Recipes

My family loves my baking. When my father-in-law Joe kept mentioning his favorite childhood dessert, I thought he might be giving me a little hint. I love pignolata, too, so I decided to try making him some. I just love the look on my friends’ and family’s faces when I set their favorite dish down in front of them!

Because this holiday takes place during Lent, recipes are typically meat-free. In fact, true St. Joseph’s Day recipes go without cheese, too. We may be a true Italian family, but I venture a little bit from tradition because this bucatini pasta recipe is so much more delicious with cheese!

St. Joseph’s Day soup is steeped in tradition and symbolism. The fava beans in this recipe represent luck. Breadcrumbs are also a staple in St. Joseph's Day recipes, symbolizing sawdust since Joseph was a carpenter. As usual, I’ve added my own spin to the standard: My delicious crispy olive oil bread cubes.

The combo of artichokes, white beans, and arugula is absolutely delicious without being overstated. Grilled artichokes lend a smoky note to peppery arugula, while the beans balance everything out. This salad recipe is perfect as a light lunch or served alongside a hearty dinner like my St. Joseph’s Day Bucatini pasta.

You can’t visit New Orleans without enjoying some fresh beignets… and the last time I went, I couldn’t leave without my own beignet recipe. Get a taste of New Orleans without ever leaving your own kitchen: You can make beignets at home! Grab a cup of chicory coffee and let’s get started.

Mardi Gras might be a winter festival, but the Hurricane is delicious all year round. My special twist is making it a passion fruit hurricane recipe. I love sipping on one of these at a backyard barbecue or a trip to the farm... Your guests are going to love it too!

My husband, Billy, and I love making this dish when we go down to the farm. The last time I made this recipe, we made beef short ribs in a huge pot… and then served it family-style to our hunter friends who had just finished their day outdoors. Their faces just lit up after one bite of these succulent, fall-off-the-bone short ribs.

Making lasagna with my mom was one of my favorite ways to spend time together. She would go all out making loads and loads of her Sunday Gravy, and I uphold that tradition by making a double batch every time I do homemade lasagna. Click through to try my Mom’s incredible recipe for yourself!

My make-ahead baked crab cake bites look best served on a beautiful tray, with some homemade remoulade sauce and freshly sliced lemons on the side. A crispy golden exterior with tender, luxurious crab inside… dip it in the remoulade for a match made in heaven.

Wondering how to convert a slider recipe into a full-size sandwich? It’s easy to transform these delightful sliders into full-size Po-Boy sandwiches for a heartier meal. When we’re down at the farm, we like to serve these on full-size buns alongside some of our favorite fish fry sides. No matter what size you make them, be warned: They’ll disappear quickly. They're just that delicious!

I’m an adventurous eater. I love a lot of different cuisines, and southern food is no exception. This is one of my favorite Southern recipes to make at home—classic red beans and Andouille sausage. It’s a popular dish in the South all year, but I love celebrating Mardi Gras with it. Red beans, Creole seasoning, and, of course, that special New Orleans sausage: Andouille. But what exactly is Andouille sausage? Read on for all this and more in my Mardi Gras Red Beans and Andouille Sausage recipe!

My monkey bread recipe uses a yeast-based dough, but if you’re in a pinch—or are nervous about working with yeast—just grab 3 cans of buttermilk biscuits at your local grocery store. The directions for this easy hack can be found at the end of the recipe! Trust me, the homemade yeast dough version is totally worth the extra effort.