Recipes
Meyer Lemon Poppy Seed Cake with Lemon Glaze
This super-simple lemon cake recipe is easy to make, freezes wonderfully, and makes one 9-inch cake, two loaves (if you want to go all out and make a bundt cake, double the recipe).
Mom’s Italian Easter Pie AKA Calzone
The preparation of this Italian Easter pie, also referred to as calzone, is a traditional part of the holiday in my family. I grew up making this recipe with Tuma cheese. Known as “the lost cheese of Sicily,” this unique creamy cheese is made with cow’s milk from an age-old recipe. I also love to use Scamorza cheese in this recipe. Scamorza is another southern Italian cow’s milk cheese. Like mozzarella, the cheese curd is stretched, letting the curd mature in its own whey for several hours to allow acidity to develop. A good substitute for these cheeses is a mix of mozzarella and provolone.
Cookies + Desserts: Grandma Vivardo’s Italian Easter Cookies
Traditional Easter egg cookies come in many different forms. This recipe makes little Easter baskets, just like Grandma Vivardo used to make. You can use your leftover colored Easter eggs for this one!
Strawberry Kiwi Summer Salad with Poppyseed Dressing
If you’re in the market for a simple yet delicious salad, this sweet and vibrant combination of strawberries, kiwi, and crunchy romaine is easy to make, yet really pops with taste. Even the dressing is a simple concoction of just five ingredients; I recommend making it the night before you plan to serve the salad so that all the various flavors have time to meld together.
Pork Stuffed Artichokes
To the uninitiated, artichokes can seem like a complicated, even alien-looking vegetable, but fear not they’re easier to work with than their complex appearance. Though you can find small artichokes at some markets, for this recipe you want to select a nice, plump “globe” artichoke.
Classic Shortbread with Flavor Variations and Icebox or Cookie Cutter Methods
This recipe is fun, as there are many ways to make it your own. To find your favorite, try some of the suggested variations.
Mary’s Cheesy Potato Casserole with Crunchy Corn Flakes Topping
The casserole remains a versatile and beloved staple of family meals, perhaps due to its infinite variety; you can make one with tuna, hamburger, or even Tater Tots. This recipe is one my favorite takes on the casserole, and utilizes a mix of hash brown potatoes, cheddar cheese, and corn flakes (!) for a nice layer of crunch on the top.
Heirloom Tomato and Basil Quiche with Paté Brisee Crust
This wonderful and filling quiche is an excellent choice for either lunch or dinner. This particular recipe utilizes a homemade French pastry crust called paté brisee; and will make enough for two 9-inch crusts or a single double-crusted pie.
Candied Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows and Pecans
This deliciously sweet and tasty side dish is a wonderful comfort food at any point throughout the winter. The orange zest, juice, maple syrup, and spices really heighten the flavor of the sweet potatoes, and makes this dish an excellent accompaniment to a wide range of proteins and entrées.
Mary’s Classic Shepherd’s Pie with Ground Lamb
My recipe features a nice rich mix of traditional root vegetables—turnips, parsnips and carrots—as well as a wonderful pop of taste from sweet potatoes and a little bit of sherry, vermouth, or white wine. This dish also serves as an excellent alternative to corn beef and cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day!
Nutella®-Stuffed, Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries for Valentine's Day
This recipe combines these three wonderful tastes into one delicious, decadent morsel: a juicy ripe strawberry, chocolate, and hazelnuts all in one delicious bite! The luxurious combination makes for a wonderful treat any time of the year, but are especially fun to share on special occasions like Valentine’s Day.
Homemade: Individual Chocolate Lava Cakes à la DiSomma
Even if baking is not your forte, preparing a delicious lava chocolate cake is within your culinary grasp. These rich, decadent treats ooze melted chocolate with the first bite. And this recipe, made for two, will make a perfect chocolatey conclusion for a stay-at-home Valentine’s Day dinner.
