Pasta with meat sauce is a favorite comfort dish. I’ve made it a million times when I wanted something familiar and filling or when I was short on cash. I used to just open a jar of commercial spaghetti sauce, add some basic spices, and heat it up in five minutes. Now I start from
Italian meatballs are often fried to develop a crispy exterior, but I find I can achieve the same effect — without adding oil — by roasting them instead. If you prefer soft meatballs, cook them in pasta sauce over medium-low heat for about 30 minutes. These are small enough to make a nice appetizer. Just
Chicken cacciatore is a dish that can be prepared for a large crowd or easily scaled back for an easy dinner for two, and like many tomato-based dishes, it tastes even better the second — or even the third day. Traditional cacciatore features peppers and onions but you can add any other veggies you like
I used to go to the Feast of San Gennaro in New York’s Little Italy every year, and the first thing I’d look for when I got there was a food stall selling sausages and peppers. All I had to do was follow my nose — the smell alone is enough to make your mouth
I love lasagna with ground beef but when I want comfort food that’s satisfying but not heavy, I make this instead. I try to incorporate seasonal vegetables in my meals whenever possible so in warmer weather, that usually means cold vegetable or pasta salads. But sometimes a cold salad just won’t do. One of the
I never really understood orzo. Rice-shaped pasta? Pasta-flavored rice? I was never quite sure so I avoided it altogether — until now. This dish is actually Hayley’s recipe– my daughter and co-author of this blog, so this is is actually a review. It’s good! Serve this as a side dish with fish or roast chicken, or
I buy chicken legs and thighs whenever they’re on sale because I prefer dark meat and I’m always looking for new ways to use them. This recipe is one of my favorites. You might think it’s too heavy for warmer weather but you’d be wrong. It’s hearty but not heavy, and like most tomato-based dishes,
This basic marinara — calling for only five ingredients — is proof of how little is needed to deliver satisfying flavor. Some cooks sweeten their sauce to balance the tomatoes’ acidity, but I don’t find this hack necessary. Raw tomatoes may start out a little bitter, but that acerbity disappears all on its own if
Chicken piccata is one of those dishes that has been around forever and sounds fancy-shmancy — but it really isn’t. Piccata is a lemon-butter sauce that looks and tastes elegant but you can make it in less than half an hour. By the way, traditional piccata doesn’t include cream but it adds a little extra yumminess.
