Mac & cheese has always been my favorite food. I remember feeling so empowered when I was little, whenever my mom would let me take the reins and stir the powdered cheese sauce into the perfectly cooked Kraft noodles. Yes, it’s pretty easy to make boxed mac & cheese, but when you’re young, cooking anything alone is an accomplishment. I’ve upped my cooking game a … Continue reading Chipotle cheddar macaroni and cheese
Americans love cheese, and I am no exception. Fried cheese curds are a personal favorite, but in New Jersey, cheese curds are extremely hard to come by—although we do have some amazing cheese makers in this state (very few of whom actually produce cheese curds). When cheese curds aren’t available—which is pretty much always—fried mozzarella makes the perfect appetizer. Football season is finally back; preseason … Continue reading big & cheesy mozzarella sticks
I’ve probably said this before—I am not a burger fan. But I’ll admit, nothing says “summertime” like burgers on the grill. Another thing I’ll admit—I don’t use the grill all that often. However, I do have an amazing Calphalon grill pan for which I would probably sell my own soul. With that said, I do like to occasionally experiment with burgers (usually sliders, but I … Continue reading big, bold, bacon blue cheese burgers
New Jersey has this bad habit of getting excessively warm and then cooling down again. It’s like Mother Nature can’t decide whether or not she wants the AC on. For the past few weeks, temperatures have been anywhere from a warm 80 to a cool 55 (today happens to be 90, but don’t worry, it will be in the 60s again by the weekend). Anyway, … Continue reading caprese sandwich with homemade basil-walnut pesto
Yes, this is the third macaroni and cheese recipe on the blog. But the reason for it is simple: it’s the world’s best mac and cheese. Self-proclaimed, of course. My previous recipes were a unique beer-bacon mac and cheese and a healthy Greek yogurt mac and cheese. But this one is just an original, thick and creamy mac and cheese recipe that everyone in the … Continue reading thick & creamy macaroni and cheese
The best part about being Italian? The food. I was born to love everything Italian; from eggplant parm to any type of pasta you could possibly think of, there is nothing like the flavor of a delicious Italian meal. These bite-sized apps imitate a classic antipasto: hot peppers, artichoke hearts, provolone and more, all stuffed inside a crispy genoa salami cup. With a super easy … Continue reading antipasto bites
I have always been a lover of pasta. It’s the Italian in me. On the contrary, I have always been a hater of store-bought pasta sauce. It’s the Italian in me. When I go to a restaurant, the first thing I look for on the menu is the pasta section (most restaurants don’t actually have a pasta section, so it’s an automatic five stars for … Continue reading creamy tomato alfredo chicken penne
When I was younger, the best part about going to a baseball game was the scent of greasy burgers and hot dogs that wafted my way with every breeze. There’s just something about a stadium dog—it’s like every bite is a taste of summer. Since I’m not a serious burger eater, every family barbecue calls for some tasty grilled dogs. My favorite part about this … Continue reading cheesy cheddar chili dogs
Pasta is one of my favorite comfort foods. But in the warm summer months, I’m not craving a heaping helping of baked ziti; I want something lighter and cooler—something like a pasta salad. A few months ago I experimented with a chipotle mayo dip to go along with some sweet potato fries I had cooked. When it came time to make pasta salad for a … Continue reading chipotle BLT pasta salad
Believe it or not, Memorial Day is one of the biggest holidays in my family. I grew up going to the beach, and this day has always been the unofficial first day of summer. Of course, let’s not forget the true meaning of this day – remembering fallen U.S soldiers and the sacrifices each of them made for our country. Remembering those who are no … Continue reading reuben-style cheeseburger sliders
simply delicious. 