I had a friend in high school who was Italian and her Mom’s specialty for birthday parties and sleepovers was stromboli. What is effectively an Italian turnover, filled with deli treats, is emblazoned in my memory as a favorite adolescent food memory. It’s also a festive party dish, perfect if you’re feeding a crowd. One […]
Arancini are balls of rice, stuffed with anything from cheese to ragu, then fried to a golden hue. They are a traditional Sicilian dish served in December for the Feast of Santa Lucia, commemorating the arrival of a grain ship to the island in 1646 during a time of famine. What does that mean to us? An […]
Okay, so calling this “bruschetta” is a stretch, but you can’t argue that it makes a fun twist for brunch. It’s also kid friendly, as evidenced by my junior sous who joins me in the video for this super simple recipe. He’s such a ham. Where on earth does he get it?!? Get the full […]
I have been making chili for eons. It’s probably the thing I have cooked most in my life, but Ryan has always joked that no two chilis of mine were the same. I have never worked from a recipe. I always just start slinging things in a pot. But, there has been consistency between bowls […]
This non-traditional quinoa sushi appetizer has been a hit at numerous parties over the years. I promise, if you show up with these, you’ll be the talk of the potluck. No fancy tools needed, I show you in the video below how to make your own “sushi” rolls with quinoa and veggies. Quinoa Sushi Rolls […]
Our family doesn’t have any traceable roots to Italy. But, we have wondered if perhaps there was some mysterious ounce of Italian blood passed on to my sister. She has always been obsessed with Italian food. Every birthday, special occasion and dinner out, if there was Italian on the menu, it was on her plate. She’s […]
This recipe is epic and you have to try it. It’s sponsored by Traina Foods, but that doesn’t mean I’m lying when I say I love their ketchup. I’ve written about it before, so I’ll spare you the gush-fest, but do take note that this ketchup is more like tomato paste. Do not sub in […]
Ryan’s favorite thing on the Thanksgiving table is stuffing, but I wanted to make up something a little bit different for him this year. Still keeping with the bread component, I changed stuffing/dressing to bread pudding with savory and southwestern ingredients. The outcome after several rounds of testing was a sweet, lightly spiced, decadent savory […]
One way to simplify your holiday entertaining is with a cheese plate. Prep a platter and get on with the rest of your party! Sounds simple, but I know I was confused the first time I tried to put one together. That’s why I created the video below and a helpful Cheese Plate Checklist to help you […]
We officially have a Halloween tradition in the Simon house. For three years now, I’ve made a big pot of spaghetti with meat sauce (Bolognese if we’re bein’ fancy) and opened up the doors to friends and family before Trick-or-Treating. After a third round of rave reviews and inquiries for a recipe, I spent today […]
This recipe serves as the kick-off to my videos on YouTube! Get the story behind the dish and watch the play by play! The full printable recipe is at the bottom of this post. *Original Recipe by Joanie Simon (joaniesimon.com)
Cranberry sauce is one of my favorite things on the holiday table. Jellied, canned, it doesn’t matter. If there’s cranberries in it, I’m in. A few years ago I discovered that homemade cranberry sauce is insanely easy to make, and because I love my sauce extra tart, I can regulate the amount of sugar I […]
