - This classic, authentic Bruschetta has been a customer (and family) favorite for years in our restaurant and homes. Guests request it at every gathering!
- [Grilled Peaches with Crumbled Amaretti and Balsamic Glaze](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2021/07/grilled-peaches-mascarpone-cream-sweet-balsamic-syrup/) - Lazzaroni Amaretti Di Saronno, 7.05 OunceLe Creuset Enamaled Cast Iron Square Grill, 9.5", CeriseBlazing Bella Traditional Aged Balsamic Vinegar - Modena Italy Premium Reserve 16.9 fl.oz (500ml) Sweet Balsamic Glaze/Syrup½ cup of the HIGHEST QUALITY Balsamic Vinegar that you can buy1 Tbsp. honey (preferably local, use more if you want the syrup to be sweeter)1
- [Cinnamony Zucchini Cake with Creamy Cream Cheese Frosting](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2010/09/cinnamon-y-zucchini-cake-with-creamy/) - For the cake2 cups sugar2 cups flour3 jumbo eggs1 cup oil (I use canola)1 tsp. vanilla2 cups grated zucchini2 tsp. cinnamon3/4 tsp. baking soda2 tsp. baking powder1 cup chopped walnuts or pecansFor the frosting2 cups powdered sugar1/2 stick unsalted butter1 small 3 oz. package cream cheese1 tsp. butter flavoring InstructionsPreheat oven to 350 degrees.Spray
- [Fresh Italian Green Bean Salad and A Kitchen Garden](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2014/07/fresh-green-bean-salad/) - For me, the best time of year is during the summer when it's time to reap the rewards of our spring-time labor in the gardens! A perfect time for my family's Fresh Italian Green Salad and A Kitchen Garden update. Although my favorite all-time season is spring when everything outside wakes up after their winter
- [Fresh Watermelon Salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/07/fresh-watermelon-salad/) - . Fresh watermelon cut into 1 - 2" cubes1 small roll of goat cheese (cut into small cubes)1 cup extra virgin olive oil3 Tbsp. fresh herbs (finely chopped (basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary))3 tsp. red chili pepper flakes2 Tbsp. minced garlic1/4 cup of fresh basil (broken into pieces by hand)Balsamico vinegar -- to drizzle on salad
- [U.S.A. Stars and Stripes Flag Cake](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2014/07/u-s-a-flag-cake/) - Click this link for the post and recipe for the Red, White and Blue Fruit Pizza!
- [Strawberry Rhubarb Pie with Mascarpone Cream](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2014/06/strawberry-rhubarb-mascarpone-cream-pie-sundaysupper/) - For the Crust4 cups flour½ tsp. salt4 Tbsp. sugar1-½ cup cold butter (sliced)1 jumbo-sized egg yolk7 Tbsp. buttermilk1-½ tsp. vanillaTo Brush on Top of Pre-Baked Pie Lattice-Top Crust1 egg beaten with a little water (about a teaspoon.)Sugar sprinkled on top (heavily sprinkled)For the Strawberry-Rhubarb Filling3 cups fresh rhubarb (cleaned, and cut into ½" pieces)4 -
- [Fontina Polenta with Sauteed Porcini Mushrooms](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/11/fontina-polenta-sauteed-porcini-mushrooms/) - Mushroom Mixture4 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil or butter2 4-ounce packages dried porcini mushrooms, reconstituted, drained, chopped1 8- oz. pre-sliced baby portobello mushrooms1 tsp. minced fresh thyme½ tsp. minced fresh oregano3 garlic cloves (chopped)½ cup chicken broth (optional)1 tsp. salt¼ teaspoon black pepperPolenta2 cups whole milk1 cup chicken broth2 - 3 cups instant polenta
- [Italian Asparagus and Potato Gratin in Six Cheese Sauce](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2010/04/italian-asparagus-and-potato-gratin-in/) - Easter and Spring! Such a wonderful holiday and season that together herald delicious traditional foods including buttery asparagus, tender new potatoes, garden-fresh spinach, eggs, succulant ham and more! For our very small Easter dinner (just my husband and me this year), we baked a brown sugar crusted ham, a cheesy asparagus and potato gratin and
- [Buffalo Turkey Chili](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/11/buffalo-turkey-chili-sundaysupper/) - Healthy Buffalo Turkey Chili packed with protein, bold spices, and veggies. A flavor-packed recipe perfect for colder temps, cozy nights, and game days!
- [Fresh Tomato Basil Bisque Soup](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2017/08/fresh-tomato-basil-bisque-soup/) - 4 Tbsp. olive oil2 cups red onion (chopped)2 carrots (chopped)4 cloves of garlic (minced)10 large (very ripe tomatoes, peels and stems/core removed, seeded if possible)start with this amount and taste to see if you want a stronger tomato flavor.1/4 - 1/3 cup of fresh basil (chopped fine)1 Tbsp. sugar4 cups of chicken broth (or
- [Twiced Baked Potatoes with Fontina Cheese](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2013/02/twiced-baked-potatoes-with-fontina/) - The big game of the Super Bowl is now playing and we've settled into our comfy spots after splurging on some appropriate, football man-food . . . a rib-eye steak so thick and wide that we cut it in half and still only finished a smidgen of it! Plated on the side of that big
- [Chocolate Trifles with Raspberries and Chocolate Ganache](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2017/01/chocolate-trifles-raspberries-chocolate-ganache/) - 12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate (finely chopped)4 Tbsp. butter1 cup sugar1 cup heavy whipping cream In a glass mixing bowl, combine the chocolate and butter.Either place the chocolate and butter in a microwave and heat it until melting for about 2 - 3 minutes OR place the bowl over a small pan of boiling water and
- [Mardi Gras Bananas Foster Muffins](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2021/02/mardi-gras-bananas-foster-muffins/) - . For the Muffins1 1/2 cups white flour1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda1/4 teaspoon salt1/2 teaspoon cinnamon3 large ripe bananas (mashed)1/4 cup brown sugar1/2 cup sugar1/2 cup butter (melted)1/4 cup milk2 tablespoons dark rum1 large egg (room temperature)For the Rum Glaze (optional)3 tablespoons dark rum1 tablespoons sugar1/4 teaspoon cinnamonFor Roz's Cream Cheese Frosting4 cups powdered sugar1
- [Detox Tabouli Salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2014/01/detox-tabouli-salad/) - For the Salad½ cup dry bulgar wheat¾ cup boiling water1 packed cup of minced Italian parsley2 medium tomatoes (diced)1 cucumber (seeded and diced)Optional10 leaves of mint (minced (this is traditionally added, but we don't prefer it, so we leave it out))For the Dressing1 tsp. salt (I like to use sea salt)1/8 cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice1/8
- [Lemon Polenta Torta with Fruit Compote](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2013/02/lemon-polenta-torta-with-fruit-compote/) - . For the cakeCooking spray and parchment paper1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour1-1/4 cup sugar (I added the extra 1/4 cup due to my addition of lemon juice, below)1/2 cup yellow cornmeal1/2 teaspoon baking soda1/4 teaspoon salt2/3 cup reduced-fat buttermilk1/4 cup olive oil (I did not use extra-virgin because the taste is so much stronger)2 large
- [Mixed Berry Panettone Bread Pudding with Limoncello Cream](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/02/mixed-berry-panettone-bread-pudding/) - 2 lbs. mixed berry panettone bread (I used Fiasconaro' Frutti di Bosco, baking paper removed from sides and bottom of panettone, torn up into 1-1/2" pieces)6 jumbo eggs1-1/4 cups sugar2 tsp. pure vanilla extractZest of 1 lemon3 cups heavy creampinch of sea salt2 Tbsp. sugar2 cups mixed berries: raspberries (blueberries, strawberries)Lemon Whipped cream and
- [An Italian Cheese Log for the Holidays](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/12/italian-cheese-log-plus-chicken-cheese/) - Creamy, savory Italian cheese log packed with olives, red peppers, pimentos, and Parmesan—an easy appetizer, perfect for parties, holidays, and entertaining.
- [Cinnamon Pudding Cake](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2010/12/cinnamon-pudding-cake/) - A true ooey, gooey, cinnamon-y cake . . . so delicious and yummy! Perfect with a cup of tea or java! For the Caramel Topping1 cup plus 2 Tbsp packed light brown sugar3/4 cup water1 Tbsp. unsalted butter1/2 tsp. saltFor the Cake2 cups all-purpose flour2 tsp. baking powder2 1/2 tsp. cinnamon1/2 tsp. salt2 Tbsp. unsalted
- [Cinnamon Toffee Praline Oatmeal Cookies](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2010/10/cinnamon-praline-oatmeal-cookies/) - These cookies are INSANELY delicious! You won't even want to wait until they cool down! Grab a nice big glass of milk to gulp down with them! 1/2 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)1/2 cup salted butter (room temperature)3/4 brown sugar (packed)1/2 cup sugar2 jumbo eggs1 tsp. vanilla1 Tbsp. spiced apple butter (or regular)1-½ c. cup
- [Blood Orange Polenta Olive Oil Cake & Orange Mascarpone Icing](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/02/blood-orange-polenta-olive-oil-layer/) - For the Cake3 Blood Oranges1 cup sugar1/3 cup buttermilk/plain yogurt3 jumbo eggs (beaten)1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil1-1/2 cup flour1/4 cup yellow cornmeal that is used to make polenta1-1/2 tsp. baking powder1/4 tsp. baking soda2 tsp. vanilla extract1/4 tsp. sea saltOrange Syrup1 cup blood orange juice (2 blood oranges)1/4 cup sugarFor the Orange Mascarpone Filling1 Tbsp.
- [Baby Shower & Gender Reveal Parties for Bambino](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2013/10/baby-shower-gender-reveal-parties-for-bambino/) - The baby is only weeks away from joining the family! Well, our grandchild that is! Due in early November, this little baby and parents have had quite the number of parties thrown in honor of it's arrival. From Tennessee to Iowa, the material needs of this grandchild have been nearly 99% met through the generosity
- [Italian Apple Torta (Torta di Mele)](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2018/09/italian-apple-torta/) - Fort the Cake1 cup Butter4 Golden Delicious Apples2 ¼ cups Flour1 Tbsp. Baking Powder1/2 tsp. Cinnamon½ tsp. Salt4 Jumbo Eggs1 tsp. Vanilla Extract1 cup Sugar1 Tbsp. Amaretto Liquer½ tsp. Lemon Zest4 Tbsp butter (melted)3 Tbsp. sugarFor the Glaze1 cup Heavy Whipping Cream1 cup Powdered sugar1/2 cup Apple Cider1/4 tsp. CinnamonInstructionsWhisk together powdered sugar (heavy cream,
- [Cheesy Asiago Artichoke and Spinach Dip](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/10/cheesy-asiago-artichoke-spinach-dip-2/) - 2 cans Artichoke Hearts (drained, quartered, and chopped)1 10- oz. package of chopped (frozen Spinach, thawed and drained)1 8 oz. package of cream cheese (softened)1 cup Mayonnaise1 cup Sour Cream1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan Cheese1/4 cup freshly grated Romano Cheese1/4 cup freshly grated Asiago Cheese1/2 cup freshly grated Mozzarella (or Provolone Cheese)3 cloves Garlic (minced)1/2
- [Lemon Layer Cake with Limoncello Icing](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/03/lemons-daffodils-and-limoncello/) - . For the Lemon Layer CakeCooking spray2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour2 cups all-purpose flour1 tsp. baking powder1/2 tsp. baking soda1/2 tsp. salt1-1/2 cups sugar1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)3 large eggs1 cup non-fat buttermilk2 Tbsp. grated lemon zest2 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juiceFor the Limoncello Icing3 cups powdered sugar1/4 cup unsalted butter (melted)1 Tbsp. grated lemon zest1/4
- [Creamy Strawberry, Rhubarb and Mascarpone Cheese Bars](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2013/06/strawberry-rhubarb-cream-cheese-bars-and-a-giveaway/) - For the Crust2 cups all purpose flour1 cup chopped pecans1 cup butter (melted)1/3 cup sugarFor the Mascarpone Cheese Filling1 8 oz package Italian Mascarpone cheese (softened)1 cup powdered sugar1 cup heavy whipping cream (whipped)For the Strawberry Rhubarb Filling1 cup brown sugar (packed)3 Tbsp. cornstarch3 Tbsp. corn syrup3-1/2 cups chopped (fresh rhubarb)2 cups sliced (fresh strawberries)For
- [Brown Butter Asparagus with Pignoli](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/03/brown-butter-asparagus-with-pignoli/) - 1 bunch fresh asparagus (ends trimmed, cut on diagonal if preferred)4 Tbsp. butter (I doubled this from 2 Tbsp. in the recipe)1/3 cup pine nuts1/2 tsp. freshly-squeezed lemon juicefreshly ground black pepper In a large frying pan, melt the butter until brown, but not burnt.Add the pine nuts.Cook until the pine nuts are a golden
- [Fresh Strawberry and Romaine Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2013/04/fresh-strawberry-and-romaine-salad-with-poppy-seed-dressing/) - For the Dressing1/2 cup mayonnaise2 Tbsp. sour cream1/4 cup whole milk2 Tbsp. white wine vinegar2/3 cup white sugar2 Tbsp. poppy seedsFor the Salad1 pint strawberries (hulled, and sliced)1/2 red onion (sliced)1-1/2 cup slivered almonds (sugared and toasted)1 head Romaine lettuce (cut into 2" pieces) Lay the slivered almonds on a metal baking sheet.Sprinkle generously with
- [Skinny, Creamy Blood Orange Smoothie](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/02/skinny-creamy-blood-orange-smoothie/) - 1 cup fresh-squeezed blood orange juice1 cup vanilla flavored almond juice½ banana6 - 10 raspberries or 2 Tbsp. raspberry sauce1 Tbsp. honey6 ice cubes Using a blender or a handheld immersion blender, thoroughly mix all ingredients together.Add more or less of any ingredient to reach the taste preference desired. . . . .
- [Amazing Pumpkin Brownies for People Who Hate Pumpkin](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/11/amazing-pumpkin-brownies/) - Moist pumpkin brownies filled with warm fall spices and rich pumpkin flavor—an irresistible autumn dessert for holidays and cozy nights.
- [Nonna's Italian Meatloaf](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/11/nonnas-italian-meatloaf/) - This is a classic recipe for Nonna's Italian Meatloaf from my Italian family' kitchen! Key ingredients: Parmesan, garlic, and tomatoes! OH YUM!
- [The Creamiest, Dreamiest Perfect Mashed Potatoes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/11/the-creamiest-dreamiest-perfect-mashed-potatoes/) - Ultra-creamy mashed potatoes that are rich, fluffy, and full of buttery flavor—perfect for holidays, Sunday dinners, and cozy comfort meals.
- [Thick, Delicious Italian Hot Chocolate](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/12/thick-delicious-italian-hot-chocolate-giveaway/) - Italian hot chocolate is incredibly richer and more delightful than ordinary hot chocolate! Learn here how to make it and enter a fabulously 'sweet' GIVEAWAY
- [Italian Chicken Soup - Pastina](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/11/italian-chicken-soup-pastina/) - Chicken soup . . . simply the perfect remedy for when you're feeling sick and 'under the weather'. Even though this cherished, traditional soup is part of our childhood memories, it still works for adults! I have been sick with bronchitis for over 3 weeks now, stubbornly fighting it off, and the ONLY thing that helps my
- [Caprese Salad with a Fresh New Presentation](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2017/07/caprese-salad-fresh-new-presentation/) - 3 - 4 ripe tomatoes2 - 3 balls of imported Italian Bufalo Mozzarella15 - 20 large (fresh basil leaves)Balsamic vinegar and/or glaze Slice tomatoes about 1/4" thick, but NOT ALL THE WAY THROUGH, leave a tiny bit unsliced. You want the tomatoes to open up like a fan and intack as one tomato.Slice the bufalo
- [Corn and Black-Eyed Pea Salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2018/01/corn-black-eyed-pea-salad/) - 1 15.5- ounce cans black-eyed peas rinsed and drained2 11- ounce can crisp canned corn rinsed and drained (see Café Tips above)1 large roasted red pepper finely diced1 medium English seedless cucumbers (finely diced)1 medium mango finely diced (about 1 cup)½ medium red onion finely diced2 cans Rotel spicy tomato and green chilizest of
- [Cantucci with Vin Santo Wine -- An Italian Tradition (Biscotti)](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2017/12/cantucci-vin-santo-wine-italian-tradition-biscotti/) - 1 pound of butter4 pounds of flour12 tsp. baking powder2 pounds of sugarpinch of salt2 lemons (juice AND rind)2 cups slivered almonds12 eggs (beaten)4 tsp. anise seed or 1-1/2 tsp. oil of anise Melt butter in a small bowl and set aside.In a large bowl, mix the dry ingredients of flour, baking powder, sugar, salt.Mix
- [Strawberry Bellini for The Love of Cocktails Event in Las Vegas](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2017/04/strawberry-bellini-love-cocktails-event-las-vegas/) - 3 c. strawberries1/4 c. powdered sugar2 Tbsp strawberry Moscato2 c. rose champagne or proseccoAdditional Strawberries for Garnish Puree strawberries in a blender or food processor.Strain through a sieve.Save pulp for using in smoothies or for a sauce to serve over ice cream.In a blender blend together strained strawberry juice, powdered sugar and strawberry moscato until
- [Fresh Basil Vinaigrette](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2017/02/fresh-basil-vinaigrette/) - 2 shallots (minced)2 cups tightly packed fresh basil leaves (with stems removed)¼ cup finely grated (fresh parmigiana cheese)1 large clove garlic½ tsp red pepper flakes2 cups extra virgin olive oil¼ cup red wine vinegar In a mini food processor a blender, combine all ingredients and blend thoroughly for a minute or two and when the
- [Caprese Salad - Insalata Caprese](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/07/real-deal-insalata-caprese-authentico/) - . Fresh Roma or small-sized tomatoes (sliced about 1/4″ thick)Fresh (soft buffalo mozzarella cheese, sliced about 1/4″ thick)Fresh whole basil leavesExtra virgin olive oilFreshly ground Italian sea saltFreshly ground black pepperFresh garlic cloves Lay the sliced tomatoes on a platter.Layer the mozzarella slices on top of the tomato slices.Lay one to two large whole basil
- [Garden Fresh Heirloom Tomato, Pepper, and Cucumber Salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/07/garden-fresh-heirloom-tomato-pepper-and/) - 3 heirloom and/or regular tomatoes (in a variety of colors if possible, cored and cut into 1/2″ chunks)1 large green pepper (cored, seeds cleaned out, and cut into 1/2″ pieces)1/2 cucumber (peeled, seeds removed, and cut into 1/2″ pieces)1/2 cup chopped green onions10 large basil leaves (chopped)1 large garlic clove (finely chopped)1 Tbsp. red
- [Roasted Garden Vegetables with Garlic and Rosemary](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/06/roasted-garden-vegetables-with-garlic/) - 2 Tbsp. olive oil2 very huge (minced cloves of garlic)10 – 15 red potatoes (cut into wedges)1 each of green (red, and orange bell peppers, stems and seeds removed, cut into small 1/2″ pieces)1/2 an onion (I used red simply because that’s what I had on hand, chopped)3 Tbsp. freshly snipped (and finely chopped rosemary)Generously
- [Dipped in Bliss! Chocolate Dipped Strawberries](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/02/dipped-in-bliss-chocolate-dipped/) - Strawberries with stems and leaves2 large bars of chocolate (dark, milk, or white) Place a sheet of parchment paper on a baking sheet.Melt one whole bar of milk, dark, or white baking chocolate (or a variety of each) in a double boiler . . .or in a pan that is set in a larger pan
- [Fresh Peach and Pineapple Crumble](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/01/fresh-peach-and-pineapple-crumble/) - 1 cored fresh pineapple (if available, purchase one that is already cleaned and sitting in juice)3 cups fresh peaches (peeled and sliced)Cooking spray1/2 cup butter (melted (1/4 was recommended, but it did not moisten the cake mix enough to create the crumble batter))1 box of pineapple supreme cake mix (such as Duncan Hines Moist
- [Raspberry Amaretto Jelly Roll ~ Light Too!](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/02/raspberry-almond-jelly-roll-red-for/) - 3/4 cup sugar1/4 cup almond paste1 tsp. Amaretto diSaranno (my addition to the recipe; oh gosh, I HAD to make it more Italian, right?)Cooking spray2/3 cups flour1 tsp. baking powder1/8 tsp. salt4 jumbo eggs1 tsp. vanilla extract1/4 cup powdered sugar (divided)2/3 cup seedless raspberry jam/preserves1 cup whipping cream (I increased from 1/2 cup)1/2 cup
- [Beet Salad with Avocados and Manchego Cheese](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2010/09/beet-salad-with-avocados-and-manchego/) - 3 large Beets (or 1 regular sized ‘batch’, cooked in boiling water, cut into large slices or pieces)1 large sweet Onion (chopped)1 ripe Haas Avocado (peeled and chopped into cubes)3 jumbo cage-free Eggs (boiled, peeled, and sliced)1/2 cup dried sweet Cranberries1/2 cup slivered Almonds1/2 cup slivered Manchego cheeseRed-leaf Lettuce (cleaned and whole leaves pulled off,
- [Happy 2nd Blogoversary: Triple Chocolate Fudge Cake](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2010/09/triple-chocolate-fudge-cake/) - Happy 2nd Blogoversary to my 'la bella vita cucina' blog. It's been a great two years getting to know so many wonderful people and from all the way around the globe!!! But sadly this is the busiest day of my teaching schedule, so I just couldn't find the time to prepare and photo a new recipe for this
- [Caramel Crusted Pineapple Upside Down Cake](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2010/03/caramel-crusted-pineapple-upside-down/) - For the Cake's Pineapple ToppingOne 20-ounce can pineapple rings (with their syrup or juice)4 tbsp cold butter2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar (I used 1-1/2 cups for a thicker caramel topping)7 – 10 maraschino cherriesFor the Cake1-½ cups all purpose flour¾ cup sugar (I used a full cup instead)1-½ tsp baking powder½ salt½ cup milk4
- [Cherry Amaretto Crumble](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2009/08/cherry-amaretto-crumble/) - 3/4 cup all-purpose flour3/4 cup crushed Amaretti cookies1 stick unsalted butter (softened)1/2 cup sliced or slivered almonds1/3 cup packed brown sugarFor the cake/dessert1-1/2 sticks unsalted butter (softened)3/4 cup sugar1 tsp. vanilla extract1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour1/2 tsp. salt1/4 tsp. baking powder3 jumbo eggs3 cups (pitted, dark sweet cherries)1 Tbsp. Amaretto di Saronno1 tsp. almond extractWhole cherries
- [Beets in Balsamic Vinegar, Olive Oil & Herbs](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2009/06/beets-in-balsamic-vinegar-and-olive-oil/) - I found the most beautiful (and sweet) beets this weekend in the market, so I decided to make an Italian Beet Salad that my mother has been making for years. This recipe for beets has always been one of my favorite dishes. Whenever I go home to Iowa, my mother always has this recipe prepared
- [Brown Sugar Roasted Figs Oatmeal](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/10/brown-sugar-roasted-figs-oatmeal/) - 8 ripe figs (cut in half)drizzle of olive oil3 Tbsps. brown sugar1-1/3 cup old-fashioned oatmeal1-1/2 cup almond milk (plus more for topping (you can also use regular cow or soy milk too))3 Tbsp. brown sugar for topping Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F.Place oven rack in the upper third of the oven.Place the fig halves
- [Rhubarb Streusel Cake with Mascarpone Cream](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/04/rhubarb-streusel-cake-with-mascarpone-cream/) - Here are more of my family's favorite rhubarb recipes: Creamy Strawberry Rhubarb & Mascarpone Bars Ooey-Gooey Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp . So what do you think? Are you ready to sink your teeth into this delightful rhubarb cake? If you bake it, I'd love to know how it turned out and if it made your
- [Bolognese Risotto Stuffed Peppers](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/08/bolognese-risotto-stuffed-peppers/) - 4 bell peppers (red, yellow or a mix, halved lengthwise, tops and seeds removed)4 cups Bolognese sauce (I use my homemade sauce)1/4 cup risotto3/4 cup grated Asiago cheese1 tsp. red pepper flakes1 cup chopped Italian flat-leaf parsley (cut fresh from the garden if possible)1 tsp. sea salt1 tsp. freshly ground black pepperShredded Asiago cheese and
- [Grilled Italian Corn with Garlic-Basil Butter](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/08/grilled-italian-corn-with-garlic-basil-butter-sundaysupper/) - For The Basil Butter1 cup butter (at room temperature)1 cup minced fresh basil leaves1/4 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon pepper1 clove garlic (minced)½ cup freshly-grated Parmesan cheeseFor The Corn4 - 6 ears corn (husks pulled to the side, or cut them off.)1 - 2 tablespoons vegetable oilSalt and pepper (to taste) Preheat grill for medium-high heat.Place the
- [ADDICTING Oatmeal Raisin Cookies](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2008/11/addicting-oatmeal-raisin-cookies/) - 1 cup butter (softened)1 cup white sugar1 cup packed brown sugar2 large eggs1 tsp. vanilla2 cups flour1 tsp. baking soda1 tsp. salt1-1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon3 cups quick cooking oats1 cup or your preferred amount of dark raisins In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar.Beat in eggs one at a
- [Another Pumpkin Recipe for my Friends Harvest Pumpkin Cobbler](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2008/10/another-autumn-recipe-for-my-friends/) - It is a soggy morning and the earth is just soaking up all of the rain we received ALL DAY yesterday. What a gift in these parched Carolinas! God has blessed us with a tremendous friend that grows hay for horses . . . who only has enough this year for his favorite customers. We
- [Fresh Blackberry Cobbler with Sweet, Tender Biscuits](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/05/fresh-blackberry-cobbler-with-sweet/) - Blackberry Mixture4 cups berries (rinsed and drained)1 cup sugar2 Tbsp. cornstarch (or tapioca if you prefer)Sweet Cobbler Biscuit Topping2 cups all-purpose flour6 - 10 Tbsp. sugar (taste to get to the sweetness you prefer & we like ours on the sweeter side)1 Tbsp. baking powder1/2 tsp. salt6 Tbsp. cold butter1/2 cup heavy cream2 beaten
- [Baked Pasta e Fagioli al Forno](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2023/12/baked-pasta-fagiole/) - Enjoy this ultra-cheesy, baked Pasta e Fagioli casserole, a delicious Italian comfort food: easy to make, irresistible to eat, and hearty. Seconds demanded!
- [Italian Roasted Rosemary and Garlic Potatoes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/03/italian-roasted-rosemary-garlic-potatoes/) - 5 - 6 very large Idaho russet potatoes (peeled)4 - 6 Tbsp. olive oil4 very large cloves of garlic (minced (more if you desire))4 Tbsp. fresh-cut rosemary (chopped)fresh cracked sea salt and black pepper Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.Slice the peeled potatoes lengthwise into thirds.Holding the sliced potatoes together, slice horizontally into 1" slices.Cut
- [Classic New Orleans Muffuletta](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/02/classic-new-orleans-muffuletta/) - ¼ lb. ham¼ lb. sopprasetta¼ lb. Genoa salami¼ lb. mortadella¼ lb. hot cappicolla⅛ lb. prosciutto8 oz. provolone cheese (sliced)8 oz. mozzarella cheese (sliced)4 roasted red peppers (jarred or fresh)¼ cup sliced banana peppers (jarred)¼ cup sliced hot pepperoncini (jarred)16 oz. olive salad (freshly made or jarred)1 loaf of round Italian sourdough bread (focaccia, or ciabatta)
- [Watermelon, Gorgonzola and Basil Salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/08/watermelon-gorgonzola-and-basil-salad/) - 8 cups of fresh watermelon (cut into cubes)1 small red onion (sliced ¼" thick)1 cup crumbled Italian Gorgonzola cheese10 - 15 leaves of fresh basil (cut into small pieces)Balsamic vinaigrette (homemade or store-bought brand of choice) Place all ingredients on individual salad plates.Either drizzle the vinaigrette sparingly all over the individual salads, or pass around
- [Best Ever Potato Latkes with Italian Herb Yogurt Sauce](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2018/12/best-ever-potato-latkes-italian-herb-yogurt-sauce-madewithchobani/) - Crispy latkes recipe for Hanukkah—golden potato latkes served with Italian herb sauce. A festive holiday potato recipe everyone loves.
- [Peach Caprese Salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/07/peach-caprese-salad/) - It's just way too hot to cook in this heat! Everything cool or cold, iced, frozen, or chilled is all that is on my mind in the clutches of this July heatwave! I've gone on strike using a stove, oven, or even a grill! But that doesn't mean we have to stop enjoying delicious recipes. With super fresh
- [Crispy Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Chips with Roasted Garlic and Basil Aioli](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2018/09/crispy-garlic-parmesan-zucchini-chips-basil-aioli/) - 3 medium zucchini (sliced 1/4 inch thick)3 jumbo eggs (slightly beaten)1 cup flour2 cups panko breadcrumbs1/2 cup parmigiano reggiano cheese (grated)½ teaspoon garlic powder1 tablespoon lemon zestsalt and pepper to taste¾ cup mayonnaise2 Tablespoons freshly minced basil2 cloves of roasted garlic (smashed and minced)½ teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juiceseveral pinches of freshly grated sea salt
- [The Best Cabbage Soup (Healthy, Hearty, and Full of Flavor)](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/11/the-best-cabbage-soup/) - Make the BEST cabbage soup with this easy, healthy, flavor-packed, budget-friendly recipe! Includes ingredients, steps, serving ideas, and storage tips.
- [Leftover Turkey Tetrazzini - Easy and Loaded with YUM](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/11/leftover-turkey-tetrazzini-easy-and-loaded-with-yum/) - Comfort food is just the best, isn't it? And what could possibly be more comforting than turkey (or chicken) with pasta in a heavenly, creamy sauce filled with delicious mushrooms and veggies? It’s rich, creamy, and delicious- the ultimate comfort food! For a delicious, hearty, and filling casserole, you're going to go crazy over this
- [How To Make The BEST Italian Stuffed Peppers](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/04/how-to-make-the-best-stuffed-italian-peppers/) - "Oh my God! Incredible recipe that blows away Pioneer Woman’s stuffed peppers! Like eating at an Italian 5-star restaurant. While eating, we were speechless! Absolutely sublime!" From Karla on 4/8/24, and part of this blogging community! Stuffed Italian Peppers! My mother used to make these every summer without fail. They were such a crowd-pleaser and would
- [How To Make A Classic Greek Salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2022/08/how-to-make-a-classic-greek-salad/) - ”Una Faccia, Una Razza” Italians and Greeks are often called 'kissing cousins' due to the massive amount of cultural similarities. In cuisine alone, the two countries have so much in common simply from the influence of the sea that surrounds them and the rugged mountainous terrain that influenced so much creativity! There is a famous
- [BEST Baked Beans with Bacon EVER](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2022/07/best-baked-beans-with-bacon-ever/) - Do your baked beans need a little perking up? If you said 'yes', then you've literally just found the Best Baked Beans with Bacon recipe EVER! This hearty recipe has it all with everything marrying together just perfectly: brown sugar, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, ketchup, BBQ sauce, garlic -- yup, garlic, smoked paprika, and several
- [Watermelon, Blueberry, and Gorgonzola Salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2022/07/watermelon-blueberry-and-gorgonzola-salad/) - When watermelon is at its peak of the season, it has a natural sweetness that is quite simply DIVINE! Its flavor ranks right up there with that of a fresh summer tomato! But when it's not in season, forget about it! Plus there are endless ways to enjoy watermelon on hot summer days. This Watermelon
- [Pasta with Artichokes In Lemon Cream Sauce](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2022/04/pasta-with-artichokes-in-lemon-cream-sauce/) - This Pasta with Artichokes In Lemon Parmigiana Cream Sauce is a wonderfully light dish that's guaranteed to please! If you haven't yet had the delightful experience of tasting a pasta sauce made with lemon, artichokes, cream, and Parmigiana, then you are in for a real treat. First of all, an amazing simple cream sauce ("pasta
- [Guinness Chocolate Cake with Ganache and Baileys Buttercream](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/03/guinness-chocolate-cake-with-ganache-and-baileys-buttercream/) - For The Cake2 sticks (1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature)¾ cup unsweetened DARK Dutch-Processed cocoa powder2 cups granulated sugar2 jumbo eggs2 tsp. vanilla extract⅔ cup full-fat sour cream½ cup full-fat buttermilk2-½ cups all-purpose flour1-½ tsp. baking powder2 tsp. baking soda1 tsp. salt1 cup stout Guinness beer (use chocolate if you can find it)3
- [Old Fashioned Caramel Apple Bread Pudding ~ Easy](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2021/11/old-fashioned-caramel-apple-bread-pudding-easy/) - Those of you who have read this blog for 10 years now (oh my, time flies doesn't it?), know that a love affair with anything made with pumpkin just isn't for me. Nope. I'll pass, thank you. There's only one recipe with pumpkin that's edible to me and it's for pumpkin brownies. And so here
- [How To Make Fresh Summer Corn and Tomato Salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/07/how-to-make-fresh-summer-corn-and-tomato-salad/) - Here is a super easy, fresh summer corn and tomato salad that is packed with as much flavor is it is with vivid color! This side dish is perfect for any summer meal by showcasing garden fresh tomatoes, corn, onions, and onions. And even if you don't have a green thumb, there's plenty of local
- [How To Make The Original St. Louis Pasta House Salad ~ Copycat](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2021/03/how-to-make-st-louis-pasta-house-salad-copycat/) - I'm on a roll lately with recipes from restaurants that have fabulous food. This isn't really a copycat recipe since the restaurant shared the recipe in the newspaper. If you've ever been to St. Louis or lived there as I have, then you'll know all about the famous St. Louis Pasta House Salad. I've been
- [How to Make a Simple Strawberry Rhubarb Sauce](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2021/04/how-to-make-a-simple-strawberry-rhubarb-sauce/) - Spring in the South comes earlier in the U.S. so strawberries and rhubarb are ripe and ready to enjoy this very day! With all of the rain this year, they're sure to be extra juicy! So go pick up a couple of buckets and let's get pickin'. And then I'll show you how to make
- [Easy One Layer Yellow Cake with Chocolate Nutella  Buttercream Frosting](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2021/05/easy-one-layer-yellow-cake-chocolate-nutella-buttercream-frosting/) - I love to bake cakes! And I love how much my family loves to eat them . . . throwing their keto/low carb lifestyles out the window (momentarily) whenever a great, homemade-from-scratch cake is in my kitchen. But you're probably saying, "Yea, but what about those of us who are super-busy people with families and/or
- [Chocolate Cheesecake with Espresso Mousse, Decadent, Creamy and EASY](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2021/01/decadent-and-creamy-chocolate-espresso-cheesecake-super-easy/) - Get ready for a decadent chocolate treat! This is an extremely smooth textured and rich cheesecake that is deeply but subtly flavored with espresso, coffee liqueur, and chocolate. Small servings are definitely in order. I've been baking this for over 40 years and it never, ever fails to "wow" everyone! Hiware Springform Pan for Baking
- [Nutella Stuffed Snowball Cookies](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2023/12/nutella-stuffed-snowball-cookies/) - What cookies can top classic Snowball cookies? Nutella Stuffed Snowball Cookies! Still a buttery shortbread cookie with nuts and rolled in powdered sugar . . . BUT with centers of yummy, can't-get-enough Nutella hazelnut spread from Italy. Snowball cookies are also called Greek (also Italian and Mexican) Wedding Cookies or Russian Tea Cakes. Some people
- [Praline Pecan Bundt Cake](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/09/praline-pecan-bundt-cake/) - There are SO MANY amazing recipes for bundt cakes! The hardest part is to decide WHICH recipe to make! I'm always in the mood for anything that has a "praline" focus. And after reading the reviews for this Praline Pecan Bundt Cake in Southern Living magazine, I knew that this cake was THE ONE that
- [13 Best Tres Leches Cake Recipes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/04/13-best-tres-leches-cake-recipes/) - Cinco de Mayo is soon to arrive. It's time to celebrate with some Margaritas and Coronas (with lime of course), and to have some good fun and good eats. But most of all, it's time to enjoy the best Tres Leches Cake among the recipes that I've put together for you here. And even when
- [How to Make the Best Cheesecake](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/03/how-to-make-the-best-cheesecake/) - This cheesecake is not only the most delicious and creamy, silky cheesecake EVER, it is also super easy to make! No water bath and it comes out perfectly beautiful and delicious every time!
- [Christmas Stollen Traditional German Holiday Bread](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2018/12/christmas-stollen-traditional-german-holiday-bread/) - Are you wanting a new holiday bread that most Americans don't serve often during the holidays? Something along the lines of a tender sweet bread that will 'wow' your guests? This Christmas Stollen Traditional German Holiday Bread is just perfect for your holiday entertaining. Most of us have been really missing out on one of the
- [Zucchini Banana Bread with Sweet Mascarpone Cream](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2018/08/zucchini-banana-bread-with-sweet-mascarpone-cream/) - 2 cups ripe bananas2 cups grated zucchini with green peel left on3 jumbo eggs1/2 cup sour cream (you can also use buttermilk)2 sticks of butter (softened (you can also use half butter and half canola oil))2 tsp. baking soda2 tsp. baking powder1 tsp. salt1 cup sugar + 1 cup light brown sugar packed2 tsp. cinnamon2
- [Italian Summer Vegetable Salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2018/08/italian-summer-vegetable-salad/) - One of the most simple and delicious fresh summer salads to enjoy when gardens and farmers' markets are bursting with their bounty. This is one of my family's perennial favorite salads that my mother prepared continually during summer's peak of flavor months. You'll never tire of it! Buon appetito! 2 green peppers (with seeds and white
- [Red Christmas Fruit Salad with Fresh Sweet Clementines](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/12/red-citrus-fruit-salad-with-clementines/) - Looking for something beautiful and healthy to offer on your Christmas table? Here's a simple and really delicious fruit salad to put together. At the last minute for Christmas Eve last year, I whipped this salad together to have something lighter than the heavier holiday dishes that we always enjoy . . . and often have regrets
- [Where To Eat in St. Thomas -- Room With A View](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/03/where-to-eat-in-st-thomas-room-with-a-view/) - I first enjoyed this coffee in California, but with Creme de Cocoa in place of Kahlua, Brandy in place of Bailey's, and Cognac in place of Frangelico. Actually, add whatever you like! Good quality brewed coffeeBailey'sKahluaFrangelicoGrand MarnierTia MariaSugarWhipped CreamShaved chocolate Prepare high quality coffee of your choice.Add equal portions of each liquor.Whip the cream.Dip the
- [How To Make Caribbean Green Seasoning Marinade](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/05/how-to-make-caribbean-green-seasoning-marinade/) - I know that this is not an Italian recipe. But I don't eat Italian food every day and truly enjoy the diversity of food 'out there'. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do! After enjoying the Caribbean specialty of "Fried Potfish" during our time in the U.S. Virgin Islands, I had to
- [Italian Beef Stew on Fontina Polenta](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2014/12/italian-beef-stew-fontina-polenta/) - Enjoy this hearty, comforty food "Italian Beef Stew on Fontina Polenta" that's perfect for chilly autumn and cold winter meals.
- [Where to Eat the Best Cacio e Pepe in Rome](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/10/where-to-eat-and-enjoy-rome-cacio-e-pepe/) - After months -- even years of anticipation since the pandemic, my husband and I have finally returned to the Eternal City -- Rome! And I'm on mission to taste the best version of Cacio e Pepe in the city. Stepping out of the airport while waiting for the transport to our hotel, we soaked in
- [25 Top Pinned Red White and Blue Patriotic Recipes on Pinterest](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/07/25-top-pinned-red-white-and-blue-patriotic-recipes-on-pinterest/) - Everyone loves get-togethers with family and friends for Memorial Day at the beginning of summer, Independence Day on the 4th of July in the middle of summer, or to wrap up the season of lazy days on the porch or on the lake, on Labor Day! Festive, patriotic days . . . when we come 25 Red, White, and Blue Patriotic Recipes on Pinterest and La Bella Vita Cucina that are DELICIOUS and Beautiful!
- [25 Most Pinned Red White and Blue Patriotic Recipes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/05/25-most-pinned-red-white-and-blue-patriotic-recipes/) - This list was originally posted a few years ago. The list continues to provide 25 of the most pinned red white and blue patriotic recipes that can be found on Pinterest. It's worth another round of applause! Everyone loves get-togethers with family and friends for Memorial Day at the beginning of summer, Independence Day on the
- [17 SUPERB Memorial Day Grilling Recipes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/05/15-superb-memorial-day-grilling-recipes/) - Everyone loves a great meal on Memorial Day, and it’s the unofficial beginning of summer and the grilling season in the States. Over the holiday weekend, we fire up our grills and come together for cookouts. Memorial Day is an important day of remembrance as we honor and celebrate those veterans who served in our
- [Delicious Italian Potato Recipes & A Giveaway](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/03/delicious-italian-potato-recipes-a-giveaway/) - Italians have many dishes made with the beloved potato! If you're looking for a potato recipe with Italian flavors, this is the perfection selection for you!
- [Best Mardi Gras Eats to Celebrate!](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/03/best-mardi-gras-eats-to-celebrate/) - I LOVE New Orleans! People who celebrate life, especially through its food traditions, including many Italian recipes. For you, I've put together my best recipes to help with your Mardi Gras plans. Plus, you can enjoy these recipes whenever you like....you don't have to wait! If you google the most frequently listed "top" traditional Mardi
- [Verona, Italy ~ Romeo & Juliet "City of Love"](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/02/verona-italy-romeo-juliet-city-of-love/) - Experience the beautiful city of Verona, Italy through the photos taken during a one day visit. Home of Romeo and Juliet, Verona is known as the CIty of Love.
- [Most Popular Recipes of 2017](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2017/12/most-popular-recipes-of-2017/) - Another year has flown by for all of us and it's time again to take a look back at the most popular recipes and posts that you, our family of readers indicated. Before getting into the count-down of the best of 2017, we need to take a moment to let you know how grateful
- [Eclipse Cocktails to Toast the Total Solar Eclipse](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/04/eclipse-cocktails-to-toast-the-total-solar-eclipse/) - . CHEERS and Salute' for the total solar eclipse spanning across the States on April 8th, 2024! Now, I'm not scientist, but I do love intriguing stuff about the universe and planet earth. And unless you live under a rock, a really big thing is happening in the universe for many of us to 'see'.
- [10 Superb Thai Recipes for Chinese Lunar New Year](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/01/10-superb-thai-recipes-for-chinese-lunar-new-year/) - Eight superb Thai Recipes for Chinese Lunar New Year to celebrate in Thailand. Many Thais are of Chinese descent & they celebrate with family and delicious food
- [Asiago Cheese Recipes for National Cheese Day!](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/01/asiago-cheese-recipes-for-national-cheese-day/) - Today is a delicious day! For cheese lovers, that is! So since I have several recipes to share using Asiago cheese, I'm re-sharing them again together in one mini-Roz-roundup for you! First, a little bit about this amazingly delicious Italian cheese: Here are the recipes that I've shared throughout the years and that I'm happy
- [Your Favorite Recipes in 2024 on La Bella Vita Cucina](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2025/01/your-favorite-recipes-in-2024-on-la-bella-vita-cucina/) - Find inspiration from 2024's top 15 favorite recipes! Savor delicious, easy dishes perfect for any occasion that will impress & delight everyone's taste buds!
- [Cocktails to Celebrate New Year's Eve](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2017/12/cocktails-celebrate-new-years-eve/) - Cocktails to Celebrate New Year's Eve! Before you go pouring those cocktails on New Year's Eve, you should really take a look at all of these gorgeous, festive, and delicious concoctions to help ring in the new year of 2020. Makes one want to get the party started right now! So what am I
- [June is Mango Time - Delicious "How To" Recipes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2021/06/june-is-mango-time-delicious-how-to-recipes/) - Discover delicious mango recipes, from zesty salsas to indulgent desserts. Bring a taste of the tropics to your kitchen with these easy, flavorful dishes!
- [Snickerdoodle Ice Cream Sandwiches Kids LOVE](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2022/07/snickerdoodle-ice-cream-sandwiches-kids-love/) - Kids + Cookies + Ice Cream = SHEER JOY!!! Plus having the kiddos in the kitchen with their Nonna (me, that is) simply can't be beat. Nothing beats teaching kids how to cook and making wonderful family memories to cherish. And these Snickerdoodle Ice Cream Sandwiches were perfect for a lesson on making one of
- [An Italian Thanksgiving Celebration: Menu Plan Complete with Recipes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2023/11/italian-thanksgiving/) - Serving our family's favorite traditional recipes for the holidays is just a given isn't it? All of us look forward to those delicious traditions that grace our Thanksgiving tables every year. Even though this is truly an American holiday, people from all ethnicities add their own unique flavors and dishes alongside the classic American
- [12 Days of Christmas with the BEST Holiday Cookies](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2023/12/12-days-christmas-best-holiday-cookies/) - Pistachio, Cranberry, and White Chocolate Biscotti It's serious cookie baking time! and although we've certainly got our favorites in my family, there is simply an ENDLESS amount of cookies yet to be made! Here is a great list for the 12 Days of Christmas with the Best Holiday Cookies around! Not only does this list include some of
- [Classic Italian Sweets to Enjoy for Halloween](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/10/classic-italian-sweets-to-enjoy-for-halloween/) - Think outside the jack-o-lantern box with these incredible imported Italian candies of chocolates, caramel and fruit-filled jellies that you'll enjoy year-round
- [A Feast of Fresh Fish Recipes ~ Yummy and Healthy](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/02/best-fish-recipes-lent/) - We've been including more and more fish and meatless recipes into our lives for some time. How about you? Well, if you are either starting to eat more fish, or have been doing so, here is a gret list of fresh fish recies that are yummy and healthy at the same time. I realize that
- [Best Game Day Food To Please Anyone](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2024/02/best-game-day-food-please-anyone/) - Are you ready to have an awesome food spread to enjoy while watching the game? Your recipe for success to serve up some or all of this Best Game Day Food to Please Anyone who watches the game with you is right here! There's a little bit of everything included to satisfy even the Enjoy these classic game day recipes guaranteed to be a hit with your guests during the big game day of the Super Bowl!
- ["A Baby Changes Everything" and a Christmas Dinner](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2013/12/baby-changes-everything/) - Some of you have listened to the beautiful song by Faith Hill "A Baby Changes Everything" . . . a simply lovely and moving song about the newborn baby Jesus arriving into his mother Mary's life. The words, however, hold true to anyone who welcomes a new life into the world, as did my
- [An Italian Spring Cooking Class with Domenica Marchetti in Charleston, South Carolina, USA](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2014/04/a-spring-evening-cooking-lesson-with-domenica-marchetti-italian-culinary-cookbook-author/) - A Spring Evening Cooking Class with Italian Cookbook Author, Domenica Marchetti It's not every day that an international cookbook author is in your tiny little neck of the woods! I don't live in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Rome, Paris, Montreal, or even Chicago, Illinois for that matter! It's just the opposite! I
- [Italian Soul Food:  Tomato and Zucchini Pie PLUS Roasted Tomato Crostini with Goat Cheese](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/04/tomato-zucchini-pie-tomato-crostini-goat-cheese/) - . I have met a fantastic person on Facebook! No, not to date or anything like that! But one who shares my joy for Italian cooking and the beautiful Italian way of living life . . . with passion every day! I've never once met Phyllis in person, nor spoken to her on the phone . . . all of
- [Beautiful, Secluded Daufuskie Island, South Carolina Off Beaten Path](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2021/06/secluded-daufuskie-island-south-carolina-off-beaten-path/) - What an experience you'll have on Daufuskie Island, South Carolina. Whether it's a positive or negative experience, it all depends on what YOU want when you get there. My sister absolutely hated this island when she visited it years ago . . . there isn't a hotel and one of the golf courses has been
- [A Slice of Lasagna](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/06/slice-of-lasagna/) - . A slice of the lasagna that I made yesterday . . . I've posted this photo a day later because once sliced, it sort of falls all over itself when cut directly out of the oven. It holds it's shape much better if you wait a day, plus it even tastes better. The recipe
- [Afternoon High Tea at The Balmoral Hotel Palm Court](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2023/09/afternoon-high-tea-at-the-balmoral-hotel-palm-court/) - Experiencing a traditional Scottish Afternoon High Tea should be on everyone's international travel bucket list! Our trip to Scotland was absolutely perfect. And it began with having Afternoon Tea upon our arrival and then again at the end of our sojourn the day before we departed. There are only a few top-rated restaurants in Edinburgh,
- [Top 6 Famous and Delicious Italian Soup Recipes To Master](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2022/10/top-6-famous-and-delicious-italian-soup-recipes-to-master/) - Every cuisine has it's famous dishes that hungry people yearn for time after time. They're perennial classics and favorites! With colder temps nipping outside, it's time to head for the stove and make some of the hands-down, top 6 famous and delicious Italian soup recipes to master in any Italianophile kitchen! Each of these recipes
- [Home-Made Chicken Pasta Noodle Soup](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/12/home-made-chicken-pasta-noodle-soup/) - "Oh the weather outside is frightful" . . . NOT! It's 70 degrees here today on the 8th of December! "and my dear, you're so delightful" . . . NOT! My dear husband is sick with a horrible cold. Yes, he's still as delightful as one can be when one is sick. Singing the
- [Tigelle:  Memories of an Italian Mountain Hearth](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/02/tigelle-memories-italian-mountain-hearth-epicurious-out-of-the-kitchen/) - . Tigelle: Memories of an Italian Mountain Hearth Memorable moments are experienced in all of our lives. Often those moments take place while traditionally breaking bread with others, whether in our own homes or in a favorite restaurant or eatery. On a recent trip to Italy, my husband and I accidentally came across a tiny,
- [Home-Made Tagliatelle Pasta in Bolognese and An Autumn Tablescape](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/10/home-made-tagliatelle-pasta-in-bolognese-an-autumn-tablescape/) - This is a re-post from October, 2014, four years ago while my mother was still alive and whirling around in my kitchen with me. Because my blog is primarily for journaling life on a country acreage, in the kitchen, in the gardens, and on the road . . . to maintain the integrity of the blog,
- [Cold Outside?  The Best Comfort Soups To Warm The Soul](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2018/01/cold-outside-the-best-comfort-soup-warm-soul/) - It has been SO COLD this year on the East Coast of the U.S.! Maybe Mother Nature has spared many of you in other regions on the planet from this uber-freezing weather, but she sure hit us hard in the Carolina's of the Southeastern U.S.! Oh my gosh! I just can't tell you how abnormal
- [Essential Packing List - Scotland in August](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2023/07/essential-packing-list-scotland-in-august/) - We're back on the road again after 6 years of not traveling internationally (for numerous reasons). And this year we're OFF TO SCOTLAND! Having never been to this lovely, wee country in the British Isles, I've spent hours learning about 'must see' places, but also what to pack when it's sweltering hot in the Carolinas. An essential packing list for travel to Scotland in August.
- [How To Pan Sear Steak To Perfection](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/02/how-to-pan-sear-steak-to-perfection/) - How to pan sear a steak is a snap that you can master! Any meal can turn into a special occasion with this fool-proof method. If you're like me, then you really love putting a fabulous dinner on the table at the end of the day. For me, my weekday dinners need to whipped up
- [30 BEST Grilled Italian Recipes from Top Food Bloggers](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/08/30-best-grilled-italian-recipes-top-food-bloggers/) - I don't know what I would do without the inspiration that I get from my favorite food bloggers and authors that I follow. This roundup of 30 best grilled Italian recipes highlights recipes from several of my top food bloggers. This includes bloggers whom I've followed over the past 10 years since I began blogging
- [Best Cinco de Mayo Recipes!](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2014/05/best-cinco-de-mayo-recipes/) - Creamy, Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas It's May already! Time just seems to fly by, doesn't it? No matter how you feel, it's time for Americans to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, which by now, I hope most of you realize is not even celebrated in Mexico! Just another great reason to party, have a great time,
- [40 Egg Salad Recipes in One Huge Selection](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2023/04/40-egg-salad-recipes-in-one-huge-selection/) - The BEST CLASSIC Egg Salad Recipe Egg Salad in not one, not three, not even a dozen recipes! But rather here are 40 egg salad recipes gathered for you. And not just traditional, classic recipes either. From a variety of flavors such as Mediterranean, buffalo, Irish, Japanese, lemon, jalapeño, and more, this collection should bring
- [49 Delicious Italian Easter and Spring Recipes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2023/04/49-delicious-italian-easter-and-spring-recipes/) - Spring is the best time of year. Flowers are blooming, birds are returning and singing, vegetable garden planting begins, and so many wonderful, fresh recipes to prepare that represent the season. Compiled here for you are 49 delicious Italian Easter and spring recipes. From eggs, to artichokes, asparagus, and strawberries, from pasta to risotto, and
- ["Blog of the Week" Recognition](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2009/09/i-want-to-give-big-shout-out-to-wanda/) - I want to give a BIG SHOUT OUT to Wanda over at her blog, "Only Cookware Blog" http://www.only-cookware.com/ for her kind recognition of my little blog, by selecting it as "Blog of the Week".... if you haven't visited her blog, you really must check it out. So many tips, recipes, and cookware reviews for all
- [BEST Italian Cookbooks Gift Guide and Review](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/11/best-italian-cookbooks-gift-guide-and-review/) - Italian food is loved throughout the world. And for good reasons: For its heritage of recipes for big flavors with minimal combinations, homey comfort, and sheer simplicity. A culinary heritage deeply rooted in past regional traditions. But also for Italian's utmost respect for and affinity to use only natural and humble, yet high-quality local ingredients
- [Beautiful Venetian Masks and Costumes for Carnevale](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/02/venetian-masks-costumes-carnevale/) - Many things come to mind when we think of Venice, Italy: a city of canals and water, gondola rides, delicious food traditions (risotto, polenta, cicchetti, bacala, gnocchi, tiramisu, Bellini, carpaccio, fritelle, seafood and more), St. Mark's Square, the domes of cathedrals, Murano glass, amazing architecture, and of course the masks and costumes worn during Carnevale every
- [Pantry Basics to Have On Hand](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2020/03/pantry-basics-to-have-on-hand-and-prayer/) - Just because we need to engage in staying home, it doesn't mean that we have to live on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches only! Let's put our creative cooking hats on to prepare healthy stay-at-home meals using these pantry basics to have on hand. Life has changed so quickly for every single one of us.
- [Delicious Healthy Recipes Made With Pantry Staples](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2020/03/delicious-healthy-recipes-made-with-pantry-staples/) - Practicing good health routines, including eating good foods instead of overly processed foods is one way of taking care of ourselves during this pandemic crisis. Now that I've shared the 'must-haves' for your pantry basics, it's time to share some delicious healthy recipes made with pantry staples. Being prepared for long-term homestays certainly helps reduce
- [Easy Party Appetizers and Finger Food](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/12/easy-party-appetizers-and-finger-food/) - When it comes to holiday entertaining, the best food to prepare is EASY . . . . EASY . . . EASY! And the easiest recipes that are delicious to boot are APPETIZERS and Finger Food! Change up your entertaining style for a more fun, less formal way to offer food. Serving yummy appetizers and
- [Awesome Fresh Tomato Recipes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2013/08/20-awesome-fresh-tomato-recipes/) - Tomatoes are ripening on the vine in many parts of the country right now! With all of this deluge of rain that we've had in the Southeast, we've finally harvested a couple of buckets of tomatoes. So I thought I'd ask people to share some of their favorite tomato - focused recipes and here
- [BEST Zucchini Recipes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/08/best-zucchini-recipes/) - It's Zucchini Season! August and the end of summertime are some of the best times of the year in the kitchen. Our gardens are overflowing with delicious, fresh vegetables just waiting to be used in our favorite as well as new recipes. Zucchini is always included in our garden, and even if you don't garden,
- [Favorite German Recipes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/12/20302/) - Hello from Bavaria, Germany and Austria everyone! While my husband and I have been thoroughly enjoying the local food in Bavaria and Austria, I haven't had much time to blog (but I have a lot to share with you about this trip when I get back State-side). But, I have a special post for you
- [25 Superb Chicken and Turkey Chili Recipes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/02/25-superb-chicken-turkey-chili-recipes/) - Who doesn't love a great bowl of chili? So popular, most family restaurants have them on the menu! And the hotter the better for the body's metabolism . . . flavor, comfort food, plus lending a little hand in weight-loss? Works for my family! With no further words of chit chat, here is a superb
- [How To Remove Scales from Fish](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/05/how-to-remove-scales-from-fish/) - Want to learn something new in the kitchen? Want to impress your friends with a great culinary skill? Here's a really short step-by-step photo instruction on HOW TO REMOVE SCALES FROM FISH! It's SO easy to do, it's almost ridiculous! Trust me . . . if I can do this, anyone can do this. Plus it
- [Sweet Spring Lettuce Sandwich from the Garden](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/04/sweet-spring-lettuce-from-garden/) - . There is nothing quite like the miracle that takes place in a garden! . No matter how many years pass by, it never fails to amaze me how fresh, nourishing vegetables sprout and grow from tiny little seeds when the weather begins to warm up with the help of spring rain. It truly
- [Lemons and Limoncello from Italy's Amalfi Coast](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/11/lemons-and-limoncelllo-from-italys/) - . Lemons grow in abundance from trees that cling from the cliffs of the spectacularly beautiful Amalfi coast. It is along this steep and jagged coastline of the Tyrrhenian Sea that huge lemons are harvested three times every year. Amalfi lemons possess a unique sweetness that results from a combination of the volcanic soil, year-round
- [Milan, Italy's Northern Jewel - Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2017/11/milan-italys-northern-jewel-leonardo-da-vincis-last-supper/) - Milan was our first stop during our 3-week visit to Italy this year. In just one word, Milan is "WOW!" What a beautiful, clean, old and new city filled with fashionable people! Of all the cities that we visited in Italy thus far, we have to say that Milan and Modena were the most
- [My Small Taste of the Big Apple - New York City](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2010/03/my-small-taste-of-big-apple/) - I'm back from my very brief trip to New York City. My husband and I ate our way through the city as fast as we could and with what our little wallets could afford (and that's not much in NYC!). I'll keep it short because I've got a cake to bake tonight and I
- [A Spring Day At The Atlanta Art Museum: Toulouse~Lautrec!](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/03/spring-day-at-atlanta-art-museum/) - All art images are courtesy of the official Toulouse-Lautrec Foundation web-site I've just returned from Atlanta where I attended a professional conference, at which time my daughter joined me for my last night in the city. She drove down from Knoxville, TN while on her Spring Break (she's an art teacher) to attend
- [Christmas in Bavaria, Germany -- A Bucket List Wish Come True](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/10/christmas-in-bavaria-germany-a-bucket-list-wish-come-true/) - All of you who read and follow my blog know by now that I am not German. But some of you know from reading my blog posts that I am married to a man that is of half-German descent. With his mother's maiden name of "Heidenreich" , how could one be more (half) German? It
- [Oberammergau, Bavaria, Germany Home of The Passion Play](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/01/oberammergau-bavaria-germany-home-of-the-passion-play/) - You'd think that nothing could top the Neuschwanstein Castle or Wieskirche Church of The Scourged Savior (The Church of The Meadow) from the previous two days of our trip in Bavaria. But, seriously, the beauty just kept on coming. It's not that the beauty was any better, it is was just a different kind of beauty
- [A Perfect Foodie Christmas Gift -- Soapstone Entertainment Platter](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/11/perfect-foodie-christmas-gift-soapstone-entertainment-platter/) - One of the BEST places to shop online for gifts that are unique, creative, innovative, and useful is UNCOMMON GOODS! Since I love anything that is different, yet usable and beautiful, this is where I go to for the best gift giving ideas! And it's not too early at all to start thinking about Christmas
- [Italian Food in Chicago:  Day Two, Little Italy, Bari and D'Amato's](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/07/italian-food-in-chicago-day-two-little-italy-bari-and-damatos/) - If you truly want to get a feel for the real Italian deal in the 'windy city', you have to visit Little Italy in Chicago. Or what's still left of it as America's ethnic neighborhoods change, shift, and gentrify. While some people long for the old days, the only thing that is constant is change.
- [Italian Market Nirvana:   Mazzaro's of St. Petersburg, Florida](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/04/italian-market-nirvana-mazzaros-of-st/) - . What do you think is the number one ranked Italian eatery in St. Petersburg, Florida? Well if you guessed a fine dining establishment, you would be wrong . . . it's a marketplace, an Italian market and there are no white linens in this unbelievable place! That's right according to Trip Advisor, this
- [Italian Food In Chicago: Day Three -- Osteria Longhe](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/07/italian-food-in-chicago-day-three-osteria-longhe/) - For the third day of my visit to Chicago, my son and I hung out with friends and relaxed. He had big plans for us in the evening with reservations at one of not only Chicago's top Italian restaurants, but also one of the most notable Italian eateries in the entire nation, Osteria Langhe. With
- [A Beautiful Day in Chicago](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/07/beautiful-day-in-chicago/) - . Although sweltering hot in the Midwest's intense heat wave this week, I spent a few days with my son in Chicago. Since I've visited the city's famous museums several times, my son took me on an architecture/historical Chicago river boat tour. It was fantastic and I highly recommend this on your "bucket list". At
- [The Duomo of Milan - Cathedral of St. Maria Maggiore](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2017/11/the-duomo-of-milan-cathedral-of-st-maria-maggiore/) - Be prepared to open your mouth in complete amazement . . . or to experience speechlessness . . . or to utter any word or thought that comes out of your mouth when your eyes first see this incredible gothic cathedral that took 700 years to construct. That's right, 700 years! Officially, the cathedral's construction began
- [Simple, Quiet Nature in the Lowcountry](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/11/simple-quiet-nature-in-lowcountry/) - . It seems that there is a need for a little more peace and serenity in our lives. In all of our busy-ness these are so difficult to experience, especially with the craziness of the holiday season. I'm a firm believer in taking time to savor the simple silence that nature offers us. So
- [Packing for Rome, Italy -- Great Tips on HOW TO PACK for the ETERNAL CITY](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2014/05/packing-rome-italy-great-tips/)
- [On The Road Again ~ Thai on Hilton Head](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/05/on-road-again-thai-on-hilton-head/) - 3 Spice Encrusted Red Snapper in Thai Chili Sauce . I need to have a Thai food fix more often than not! Although my favorite food on the planet is Italian, Thai cuisine is to me the next most beloved food genre! Having been to Thailand twice for extended periods of time, I
- [Prosciutto, Parmigiana~Regiano Cheese, Tortellini and Balsamico Vinegar in an Airport!](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/10/prosciutto-parmigianaregiano-cheese/) - A specialty store for Prosciutto di Parma, Parmigiana-Regiano cheese, hand-made tortellini, and balsamic vinegar freshly packed and marketed to travelers in an AIRPORT was the first thing (well actually the second thing) that I noticed upon landing in the Bologna airport in Emilia-Romagna, Italy. Only in Italy would one see such a sight! I could
- [Foodie Heaven:  Circa 1886 in Charleston, South Carolina, Where to Eat](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2014/10/foodie-heaven-circa-1886-charleston-south-carolina/) - The word is out! The #1 city in the United States to visit - - for FOUR years in a row, is CHARLESTON, S.C., ranked by Conde Naste's "Traveler" magazine and 'Travel and Leisure' magazine! And there are numerous reasons why this phenomenon has taken place: Charleston offers tons of American history (not
- [Blue Ridge Mountains Truly a Beautiful Treasure!](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2009/08/blog-post-3/) - A gorgeous view along the Blue Ridge Parkway of the many ancient 'layers' of hazy blue-ish mountain ridges. . . the beauty is breathtaking and awe inspiring. God sure did a great job with this part of the planet, huh? . Our brief trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina has sadly
- [Orchid's of Halekulani Sunday Brunch](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2010/08/orchids-of-halekulani-sunday-brunch/) - One of the things that my hubby and I always make sure that we do while on vacation is to find one or two really nice restaurants, especially those where local cuisine is prepared that we cannot enjoy when we are home. So for this trip to the island of Oahu, my research
- [The Traditional Food of Florence and Tuscany, Italy! A Taste of Tuscany!](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/10/the-traditional-food-of-florence-and/) - Interior ceiling fresco of The Duomo (photo credited to "Going Through Italy") The Duomo of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiori (photo credited to "Going Through Italy") . We've just arrived in beautiful Florence, Italy, considered to be the center of the Renaissance at the end of the Middle Ages. It's almost impossible to
- [A  Wish Fulfilled:  Saying Goodbye To Italy & Black-Edged Mourning Envelopes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2013/01/traditional-italian-black-edged-mourning-envelopes/) - "From dust we come, from dust we shall return" (Ecclesiastes 3:20) Even though life is beautiful (la vita che bella) it is also brief and precious. I have been away from my blog and all of my friends in the blogging community for almost one month due to a different and more important
- [Where to Eat on St. John - ZoZo's and Monday Morning Musings](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/03/where-to-eat-on-st-john-zozos-and-monday-morning-musings/) - Looking for breath-taking, brilliant, turquoise waters? Look no further than the Virgin Islands in the Caribbean! During our spring break vacation to St. Thomas, we took the 20-minute ferry ride over to St. John, a protected national park for everyone to enjoy! We hopped on a safari shuttle 'truck' for $25.00 each to see some
- [Aruba "The Happy Island" Adventure](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/03/aruba-the-happy-island/) - By now you know that we don't sit still for very long in this family. Don't get me wrong, we love being home! But we have become travel addicts in the last 10 years and can't wait to explore another corner of the planet! So . . . it's on the road again time!
- [Best Breakfasts on Aruba Dutch Pancakes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/03/best-breakfasts-aruba-dutch-pancakes/) - Travelers to Aruba know that it is part of the Netherlands (Holland) and are aware of the delightful Dutch influence everywhere. Not only in the food, hospitality and friendliness, but also in the architecture on the island! To start each of your days on the "Happy Island" you need to enjoy a local specialty brought over
- [Must See in Aruba:  Color and Architecture](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/05/must-see-aruba-color-architecture/) - Those of you planning on a Caribbean vacation, here are several of the BEST (and FREE) things to see and do while on the tropical, desert island of Aruba. Vivid, eye-popping architectural color, of Danish heritage, will delight you in every turn that you take on the island. We hope that you enjoy this
- [Visiting Local Farmers' Markets in Search of Authentic Taste of Hawaii](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/07/visiting-local-farmers-markets-on-maui-in-search-of-authentic-taste-of-hawaii/) - Pineapple . . . mango . . . coconut . . . papaya . . . macadamia nuts! The fresh native foods of Hawaii are endless! And all of these wonderful tropical foods were found displayed in roadside stands and farmers' markets during our time on the islands. Some people find beauty and inspiration through
- [Oktoberfest in Georgia's 'Little Germany'](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/10/oktoberfest-in-georgias-little-germany/) - Germans really are great cooks with a delicious cuisine! I never really knew this before my husband and I visited the little German mountain village in Georgia, named "Helen". There are just too few German restaurants to allow us to experience the delicious way in which their dishes are prepared. Since October is the official month
- [Cancun, Mexico for a Relaxing Escape](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/10/cancun-mexico-relaxing-escape/) - The view of dawn with the perfectly clear, turquoise Caribbean Sea and pristine sandy beach of Cancun greeted us the first morning of our recent sojourn. The color of the water is brilliant, unspoiled, crystal clear and mesmorizing! We spent the last week in Cancun, Mexico for a relaxing escape after recovering from two
- [Cancun, Mexico - - Where to Go:  Dining and Spa](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/10/cancun-mexico-where-to-go-dining-and-spa/) - Breakfast on our third day in Cancun was at the resort's restaurant, "Oceano". A full buffet was offered that included these unique tiny, little sweets. I simply adore chocolate-filled croissants for breakfast as are often enjoyed in Italy. So I could not refuse the dark Mexican chocolate version (above). They were outstanding. The little cakes were
- [Thanksgiving Island Style](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/11/thanksgiving-island-style/) - Wishing all of you a Happy Thanksgiving from our holiday 'home away from home' on one of SC's barrier islands. .Rather than sharing a few recipes in this post, for my family the holiday is about getting together with friends and/or family that we love and simply enjoying the serenity of slowing down and enjoying the natural beauty
- [Italian Food In Chicago:  Day One](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/06/italian-food-in-chicago-day-one/) - If you're looking to explore Chicago's Italian food eateries and places to experience, I've got you covered in this series. On my way to Chicago for a whirlwind Italian food tour, I had a layover for a few hours in the Atlanta Airport. So I stopped in A sweet little gem, Café Intermezzo. This hot
- [A Maui Mother's Day](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2013/05/maui-mothers-day/) - We celebrated Mother's Day on the island of Maui with a day of simple resting while the 'pineapple juice' (drizzling rain) misted the sky throughout the day. We took a nice walk along the beach boardwalk and stopped in at the new Duke's Beach Club at the Westin Resort in Kaanapali. My husband
- [A Bohemian 70th Birthday in Asheville, NC](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2013/02/a-bohemian-70th-birthday-in-asheville-nc/) - the rustic lobby with huge stone fireplace, antler lighting, and fine artwork How do you celebrate a 70th birthday? After all this doesn't happen every day and truthfully only once in a lifetime, if one is fortunate enough to live for seven decades! I wanted to do something special for my husband, Mr. M. and P.
- [Fresh Florida Fried Grouper Sandwiches ~ ~ On The Road Again](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/03/fresh-florida-fried-grouper-sandwiches/) - . These are some seriously crazy huge freshly beer-batter dipped onion rings that we joyfully noshed on while overlooking one of the inland waterways off of Treasure Island near St. Petersburg, FL, USA! What a fun and definitely popular place! Goodness, it was happy hour and there wasn't an empty seat in the 3 room
- [Italian Easter Food](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/03/italian-easter-food/) - If you really want to have something delicious and unique offered on your Easter buffet table, here's a list of some of the best Italian Easter Foods that you can find on the web. I've done the search for you so all you have to do is click on the links of the Easter specialities
- [Back from AZ and Spring Break: Happy and Sad Events](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2009/03/back-from-az-and-spring-break/) - . Well, it has been a very emotion-filled week for me, lots of highs and lows . . . what life always brings . . . reminding me of simply 'being ALIVE'! Visiting my mother and father in their golden years was very special; time is precious and flies so quickly by. . . every
- [Canning Salsa](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2009/07/canning-salsa/) - I'm off to the store to buy some of the things that I DID NOT grow in our garden. You know, produce such as celery, red pepper flakes (duh!), and more ingredients that are necessary for the homemade salsa that we make every summer. I know some people think that I'm crazy to go through
- [11 Espresso Desserts for  International Coffee Day](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/10/11-espresso-desserts-for-international-coffee-day/) - I need my java! And any of the recipes listed below will do for an espresso or coffee dessert! Coffee has been energizing people all over the world for over 600 years. This piping-hot brown liquid is a now a morning staple today. Nearly 2.2 billion cups of coffee are enjoyed every day around the
- [What's In Season in June:  Guide To Fresh Fruit, Vegetables and Herbs](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2019/06/whats-in-season-in-june-guide-to-fresh-fruit-vegetables-and-herbs/) - Temperatures start to climb in June and our gardens are sharing the love from all of our work in the spring. There's nothing quite like preparing recipes that are filled with in season in June ingredients, Even if you don't have a garden, you can head to your local farmers' market and/or food store for
- [Halloween Italian Style](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2018/10/halloween-italian-style/) - Although Halloween is not celebrated in Italy to the extent that it is in the States, I just fell in love with the colorful and creative masks of Venice and wanted to share some shots of them along with some of our photos from Venice. The small pink feathered masks above immediately caught my eye!
- [Lemon Garlic Salmon](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2010/01/lemon-garlic-salmon-with-barefoot/) - This post is one of my originals when I first started to blog. You'll notice some very beginner photography that is part of my blogging journey (and so it remains on the blog to show how blogs can evolve over time). Lately, there has been a lot of discussion about the "super foods" that are
- [Fussen, Bavaria, Germany -- The Village By Neuschwanstein Castle](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/12/fussen-bavaria-germany-the-village-by-neuschwanstein-castle/) - When you visit Bavaria and the famous castles from kings of long past, you truly should make it a point to stay overnight in the town of Fussen, Bavaria, Germany . . . what is considered by many travel experts to be an overlooked gem in the shadows of the castles. My husband and
- [Shades of Pink in the Garden](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2010/08/shades-of-pink-in-garden/) - one of my David Austen roses . I don't know what color is most beautiful to you in the garden, but to me, without a shadow of a doubt, that color is PINK! I just adore the loveliness of all the different shades of pink dominating my gardens. I also plant flowers in soft
- [Garden Topiaries! Out and About At The Annual SC Festival of Flowers](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2010/06/this-week-we-mingled-with-tourists-and/) - . This week we mingled with tourists and local residents to celebrate gardening during the 3-week long Annual South Carolina Festival of Flowers. The focus of the festival is on everything flowers and gardening, but we also have a 2-day equestrian event, golf, 5K runs, triathalons, garden photography displays, luncheons with master gardener speakers,
- [Unique, Awesome, Super-Cool Foodie Gifts for Father's Day](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2018/06/unique-awesome-super-cool-foodie-gifts-for-fathers-day/) - Do you have a guy in your life that's so difficult to figure out what to give him for Father's Day or really any other special day for that matter (for non-Dads too)? Well, for those fabulous foodie fathers out there, I've just spent hours (of fun time) on the Internet putting together this list
- [Sharing Some Great Valentine's Day Recipes!](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2013/02/sharing-some-great-valentines-day/) - Raspberry and Italian Mascarpone Stuffed French Toast . St. Valentine's Day is just one week away and I've been planning the menu for what we will (cross my fingers) enjoy for the special (even if commercialized) day of amore'! Time, it is a-fleeting, so hopefully this post will give you some ideas of some
- [Filling and Twisting the Tortellini](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2009/01/filling-and-twisting-tortellini/) - After you have rolled your pasta through a "hand cranked" pasta machine (we use the Atlas brand) several times to your desired thickness (at least at the very minimum on #4 thickness), you then lay the delicate pasta down on a wooden surface (I recommend that you have on hand several different sizes of
- [The Most Popular Posts and Recipes from 2015](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/01/the-most-popular-posts-and-recipes-from-2015/) - It's always amazing how time flies by so quickly! The year 2015 is now behind us and so that means it's time to share the recipes and posts that you loved the most. I'm happy to know that you enjoy a wide variety of recipes from appetizers and salads, to pasta and main entrees, and
- [Most Popular 2012 Recipes on 'La Bella Vita Cucina'](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/12/most-popular-2012-recipes-on-la-bella/) - Once again we find ourselves at the end of another year! And what an interesting year it has been in the food blogging world and in my life itself that influenced the recipes that I posted here Most Popular 2012 Recipes on 'La Bella Vita Cucina' through the year and those that my readers have viewed the
- [Traditional New Year's Day Foods in Southern U.S.A.](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2017/12/traditional-new-years-day-foods-in-southern-u-s-a/) - Every part of the world has unique traditions for every occasion! Including New Year's Day! After moving to and living in the American South since 1996, I've learned a lot about foods that must be on the table to ring in each new year. Five, yes that's right, there are five specific foods served to
- [Italian Food Lover's Holiday Gift Guide](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2017/11/italian-food-lovers-holiday-gift-guide/) - . For the Italian Food Lovers in your life, I've put together a fantastic Gift Guide to provide you with lots of ideas and inspiration for giving this holiday season! Note: This post may contain affiliate links; view my Disclosure Policy for details. We earn a small percentage from any purchase you make by clicking
- [An Awesome Northern Italy Itinerary, What to See and Do](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2017/11/awesome-northern-italy-itinerary-see/) - For three incredible weeks in October I toured northern Italy and visited my family. What an amazing trip to say the least! I've been on a sabbatical from my university position during this fall semester. I knew that I had to take advantage of this time to roam around Italy SLOWLY and on my own
- [What to Buy in Germany (Bavaria)](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/12/buy-germany-bavaria/) - If you are visiting Bavaria, you're in for a unique and wonderful shopping experience. Yes, you'll find typical chain stores in the cities such as Munich. But it is the small boutiques and open markets that specialize in traditional German items that make spending money a pleasure. Whatever you are looking for . . . beautiful
- [Our Beautiful and Bella Vegetable Garden](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2009/06/our-beautiful-bella-vegetable-garden/) - Welcome to our beautiful and bella vegetable garden. It's been a very productive year is doing so well this year. Just look at the lettuce! Gorgeous! . Mother Nature is being kind to us with a beautiful spring with generous rainfall and a very moderate summer thus far, also with nice sprinkles of rain in
- [Oberammergau, Bavaria, Germany -- St. Peter and St. Paul Church](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/01/oberammergau-bavaria-germany-st-peter-and-st-paul-church/) - During our morning walk in December and the Christmas season, amidst the perfect quiet and peaceful life in this tiny Alpine village, (on our fourth day in Bavaria), my husband and I strolled along the quiet, cobble-stoned-paved streets of quaint Oberammergau, Germany. I couldn't help it, but I simply felt compelled to peak inside the
- [Wieskirche Church of the Scourged Saviour 'Church of the Meadow'](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/01/wieskirche-church-of-the-scourged-saviour-church-of-the-meadow/) - No description could possibly prepare us for the beautiful Wieskirche Church of the Scourged Savior Church of the Meadow (simply known as 'The Church of The Meadows'). Located near Oberammergau, Bavaria, Germany and in between Linderhoff Palace and Neuschwanstein Castle of King Ludwig, it is often missed by tourists. A treasure to be found! Upon
- [Fairytale Castle in Bavaria -- Neuschwanstein  Day Two in Germany](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/12/fairytale-castle-in-bavaria-neuschwanstein-day-two-in-germany/) - After one week of teaching my marketing seminar in Landshut, Germany, my husband joined me in Munich. There we hopped onto the train to visit the famous fairytale castle in Bavaria -- Neuschwanstein Castle. I wanted to start off our week long tour of Bavaria and Austria with a huge bang! This destination certainly packed
- [A Stroll In My June Flower Garden](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/06/stroll-in-my-june-flower-garden/) - . What would summer be without taking early morning and late evening strolls in beautiful flower gardens? I just cannot imagine this season without the sight and smell of these beautiful blooms! . Every year I add more perennials that usually take a good 3 years to expand and fill their spot in the
- [Three Years of Deliciousness mark the end of 2011](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/12/three-years-of-deliciousness-mark-end/) - . Wow, it's been three years for 'La Bella Vita Cucina' as of this past October, and here we are once again at the end of another year! Time truly does pass by quickly, doesn't it? I know that all of us in the blogging world enjoy looking back at our original blog posts and seeing
- [Panzanella Frittata](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/07/panzanella-frittata/) - . Eggs, they're what's for dinner breakfast! Last week I made Panzanella {recipe link}, the classic Italian tomato and bread salad. I had some left-over the next day and decided to make a frittata with what little bit was left. We call anything left over in the frig "must-gos" because whatever foods that are still fresh,
- [A Year of Yumminess on La Bella Vita](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2010/12/year-of-yumminess-on-la-bella-vita/) - 2010 brought a lot of 'growth' to this little ol' blog, "La Bella Vita Cucina" in both content and presentation. My family and friends log on and read it quite often for not only traditional family recipes, but new recipes as well. My readership grew from 100 followers in 2009 to over 700 in
- [A Pink Christmas for My God Daughter Visiting For Christmas!](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2010/12/pink-christmas-for-my-god-daughter/) - Just like most of you, I've been swamped with getting ready for Christmas, plus my 90-year old father was sent into emergency surgery this week and has been miraculously recovering since Monday. He was moved from the hospital today, one week later, into a rehab facility to help him recover completely. So life has
- [A Springtime Walk Through The Gardens of La Bella Vita Farm](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2010/05/springtime-walk-through-gardens-of-la/) - Well spring has sprung and I seem to have forgotten to take you on a little walk through some of my flower gardens here on the acreage. The shots that I'm posting today are those that were taken back in March and April of this year. After a few more posts with a culinary
- [Tomatoes, Tomatoes, Tomatoes and Freezing Tomatoes!](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2009/07/blog-post_07/) - A Bountiful "First" Harvest of Tomatoes of All Varieties!! We have been so blessed this spring and summer with weekly rain showers, so our gardens are just thriving....it's been hard on the roses unfortunately, so I'm researching the various ways to get rid of black spot, thrip, rust, and Japanese beetles (June bugs).
- [Farewell to My "Bella" Horse Friend, "Ace", Death of My Horse](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2009/03/farewell-to-my-bella-horse-friend-ace/) - . In Loving Memory of Our Beautiful Thoroughbred "Ace" (1985 - 2009) "Nothing is more sacred as the bond between horse and rider... No other creature can ever become so emotionally close to a human as a horse. When a horse dies, the memory lives on because an enormous part of his owner's heart,
- [Devastating Earthquake in Amatrice, Italy:  How You Can Help](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/08/devastating-earthquake-in-amatrice-italy-and-how-you-can-help/) - I've always believed that once you feel that something negative has happened to you . . . there is always, ALWAYS someone, somewhere who is experiencing something worse. Last night, in the wee hours when everyone is quietly enjoying their slumber, and while experiencing a normal period of insomnia on top of dealing with the
- [Easy Semi-Homemade Enchiladas](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/05/easy-semi-homemade-enchiladas/) - Every now and then I need to just 'do easy'. . . and feel no guilt whatsoever. That usually means that I won't be making something entirely from scratch as normal. One of my family's favorite 'easy' recipes is also fantastic! "Easy Semi-Homemade Enchiladas". There's no recipe . . . it's all straight from
- [Spring Flowers in a Southern Garden](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2016/05/spring-flowers-in-a-southern-garden/) - The wonderful spring weather in the South easily calls me to leave my kitchen, put down all of my work from the office, and to simply go outside to sit still in my gardens . . . to stop for a moment, take it all in and . . . just breath. The generous
- [Old Fashioned Roses and Azaleas](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/04/old-fashioned-roses-and-azaleas/) - Spring is such a beautiful time in the South with so much in bloom including my David Austen old fashioned roses and azaleas. Both are extremely easy to care for! One of the primary reasons why we plant only old fashioned roses. Another great spring-time addition is clematis for some vertical color. I also have mostly
- [Bavaria, Germany -- Day One Landshut](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/12/bavaria-germany-day-one-landshut/) - Spending Christmastime in Bavaria has always been a dream trip for me! The chance to visit and experience this beautiful region in Germany was given to me this month when I was invited to teach a brief marketing seminar at Landshut University, a small school in the original capital of Bavaria. This is a town
- [Spring Flower Garden Bloomfest](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/04/spring-flower-garden-bloomfest/) - Spring came with a beautiful BANG this year as a result of all of the rain. And I mean TONS of rain that we've had in the South these past few months. But to all those people who grew weary of the nearly-endless gray skies, I always remind them of the amount of blooms that bless us
- [On the Passing of My Mother:  From Her Hands Came Love](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/07/on-the-passing-of-my-mother-from-her-hands-came-love/) - I Never Saw Your Wings by Michele (last name unknown) How is it that I never saw your wings when you were here with me? When you closed your eyes and soared to the Heavens I could hear the faint flutter of your wings as you left. Your body no longer on this side, your
- [Loose Leaf Lettuce Salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/05/loose-leaf-lettuce-salad/) - . One of the very first vegetables that we enjoy is loose leaf lettuce! You know the kind that you find in healthy grocery stores such as Whole Foods or The Fresh Market . . . where the lettuce is on display in loose form and not in some bag sprayed with preservatives. Well not
- [Patriotic Recipes Honoring Memorial Day](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/05/patriotic-recipes-honoring-memorial-day/) - On Memorial Day in the U.S. we honor those who have defended this country. To my husband and me, this is a day to honor any person who served in our military who are no longer with us . . . not just those who lost their lives while in combat. Growing up in the Midwest, Memorial Day
- [How To Prepare Garden Soil](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/04/how-to-prepare-garden-soil/) - It's planting time! For those of us who don't live in the warmest regions of the country who have already started their gardens, it's time to get our hands in the dirt and play! The latest freezing dates that gardeners anxiously wait to pass are soon to be behind us. Oh yea, I've planted before
- [I Fiori (The Flowers) on La Bella Vita Acres](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2009/06/la-flori-flowers-on-la-bella-vita/) - The roses are blooming so abundantly this spring. I have had to spray for black spot due to all of the rain and moisture. It's not something that I like to do, but it is certainly a must-do for roses in the SE when it's moist. The beauty of these roses is so worth the
- [Crepe Myrtles in the Gardens](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/08/crepe-myrtles-in-gardens/) - . . . When all else fails to bloom in late summer, in the South there's always the prolific blooms of Crepe Myrtles! . .. . .
- [Happy Mother's Day ~ ~ Flowers For You!](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2013/05/happy-mothers-day-flowers-for-you/) - Wishing everyone a Happy Mother's Day and so I'm sending flowers for you via my blog in cyberspace! Home-delivery of flowers to each of you was a tad bit too difficult, so I'm sharing a peak into my Mother's Day garden with you. The azaleas are late for us this year due to the colder
- [In The Pink of Spring!](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2011/03/in-pink-of-spring/) - It's time to begin taking a walk around the acreage! . As I mentioned in previous posts, the daffodils are happily in bloom, and now it's time for the cherry and pear trees. . There is no better way to welcome spring than with flowering cherry trees! . Whether planted in rows to create
- [From Snow to Sea -- Monday Morning Musings](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/03/snow-sea-monday-morning-musings/) - SNOW! White stuff that is incredibly beautiful . . . and bright white against brilliant blue skies! Truly gorgeous! Growing up in the wind-blown, snow-blizzard-covered plains of Iowa, snow was just a normal part of life that we, AS CHILDREN, looked forward to! We knew nothing different. We built snow forts that we even had
- [Swiss Chard in the Garden](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/08/swiss-chard-in-garden/) - . ruby red stems of swiss chard in my garden simply beautiful! che bella! . . . .
- [Butterflies, Bumblebees, and Blue Blossoms in The Gardens](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/09/butterfies-bumblebees-and-blue-and/) - Blue . . . one of the most difficult colors to include in a garden, and especially in large amounts that bloom for longer periods of time to enjoy! And who doesn't love the color of blue? I've got blue iris that bloom for about a week and a half in the spring, little
- [Monday Morning Musings on Wednesday -- My Dog Died](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/01/monday-morning-musings-wednesday-dog-died/) - I realize that it is Wednesday and not Monday. Two things happened to delay my post on Monday: Classes resumed, which I absolutely despise. Secondly, but more importantly, my golden retriever, "Buckeye", passed away and it has been very difficult to even think. Buckeye would have been 12 years old in February. After one year
- [Beautiful, Dangerous Southern Winter -- Monday Morning Musings](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/02/beautiful-dangerous-southern-winter/) - What a winter we have all been having across the country! Endless snow and dangerous ice! Mother Nature is sure having her way with us this year, to say the least. My sympathies especially for everyone in the Northeast, but I had to share some photos of this year's beautiful, dangerous Southern winter as well.
- [The Best and Most Popular Recipes in 2014 on La Bella Vita Cucina](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/01/the-best-and-most-popular-recipes-in-2014-on-la-bella-vita-cucina/) - Another year has suddenly gone by . . . time truly does fly by far too fast! I don't know about you, but I think this is just nuts! In this past year, I could not spend as much time in the kitchen due to my new position as a Dean at the university
- [Rome, Venice, and Modena, Italy Travel, 2014](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2015/01/rome-venice-modena-italy-travel-2014/) - We spent more time on the road and in the air jetting off to some pretty fabulous places on this gorgeous planet in 2014! Gearing up for retirement, maybe? You bet I am! I'm counting down the next few years to give up the daily commute and just hang out on the acreage in my kitchen
- [20 of the BEST Red Velvet Recipes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2014/12/20-best-red-velvet-recipes/) - . Looking for the BEST Red Velvet Recipes? You're sure to find them in this batch (ha ha) of recipes sent to me to share from some great food bloggers! But before you drool over the photos below, first I have to share a Red Velvet cake story with you: Once upon a
- [Shades of Blue in the Garden! The Rarest Garden Color](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2009/09/shades-of-blue-in-garden-rarest-garden/) - Shades of Blue in the Garden! The Rarest Garden Color . . I just had to share photos of these extraordinary, beautiful blue flower covered bushes that thrill our eyes from late July until frost. . They are called Caryopteris or "Bluebeard". . Plus being drought and deer-resistance they are perfect for adding splashes of vivid
- [10 Best Italian Cooking and Kitchen Gift Guide for Foodies](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2014/11/the-10-best-italiancooking-and-kitchen-gift-guide-for-foodies/) - The season of giving is upon us once again! Something so many of us DREAD! Some of us break out in a sweat when thinking about or procrastinate until the clock ticks midnight . . . and well, we just break out into a panic of when thinking about"What do I get for "so and so"?"
- [Top 10 and Most Pinned Recipes of 2013!](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2014/01/pinned-favorite-recipes-2013/) - With the holidays behind us and having a few more precious moments to relax, breath, and JUST BE STILL, it's time once again to re-cap the top 10 and most pinned recipes of 2013! from La Bella Vita Cucina that you pinned and commented the most on. I have to say, even though I actually
- [Blossoms Abound Finally!](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2013/04/blossoms-abound-and-a-giveaway/) - FINALLY! After an unseasonably cold and wet spring, the weather is warming up at last! Bees are buzzing, the air is perfumed from the fresh aroma of flowers, (pollen is aggrevating many a person with allergies) but most of all blossoms are appearing! Flowering pear and cherry trees bring soft shades of white with pink
- [Have a Gratitude Filled St. Joseph's Day!](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2009/03/have-gratitude-filled-st-josephs-day/) - Buona Festa di San Giuseppee !! On March 18th (today), Italians everywhere celebrate the Feast of St. Joseph. It is a day that involves a lot of food preparation for large dinners. In many Catholic parishes, Italians assemble a St. Joseph's Altar where a variety of foods are laid in thankfulness.Here is a
- [Italian Resource links](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2008/09/scenes-of-beautiful-italia-la-bella/) - Links About Italian Life Ancestors From Italy Authentic Italian Pasta Recipes Bella Cucina Ciao Italy Ciao Laura Cooking with Patty ~ Italian Recipes Blog and Site Not Only Pizza ~ Patty’s Italian Recipe Blog Delicious Italy Expats in Italy Flavor of Italy Giada De Laurentiis Go Italy ifood videos In Italy Ital-Amer.One Voice Coalition Italan
- [Tagliatelle Timbale with Wine Gravy from Paolo, Truly Delicious!](https://www.italianbellavita.com/2012/12/pasticcio-di-tagliatelle-from-paolo/) - Christmas is a time for special foods to be presented with love to our family and guests. One such recipe from Paolo of Quatro Fromaggio and Other Disgraces On The Menu, is absolutely perfect for 'wowing' everyone on this festive holiday (misspelling of Quattro Formaggi is intentional in his blog title). I know that when he

## Pages

- [Shop](https://www.italianbellavita.com/shop/) - WELCOME to La Bella Vita Cucina's Amazon Store Shop for your favorite quality Italian food and kitchen products all in one place! Good cooks are famous for having well-stocked pantries. You never want to be out of a crucial ingredient if someone stops by and you're unable to prepare something for them. Italian cooking
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- [Featured On](https://www.italianbellavita.com/featured-in/) - "La Bella Vita Cucina" Has Been Featured On The Following: Plantook - Plant Oriented Cooking: Italian Lentil Soup, January 1, 2021 Michelin Star Fine Dining, Traditional Foods of Emilia-Romagna, November 7th, 2019. Florida Strawberries: In Honor of National Rhubarb Day on Twitter: Roz's Strawberry Rhubarb Pie with Mascarpone Cream, June 9th, 2018. That Skinny Chick
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- [travel in Italy](https://www.italianbellavita.com/delicious-blogs/) - This segment is now in development; please return to read more about the beauty of traveling in Italy! Rome Venice Florence The Amalfi Coast Pompeii Modena, Bologna and the mountain village of Montecreto in Emilia-Romagna (Northern Italy).
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- [chicken broth](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/chicken-broth/)
- [eggs](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/eggs/)
- [olives](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/olives/)
- [Fig](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/fig/)
- [Figs](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/figs/)
- [Prosciutto](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/prosciutto/)
- [gorgonzola](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/gorgonzola/)
- [oatmeal](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/oatmeal/)
- [artichokes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/artichokes/)
- [spinach](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/spinach/)
- [biscotti](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/biscotti/)
- [cranberry](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/cranberry/)
- [asiago](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/asiago/)
- [pumpkin](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/pumpkin/)
- [blood orange](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/blood-orange/)
- [orange](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/orange/)
- [Nutella](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/nutella/)
- [cinnamon](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/cinnamon/)
- [raspberry](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/raspberry/)
- [raspberries](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/raspberries/)
- [Garlic](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/garlic/)
- [Rosemary](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/rosemary/)
- [tortellini](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/tortellini/)
- [broth](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/broth/)
- [potatoes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/potatoes/)
- [cherries](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/cherries/)
- [cheese](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/cheese/)
- [mushrooms](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/mushrooms/)
- [blackberries](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/blackberries/)
- [banana](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/banana/)
- [pomegranate](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/pomegranate/)
- [porcini mushrooms](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/porcini-mushrooms/)
- [cream cheese](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/cream-cheese/)
- [chili](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/chili/)
- [pineapple](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/pineapple/)
- [parsley](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/parsley/)
- [olive oil](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/olive-oil/)
- [polenta](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/polenta/)
- [Fontina](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/fontina/)
- [Mozzarella](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/mozzarella/)
- [Parmesan](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/parmesan/)
- [dark chocolate](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/dark-chocolate/)
- [ganache](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/ganache/)
- [buffalo chicken](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/buffalo-chicken/)
- [blue cheese](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/blue-cheese/)
- [cream](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/cream/)
- [dried cranberries](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/dried-cranberries/)
- [asparagus](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/asparagus/)
- [fruit recipes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/fruit-recipes/)
- [frittata](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/frittata/)
- [goat cheese](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/goat-cheese/)
- [peas](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/peas/)
- [balsamic vinegar](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/balsamic-vinegar/)
- [thyme](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/thyme/)
- [Carolina Rice](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/carolina-rice/)
- [alcohol](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/alcohol/)
- [veal](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/veal-2/)
- [coconut](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/coconut/)
- [mint](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/mint/)
- [lime](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/lime/)
- [roasted peppers](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/roasted-peppers/)
- [red peppers](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/red-peppers/)
- [bruschetta](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/bruschetta/)
- [raspberry sauce](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/raspberry-sauce/)
- [garden fresh](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/garden-fresh/)
- [green beans](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/green-beans/)
- [beets](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/beets/)
- [zucchini](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/zucchini/)
- [roasted red peppers](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/roasted-red-peppers/)
- [garden fresh recipes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/garden-fresh-recipes/)
- [squash blossoms](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/squash-blossoms/)
- [pimento cheese](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/pimento-cheese/)
- [squash](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/squash/)
- [mango](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/mango/)
- [cilantro](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/cilantro/)
- [corn](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/corn/)
- [black beans](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/black-beans/)
- [steak](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/steak/)
- [garden lettuce sandwich](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/garden-lettuce-sandwich/)
- [capers](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/capers/)
- [peppers](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/peppers/)
- [salmon](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/salmon/)
- [arborio rice](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/arborio-rice/)
- [pasta recipes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/pasta-recipes/)
- [orzo](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/orzo/)
- [manchego](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/manchego/)
- [pear](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/pear/)
- [ravioli](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/ravioli/)
- [swiss chard](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/swiss-chard/)
- [tuna](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/tuna/)
- [ricotta](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/ricotta/)
- [fried fish](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/fried-fish/)
- [blueberries](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/blueberries/)
- [berries](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/berries/)
- [chipotle](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/chipotle/)
- [rigatoni](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/rigatoni/)
- [bufalo mozzarella](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/bufalo-mozzarella/)
- [truffle](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/truffle/)
- [macaroni](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/macaroni/)
- [cucumber](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/cucumber/)
- [phyllo](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/phyllo/)
- [gnocchi](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/gnocchi/)
- [butter](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/butter/)
- [pumpkin recipe](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/pumpkin-recipe/)
- [marinara sauce](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/marinara-sauce/)
- [lemons](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/lemons/)
- [cookies](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/cookies/)
- [Italian](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/italian/)
- [frozen](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/frozen/)
- [cold dessert](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/cold-dessert/)
- [salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/salad/)
- [vegetable salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/vegetable-salad/)
- [chopped salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/chopped-salad/)
- [copycat](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/copycat/)
- [raw](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/raw/)
- [fried tomatoes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/fried-tomatoes/)
- [southern](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/southern/)
- [green tomatoes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/green-tomatoes/)
- [fried green tomatoes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/fried-green-tomatoes/)
- [Chinese New Year](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/chinese-new-year/)
- [ramen](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/ramen/)
- [Chinese](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/chinese/)
- [Asian](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/asian/)
- [Noodle Bowl](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/noodle-bowl/)
- [Light](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/light/)
- [Healthy](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/healthy/)
- [soup](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/soup/)
- [chicken soup](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/chicken-soup/)
- [cheesecake](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/cheesecake/)
- [truffles](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/truffles/)
- [Italian cuisine](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/italian-cuisine/)
- [cream sauce](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/cream-sauce/)
- [smoothie](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/smoothie/)
- [light and healthy](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/light-and-healthy/)
- [low cal](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/low-cal/)
- [antiinflammatory](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/antiinflammatory/)
- [detox](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/detox/)
- [lentils](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/lentils/)
- [Italian custom](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/italian-custom/)
- [New Year's Day](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/new-years-day/)
- [brownies](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/brownies/)
- [bread pudding](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/bread-pudding/)
- [mardis gras](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/mardis-gras/)
- [new orleans](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/new-orleans/)
- [whiskey sauce](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/whiskey-sauce/)
- [low-carb](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/low-carb/)
- [Cauliflower](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/cauliflower/)
- [KETO](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/keto/)
- [vegetable](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/vegetable/)
- [vegetables](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/vegetables/)
- [side dish](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/side-dish/)
- [Easy](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/easy/)
- [tres leches](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/tres-leches/)
- [cake](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/cake/)
- [salsa](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/salsa/)
- [summer](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/summer/)
- [Mexican](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/mexican/)
- [Italian desserts](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/italian-desserts/)
- [desserts](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/desserts/)
- [layer cake](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/layer-cake/)
- [charcuterie](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/charcuterie/)
- [charcuterie board](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/charcuterie-board/)
- [appetizers](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/appetizers/)
- [entertaining](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/entertaining/)
- [cheese board](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/cheese-board/)
- [holidays](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/holidays/)
- [party food](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/party-food/)
- [finger food](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/finger-food/)
- [tradition](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/tradition/)
- [Italian food](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/italian-food/)
- [New Year's](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/new-years/)
- [Instant Pot](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/instant-pot/)
- [vegetarian](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/vegetarian/)
- [Easy recipe](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/easy-recipe/)
- [breakfast](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/breakfast/)
- [brunch](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/brunch/)
- [leftovers](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/leftovers/)
- [bell peppers](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/bell-peppers/)
- [onions](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/onions/)
- [omelette](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/omelette/)
- [quiche](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/quiche/)
- [maid-rite](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/maid-rite/)
- [maid-rites](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/maid-rites/)
- [loose meat](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/loose-meat/)
- [iowa](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/iowa/)
- [sandwich](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/sandwich/)
- [sandwiches](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/sandwiches/)
- [midwestern](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/midwestern/)
- [recipe](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/recipe/)
- [recipes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/recipes/)
- [simple](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/simple/)
- [less than 5 ingredients](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/less-than-5-ingredients/)
- [chicken pot pie](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/chicken-pot-pie/)
- [chicken dinner](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/chicken-dinner/)
- [comfort food](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/comfort-food/)
- [pot pie](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/pot-pie/)
- [entree](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/entree/)
- [pot roast](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/pot-roast/)
- [roast](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/roast/)
- [one pot meal](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/one-pot-meal/)
- [game day](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/game-day/)
- [super bowl](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/super-bowl/)
- [Po Boy](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/po-boy/)
- [Submarine Sandwich](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/submarine-sandwich/)
- [Roast Beef](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/roast-beef/)
- [Gravy](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/gravy/)
- [Louisiana](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/louisiana/)
- [Southern Cuisine](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/southern-cuisine/)
- [King cake](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/king-cake/)
- [dessert](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/dessert/)
- [Fat Tuesday](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/fat-tuesday/)
- [Apple Cake](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/apple-cake/)
- [spring dessert](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/spring-dessert/)
- [Cinco de Mayo](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/cinco-de-mayo/)
- [strawberries](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/strawberries/)
- [Memorial Day](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/memorial-day/)
- [4th of July](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/4th-of-july/)
- [Labor Day](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/labor-day/)
- [Ina Garten](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/ina-garten/)
- [autumn](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/autumn/)
- [chocolate ganache](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/chocolate-ganache/)
- [bars](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/bars/)
- [cookies and bars](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/cookies-and-bars/)
- [Italian Candy](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/italian-candy/)
- [Italian Chocolate](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/italian-chocolate/)
- [Halloween](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/halloween/)
- [All Saints Day](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/all-saints-day/)
- [Candy](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/candy/)
- [Treats](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/treats/)
- [focaccia](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/focaccia/)
- [potato focaccia](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/potato-focaccia/)
- [Italian bread](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/italian-bread/)
- [Thanksgiving](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/thanksgiving/)
- [Turkey Stuffing](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/turkey-stuffing/)
- [Turkey Dressing](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/turkey-dressing/)
- [christmas](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/christmas/)
- [breakfast casserole](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/breakfast-casserole/)
- [pie](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/pie/)
- [cherry pie](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/cherry-pie/)
- [piecrust](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/piecrust/)
- [fried olives](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/fried-olives/)
- [antipasto](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/antipasto/)
- [stuffed olives](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/stuffed-olives/)
- [snickerdoodles](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/snickerdoodles/)
- [ice cream sandwiches](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/ice-cream-sandwiches/)
- [how-to](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/how-to/)
- [tropical fruit](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/tropical-fruit/)
- [new year's eve](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/new-years-eve/)
- [superstitions](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/superstitions/)
- [La Befana](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/la-befana/)
- [Befanini](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/befanini/)
- [Befannini](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/befannini/)
- [Italian Traditions](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/italian-traditions/)
- [Italian Culture](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/italian-culture/)
- [Epiphany](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/epiphany/)
- [Three Wise Men](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/three-wise-men/)
- [Three Kings](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/three-kings/)
- [dumplings](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/dumplings/)
- [asiago cheese](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/asiago-cheese/)
- [italian cheese](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/italian-cheese/)
- [Parmiggiana](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/parmiggiana/)
- [special occasion](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/special-occasion/)
- [Scottish](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/scottish/)
- [Scotland](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/scotland/)
- [Burn's Night](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/burns-night/)
- [Italian Hot Chocolate](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/italian-hot-chocolate/)
- [Verona](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/verona/)
- [Romeo and Juliet](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/romeo-and-juliet/)
- [Italy](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/italy/)
- [City of Love](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/city-of-love/)
- [Little Rome](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/little-rome/)
- [Juliet's balconey](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/juliets-balconey/)
- [mardi gras](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/mardi-gras/)
- [Blackened redfish](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/blackened-redfish/)
- [fried chicken](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/fried-chicken/)
- [muffuletta](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/muffuletta/)
- [bananas foster](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/bananas-foster/)
- [debris po'boy](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/debris-poboy/)
- [carnevale](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/carnevale/)
- [roasted potatoes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/roasted-potatoes/)
- [mashed potatoes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/mashed-potatoes/)
- [latkes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/latkes/)
- [foccacia](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/foccacia/)
- [spinach salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/spinach-salad/)
- [spring salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/spring-salad/)
- [bacon](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/bacon/)
- [water chestnuts](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/water-chestnuts/)
- [retro recipes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/retro-recipes/)
- [deviled eggs](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/deviled-eggs/)
- [Spring](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/spring/)
- [classic recipe](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/classic-recipe/)
- [spring recipe](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/spring-recipe/)
- [Easter](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/easter/)
- [Easter recipe](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/easter-recipe/)
- [celebration](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/celebration/)
- [Flag Day](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/flag-day/)
- [patriotic](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/patriotic/)
- [pasta salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/pasta-salad/)
- [cold side dish](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/cold-side-dish/)
- [potluck](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/potluck/)
- [red](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/red/)
- [white](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/white/)
- [and blue](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/and-blue/)
- [coleslaw](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/coleslaw/)
- [Kentucky Fried Chicken](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/kentucky-fried-chicken/)
- [copycat recipe](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/copycat-recipe/)
- [cold salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/cold-salad/)
- [no cook](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/no-cook/)
- [creamy dressing](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/creamy-dressing/)
- [tomato sandwich'](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/tomato-sandwich/)
- [summer recipe](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/summer-recipe/)
- [chilled salad](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/chilled-salad/)
- [vinaigrette](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/vinaigrette/)
- [amatriciana](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/amatriciana/)
- [all' amatriciana](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/all-amatriciana/)
- [Risotto](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/risotto/)
- [butternut squash](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/butternut-squash/)
- [autumn recipe](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/autumn-recipe/)
- [fall recipe](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/fall-recipe/)
- [minestrone](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/minestrone/)
- [authentic](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/authentic/)
- [classic](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/classic/)
- [la bella vita cucina](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/la-bella-vita-cucina/)
- [pizza](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/pizza/)
- [pizza margherita](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/pizza-margherita/)
- [naples](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/naples/)
- [naples italy](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/naples-italy/)
- [pumpkin roll](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/pumpkin-roll/)
- [pumpkin roll recipe](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/pumpkin-roll-recipe/)
- [spice roll](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/spice-roll/)
- [pumpkin spice roll](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/pumpkin-spice-roll/)
- [pumpkin spice cake](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/pumpkin-spice-cake/)
- [pumpkin roll cake recipe](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/pumpkin-roll-cake-recipe/)
- [carrot cake](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/carrot-cake/)
- [autumn cake](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/autumn-cake/)
- [nut cake](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/nut-cake/)
- [spice cake](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/spice-cake/)
- [rome](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/rome/)
- [cacio e pepe](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/cacio-e-pepe/)
- [anthony bourdain](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/anthony-bourdain/)
- [Vegetarian pizza](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/vegetarian-pizza/)
- [grilled pizza](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/grilled-pizza/)
- [grill](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/grill/)
- [grilling](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/grilling/)
- [margherita](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/margherita/)
- [thanksgiving recipe](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/thanksgiving-recipe/)
- [Italian Meatloaf](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/italian-meatloaf/)
- [Meatloaf](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/meatloaf/)
- [Nonna](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/nonna/)
- [Nonna's](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/nonnas/)
- [Main Dish](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/main-dish/)
- [pasta e fagiole](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/pasta-e-fagiole/)
- [casserole](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/casserole/)
- [baked](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/baked/)
- [Cabbage Soup](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/cabbage-soup/)
- [Cabbage](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/cabbage/)
- [Light Cusine](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/light-cusine/)
- [Cooking Light](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/cooking-light/)
- [Low Carb](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/low-carb-2/)
- [turkey chili](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/turkey-chili/)
- [leftover turkey](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/leftover-turkey/)
- [buffalo turkey](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/buffalo-turkey/)
- [stew](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/stew/)
- [stracotto](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/stracotto/)
- [Italian stew](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/italian-stew/)
- [Glühwein German Mulled Wine](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/gluhwein-german-mulled-wine/)
- [Mulled wine](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/mulled-wine/)
- [hot wine](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/hot-wine/)
- [Christmas Market](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/christmas-market/)
- [Germany](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/germany/)
- [Austria](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/austria/)
- [Glühwein](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/gluhwein/)
- [holiday](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/holiday/)
- [sugar cookies](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/sugar-cookies/)
- [scalloped potatoes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/scalloped-potatoes/)
- [French potatoes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/french-potatoes/)
- [Dauphinois potatoes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/dauphinois-potatoes/)
- [chicken stock](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/chicken-stock/)
- [northern italian cuisine](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/northern-italian-cuisine/)
- [emilia-romagna](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/emilia-romagna/)
- [steak diane](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/steak-diane/)
- [steak sauce](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/steak-sauce/)
- [retro](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/retro/)
- [steak recipe](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/steak-recipe/)
- [filet mignon recipe](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/filet-mignon-recipe/)
- [ribeye recipe](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/ribeye-recipe/)
- [pan sear](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/pan-sear/)
- [Corn on the Cob](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/corn-on-the-cob/)
- [Italian Corn](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/italian-corn/)
- [Pecorino](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/pecorino/)
- [Cheesy](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/cheesy/)
- [Italian soup](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/italian-soup/)
- [Italian cabbage soup](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/italian-cabbage-soup/)
- [zuppa](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/zuppa/)
- [northern italian](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/northern-italian/)
- [winter soup](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/winter-soup/)
- [autumn soup](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/autumn-soup/)
- [Val d'Aosta](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/val-daosta/)
- [Valle d'Aosta](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/valle-daosta/)
- [alpine](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/alpine/)
- [alpine cuisine](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/alpine-cuisine/)
- [meatballs](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/meatballs/)
- [Italian meatballs](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/italian-meatballs/)
- [Meatball sandwich](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/meatball-sandwich/)
- [Italian meatball sandwich](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/italian-meatball-sandwich/)
- [lettuce wraps](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/lettuce-wraps/)
- [wraps](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/wraps/)
- [Asian Lettuce Wraps](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/asian-lettuce-wraps/)
- [Pork Lettuce Wraps](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/pork-lettuce-wraps/)
- [Panna Cotta](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/panna-cotta/)
- [berry](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/berry/)
- [Amalfi Lemons](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/amalfi-lemons/)
- [Campagna](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/campagna/)
- [Amalfi Coast](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/amalfi-coast/)
- [Lemon Recipes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/lemon-recipes/)
- [Italian Recipes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/italian-recipes/)
- [7 layer dip](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/7-layer-dip/)
- [layer dip](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/layer-dip/)
- [Panini](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/panini/)
- [Bananas](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/bananas/)
- [Mopa Mopa](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/mopa-mopa/)
- [handcrafts](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/handcrafts/)
- [indigenous](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/indigenous/)
- [crafts](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/crafts/)
- [Milan](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/milan/)
- [Olympics](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/olympics/)
- [bolognese](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/bolognese/)
- [ragu](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/ragu/)
- [white bolognese](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/white-bolognese/)
- [ragu bianco](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/ragu-bianco/)
- [bianco ragu](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/bianco-ragu/)
- [tablescapes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/tablescapes/)
- [decor](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/decor/)
- [egg salad'](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/egg-salad/)
- [spring recipes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/spring-recipes/)
- [summer recipes](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/summer-recipes/)
- [sandwich recipe](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/sandwich-recipe/)
- [May holiday food](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/may-holiday-food/)
- [Halibut](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/halibut/)
- [Baked Halibut](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/baked-halibut/)
- [Fish Entree](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/fish-entree/)
- [Fish Recipe](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/fish-recipe/)
- [green goddess](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/green-goddess/)
- [Italian-American](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/italian-american/)
- [dips](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/dips/)
- [dip](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/dip/)
- [salsas](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/salsas/)
- [horsdeorves](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/horsdeorves/)
- [meatball](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/meatball/)
- [carbonara](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/carbonara/)
- [spaghetti carbonara](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/spaghetti-carbonara/)
- [pasta carbonara](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/pasta-carbonara/)
- [Italian grilling](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/italian-grilling/)
- [Italian Grill](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/italian-grill/)
- [BBQ](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/bbq/)
- [Barbeque](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/barbeque/)
- [Barbecue](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/barbecue/)
- [al fresco](https://www.italianbellavita.com/tag/al-fresco/)