Grilled Vegetable Pesto Panzanella Salad

Grilled Vegetable Pesto Panzanella Salad

I really like bread salads, and I feel like each type of cuisine has their own version of bread salad. I know my moms makes an Indian bread salad, that’s made with regular white bread, onions, curry leaves and Indian spices. They’re really filling and hearty. One night last week we were having Italian night, …

Eggplant & Zucchini Caponata

Eggplant & Zucchini Caponata

Growing up in Staten Island, has allowed me to become accustomed to delicious Italian food. When you go to an Italian restaurant, you’re not only guaranteed bread here, but in most cases your bread is accompanied by a delicious eggplant caponata. It’s a medley of fresh eggplant slowly cooked down with capers, olives, onions and …

Spinach-Jalapeno Walnut Pesto

Spinach-Jalapeno Walnut Pesto

Sometimes I like to step away from traditional recipes and cooking. Wait, who am I kidding!? That’s pretty much what I do majority of the time. My mom recently bought me some groceries (yesss wonderful feeling) and one of the items I had requested was some baby spinach. When I came home from work one …

Garlic-Mint Orzo with Cumin & Capers

Garlic-Mint Orzo with Cumin & Capers

Even though orzo is an Italian pasta, I feel like it doesn’t have to be cooked in a traditional Italian manner. Then again, nothing has to be cooked with rules or regulations (that’s why I love to cook!). When I think of orzo I think Italian, Moroccan and a bit Middle Eastern. So I basically …

Pumpkin & Butternut Squash Lasagna with a Roasted Garlic-Sage Cream Sauce

Pumpkin & Butternut Squash Lasagna with a Roasted Garlic-Sage Cream Sauce

When I think of winter and snow, I think of snuggling up in my fleece pajamas and fuzzy socks and watching tv (and doing absolutely nothing else). But, ya gotta eat dinner, right? When I think of winter in terms of food, I think about all of the wintery vegetables- squash, pumpkin, cabbage, onion, potato, …

New Apartment, Awesome Housewarming Party!!

New Apartment, Awesome Housewarming Party!!

Beautiful flower arrangement in my lobby (they change it weekly)!  Hello everyone! So if you’re wondering why I’ve been so M.I.A it’s because I have a legitimate excuse! I swear! I’ve been busy moving into my own new apartment in the city!! Yes, living the independent life in my own studio 🙂 Some of my …

Broccoli ‘a la Parmigiana’

Broccoli ‘a la Parmigiana’

For some reason I LOVE broccoli. I don’t know where I get it from- must be some recessive broccoli-loving gene, cause neither of my parents like it as much as I do. I just think it’s really versatile and I love the way it looks- especially after you blanch it, the color is such a …

Perfect Italian Summertime Menu

Perfect Italian Summertime Menu

(My yummy Pina Colada in Turks & Caicos MMM- no this isn’t Italian, but it just reminds me of summer) When it’s hot out, you don’t really want to be slaving over a stove (well, I don’t consider it ‘slaving’ but some people do!), or standing over a burning hot grill in 100 degree temperatures. …

Restaurant Review: Fresco by Scotto

Restaurant Review: Fresco by Scotto

(Image from Grub Street NY) I haven’t written a restaurant review in a while because I’ve been pretty busy with work and haven’t gotten a chance to wine and dine. But, last week for my birthday my family treated me to a yummy dinner. It was my choice (as it is every year haha), and …

Spring Medley Pasta Salad & Happy Bday to Me!

Spring Medley Pasta Salad & Happy Bday to Me!

Today is my 23rd birthday.. I don’t know if I should be excited or sad. Excited because it’s my birthday and everyone is obligated to be “nice” to me, but sad because I’m SO old! 23 is such an awkward number- I haven’t JUST turned legal, and I’m not in my mid-twenties yet.. then what …